Affliction (1997)

A deeply troubled small town cop investigates a suspicious hunting death while events occur that cause him to mentally disintegrate.

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writers:

Russell Banks (novel), Paul Schrader (screenplay)

Stars:

Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, James Coburn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Nolte	...	Wade Whitehouse
Brigid Tierney	...	Jill Whitehouse
Holmes Osborne	...	Gordon LaRiviere
Jim True-Frost	...	Jack Hewitt (as Jim True)
Tim Post	...	Chick Ward
Christopher Heyerdahl	...	Frankie Lacoy (as Chris Heyerdahl)
Marian Seldes	...	Alma Pittman
Janine Theriault	...	Hettie Rogers
Mary Beth Hurt	...	Lillian Horner
Paul Stewart	...	Mr. Horner
Sissy Spacek	...	Margie Fogg
Wayne Robson	...	Nick Wickham
Sean McCann	...	Evan Twombley
Sheena Larkin	...	Lugene Brooks
Penny Mancuso	...	Woman Driver

Storyline

Boston University professor Whitehouse tells of the events leading up to the disappearance of his older Wade. The police officer who investigates is deeply troubled, and the murder case drains his mental acuity to the pointv of a total mental collapse.

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Plot Keywords:

hunting | sheriff | small town | drunkenness | domestic violence | 

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Taglines:

Wade Whitehouse is frightened to death of following in his father's footsteps.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Lionsgate Home Entertainment [United States]

Country:

USA Canada Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Den jagede

Filming Locations:

Huntingdon, Quebec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$63,979, 3 January 1999

Gross USA:

$6,330,054

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,330,054

Company Credits

Production Co:

JVC Entertainment Networks, Kingsgate Films, Largo Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White (some scenes) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Coburn and Nolte were both born in Nebraska, 130 miles apart.

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Goofs

The jackets the NHSP were wearing were not used since the 1980s, and the badges worn were also fake.

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Quotes

Gordon LaRiviere: That's what I love about this small town. Everyone knows everyone.

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Connections

Featured in The 71st Annual Academy Awards (1999)

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Soundtracks

Put the Hurt On You
Written by Marc Ferrari
Courtesy of Mastersource
[Song playing in Jack's truck while he's taking a nightly joyride with his girl and Wade after the school play.]

User Reviews

when life was - and still is - bleak

Paul Schrader's adaptation of Russell Banks's "Affliction" has got to be one of the bleakest movies that I've ever seen. Most of the characters are people whom you can respect, but James Coburn's character makes you feel like your stomach just turned to water.

Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) is a cop in a small New England town investigating a hunting accident which he believes is a murder. He hopes that it might make him the town hero, but several conditions work against everyone. First and foremost is Wade's alcoholic, abusive father (Coburn). Pretty much anytime that we see his father, the man is still drinking and being as nasty as possible to everyone around him. Wade's brother (Willem Dafoe) is too afraid to speak his mind. Wade's hubby (Sissy Spacek) is simply getting nervous about everything around her. And the ending isn't what you might guess.

The winter setting is just the opposite of how movies usually employ snow. Far from any winter wonderland, the setting backs up Wade's depressed mindset affected by his upbringing. Everything in this movie has the purpose of making you feel like there's a lead weight on every square centimeter of your body, and they succeed. I do think that it's a good movie, but just be forewarned of what kind of movie this is. Even if you sympathize with the characters, you feel like there's a knife in your lungs.

Worth seeing.