Fallen (1998)

Homicide detective John Hobbes witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese. Soon after the execution, the killings start again, and they are very similar to Reese's style.

Director:

Gregory Hoblit

Writer:

Nicholas Kazan

Stars:

Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Denzel Washington	...	John Hobbes
John Goodman	...	Jonesy
Donald Sutherland	...	Lt. Stanton
Embeth Davidtz	...	Gretta Milano
James Gandolfini	...	Lou
Elias Koteas	...	Edgar Reese
Gabriel Casseus	...	Art
Michael J. Pagan	...	Sam
Robert Joy	...	Charles
Frank Medrano	...	Charles' Killer
Ronn Munro	...	Mini Golf Owner
Cynthia Hayden	...	Society Woman
Ray Xifo	...	Society Man
Tony Michael Donnelly	...	Toby
Tara Carnes	...	Teenage Girl

Storyline

Det. John Hobbes is convinced that when killer Edgar Reese is executed, all of his troubles are over. But when people he knows and people on the street start to sing the same tune that Reese sang in the gas chamber, and those same people taunt him, he is told that maybe the cursed fallen angel Azazel is behind it all. Azazel is cursed to roam the Earth without a form, and he can switch bodies by any contact, making him hard to track. When Hobbes is forced to kill a man possessed by Azazel, he must clear his name while protecting his family and others from the evil, vengeful Azazel.

---

Plot Keywords:

azazel | detective | fallen angel | murder | murder of a police officer | 

---

Taglines:

Detective John Hobbes is searching for a criminal he's already met... already caught... and already killed.

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The precinct house and the squad room used are those in the long-running television series NYPD Blue (1993). Gregory Hoblit also directed NYPD Blue (1993). Aida Turturro plays Tiffany and appears with James Gandolfini - later they would appear together in The Sopranos (1999). Nicholas Turturro appeared in NYPD Blue (1993).

---

Goofs

When Azazel punches the window of the cab containing Greta Milano, it shatters like regular glass. An automobile window breaks into tiny round pieces.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Azazel: I wanna tell you about the time I almost died...

---

Connections

Referenced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Innocence (1998)

---

Soundtracks

Excerpts from Nan Jing 1937
Written by Dun Tan
Used by permission of G. Schirmer, Inc.

User Reviews

Denzel Washington is fantastic

I started watching this movie, knowing nothing about it more then it was a crime thriller about some serial killer, which usually is decent entertainment, not gonna lie. This movie started out in the usual way that these type of movies usually goes, still seemed promising, I really liked the characters and the vibe. Then it took a turn and first I thought "oh no, it's turning in to one of those movies" but then I realized it was still good, even better, I actually liked it a lot, it just wasn't what I first thought it would be. I believe this script could easily had become somewhat of a cheesy horror movie in the wrong hands, but not here, it's very well directed; has this gritty vibe and feel, like a David Finch movie kind of. And you're kept in suspense trough the whole movie, not knowing what's going to happen or how things will go down. And the acting is very good, supurb really. Very good dynamics between all characters, even side characters. I think this is Goodmans best role in his career. And Denzel takes the whole movie to another level, he is one of those actor that can do that, I think he must be one of the, if not the, greatest actor in American cinema actually. Anyway, this a good movie all I can say. Kind of an underrated movie but a real gem. I also appreciate it when movies can be creepy and scary without having to use gore or torture scenes. This movie is actually kind of refreshing, even if the premise isn't completely new, this movie really has it's own character.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Syriac Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Release Date:

16 January 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fallen

Filming Locations:

Holmesburg Prison - 8215 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,401,586, 19 January 1998

Gross USA:

$25,232,289

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,232,289

Company Credits

Production Co:

Turner Pictures (I), Atlas Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1