Peacock (2010)

A train accident in rural Nebraska gradually unveils a mystery involving the town's bank clerk.

Director:

Michael Lander

Writers:

Michael Lander, Ryan O Roy (as Ryan Roy)

Stars:

Cillian Murphy, Elliot Page, Susan Sarandon

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cillian Murphy	...	John / Emma Skillpa
Elliot Page	...	Maggie (as Ellen Page)
Susan Sarandon	...	Fanny Crill
Josh Lucas	...	Officer Tom McGonigle
Bill Pullman	...	Edmund French
Graham Beckel	...	Connor Black
Keith Carradine	...	Ray Crill
Eden Bodnar	...	Louise Sternberg
Chris Carlson	...	Neil
Flynn Milligan	...	Jake
Virginia Newcomb	...	Doris
Jaimi Paige	...	Wanda
Nathan Christopher	...	Cal
Richard Latch	...	Mack
Tate Hustedt	...	Brian Sternberg

Storyline

A train accident in rural Nebraska gradually unveils a mystery involving the town's bank clerk.

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Plot Keywords:

cross dressing | mental illness | single mother | double life | split personality | 

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Taglines:

If he only knew what she was doing.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic material and a scene of violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sally Menke's final editing project.

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Goofs

The Clark candy bars seen at the start (at around 25 mins) have modern plastic wrappers with barcodes.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mother: [in overlapping voices and moods like memories] I'm doing this because I love you. John. You know what happens... I warned you. I warned you, John. This is what you'll turn into. I warned you. Don't talk to anyone. Why would you keep things from me! Look at me. Look at me, John. Look at me. John! Don't look at me unless I tell you to. You ruined it. Don't talk to anyone. Don't talk to anyone. Don't you keep things from me! I'm doing this because I love you. Don't move a muscle ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojoUK: Top 10 Cillian Murphy Performances (2018)

User Reviews

Really excellent flick.

Just saw this down at one my favorite local internet theaters and I can tell you that this is definitely one of Cillian Murphy's top performances.

Of course, Murphy was brilliant in 28 Days Later and downright creepy in Batman Begins but his turn as John Skillpa, a young man apparently tormented by years and years of child abuse, shows the truer depths of his acting range.

I'm pretty sure this feature will be well overlooked by the Academy Awards, but it shouldn't be as far as I'm concerned as Murphy and the rest of a well picked cast shine in nearly every scene. To be honest, however, I wasn't thrilled with Ellen Page's performance but I believe she did a capable job in the role she played.

Keith Carradine and an almost unrecognizable Bill Pullman are the other actors of note besides, of course, the pushy but sensitive Fanny Crill played by Susan Sarandon.

What I can tell you, without spoiling the film, is that it's set in a not too distant rural America where the oddities of life must be kept well hidden for one to survive.

What is genuinely fresh and interesting though is how the mind of John Skillpa chooses to handle the forced revealing of a secret he's kept under wraps for quite some time in a quiet house where no one would suspect there was anything out of order.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 May 2010 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Peacock

Filming Locations:

Denison, Iowa, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cornfield Productions, Mandate Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1