Dead of Winter (1987)

A fledgling actress is lured to a remote mansion for a screen-test, soon discovering she is actually a prisoner in the middle of a blackmail plot.

Director:

Arthur Penn

Writers:

Marc Shmuger, Mark Malone

Stars:

Mary Steenburgen, Roddy McDowall, Jan Rubes

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mary Steenburgen	...	Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn
Roddy McDowall	...	Mr. Murray
Jan Rubes	...	Dr. Joseph Lewis
William Russ	...	Rob Sweeney
Ken Pogue	...	Officer Mullavy
Wayne Robson	...	Officer Huntley
Mark Malone	...	Roland McGovern
Michael Copeman	...	Highway Patrolman
Sam Malkin	...	Gas Jock
Pamela Moller	...	Woman at Audition
Dwayne McLean	...	Killer
Paul Welsh	...	New Year's Eve Reveler

Storyline

Katie McGovern is a struggling actress living with her husband and her student brother, who is visiting. She attends an audition that she found in the paper and is selected to shoot a short video which will be sent to the director for his approval. Mr. Murray, the man holding the audition, picks Katie up and takes her to a remote mansion where they shoot the video. Katie is selected to replace the previous lead in the film who looks remarkably like her. Soon, however, things begin to look as if they are not what they seem. Katie soon realizes she is in danger and attempts escape.

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Plot Keywords:

actress | mansion | audition | female protagonist | country estate | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character Dr. Joseph Lewis, is in reference to the director of My Name Is Julia Ross (1945), Joseph H. Lewis.

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Quotes

Gas Jock: Free with every ten-dollar purchase!

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Connections

References Rear Window (1954)

User Reviews

Old-Fashioned Thriller

This Arthur Penn-directed remake of My Name Is Julia Ross represents yet another attempt to revive an old Hollywood formula, in this case the lady-in-distress thriller. There are of course some new, kinky wrinkles in this film, which has some grisly moments. For the most part the movie worked well for me. Mary Steenburgen makes an attractive and sympathetic heroine as a woman trapped in a snowbound mansion by two very strange men. There are some shocks along the way but in the end the movie is fairly conventional, a technical exercise, if you will, featuring some good, offbeat performances. The movie, in other words, delivers the goods, and is unashamedly old wine in a new bottle. It's no classic, but if its genre appeals to you, it's reasonably effective in its quiet way.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 February 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dead of Winter

Filming Locations:

Beaverton, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$951,548, 8 February 1987

Gross USA:

$2,413,427

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,413,427

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1