Flatliners (1990)

Five medical students experiment with "near death" experiences, until the dark consequences of past tragedies begin to jeopardize their lives.

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writer:

Peter Filardi

Stars:

Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, Julia Roberts

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Nelson Wright
Julia Roberts	...	Dr. Rachel Mannus
Kevin Bacon	...	David Labraccio
William Baldwin	...	Dr. Joe Hurley
Oliver Platt	...	Randy Steckle
Kimberly Scott	...	Winnie Hicks
Joshua Rudoy	...	Billy Mahoney
Benjamin Mouton	...	Rachel's Father
Aeryk Egan	...	Young Nelson
Kesha Reed	...	Young Winnie
Hope Davis	...	Anne Coldren
Jim Ortlieb	...	Uncle Dave
John Duda	...	Young Labraccio (as John Joseph Duda)
Megan Stewart	...	Playground Kid
Tressa Thomas	...	Playground Kid

Storyline

Medical students begin to explore the realm of near death experiences, hoping for insights. Each has their heart stopped and is revived. They begin having flashes of walking nightmares from their childhood, reflecting sins they committed or had committed against them. The experiences continue to intensify, and they begin to be physically beaten by their visions as they try and go deeper into the death experience to find a cure.

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Plot Keywords:

near death experience | childhood trauma | voice message | stitching one's wound | photography | 

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Taglines:

Some lines shouldn't be crossed.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 August 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Línea mortal

Filming Locations:

1269 N. Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$61,490,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Stonebridge Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) CDS (digital 35 mm prints) Dolby (analog 35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The picture got Oscar nominated in 1991 for an Academy Award in the category of Best Sound Effects Editing, but lost out to The Hunt for Red October (1990).

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Goofs

When Joe walks home (after the scene when David visits his old schoolyard), along with the guys carrying the big posters, the steadicam operator and the focus puller are reflected in a store window of the house.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nelson Wright: Today is a good day to die.

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Connections

Referenced in Diagnosis Murder: Playing God (2001)

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Soundtracks

THE CLAPPING SONG
Written by Lincoln Chase

User Reviews

A dark, original thriller

Hmmm.... Since I love Kiefer Sutherland so much, my review might be a little biased. He was, however, pretty good in Flatliners. A wonderful idea for a movie, and a great gothic-type thriller. Sutherland's guilt and fright at the return of boy he taunted terribly when he was young (I'll try not to give away the rest) seemed genuine, especially since he seems drawn more often than not to act characters that are a**holes (there was really no other way to put it). As a young medical school student, his research into life after death draws his friends into dangerous situations and a great finale. The medical school did seem a little sub-standard, though, I will admit. Kevin Bacon is great in Flatliners, as is one of my favorite sarcastic actors, Oliver Platt. William Baldwin's also a cutie and did okay, and though I'm not a Julia Roberts fan, so did she. The plot will draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat, and there's an interesting dark atmosphere pervaded by a lot of red and blue for emotional impact. A good movie.. I'd give it at least an 8 out of 10