The Fury is a 1978 supernatural thriller film directed by Brian De Palma (Phantom of the Paradise, Carrie, Dressed to Kill) from a screenplay by John Farris, based on his novel of the same name.
The movie stars Kirk Douglas (Saturn 3; Holocaust 2000), John Cassavetes (Incubus), Carrie Snodgress (Carrie), Amy Irving, Charles Durning (When a Stranger Calls) and Andrew Stevens.
James Belushi made his uncredited screen debut as a beach bum. The music score was composed by John Williams (Jaws).
In order to realistically show Cassavetes exploding at the climax, Cassavetes stood on the set convulsing and bleeding until a lamp fell down creating a split-second white flash on the screen. Then a quick edit is done replacing Cassavetes with a life-sized rigged dummy exploding shot at several different angles.
Plot:
Peter Sandza (Kirk Douglas) is a Secret Service agent whose son Robin has psychic powers. Whilst holidaying with Robin and fellow agent Childress (John Cassavetes) they are attacked by what seems to be a gang of terrorists and Robin is kidnapped.
However, when Sandzer discovers that the attack was masterminded by Childress, who wants to corrupt then sell Robin’s powers, he enlists the help of another psychic (Amy Irving) to track his son down – but will they be too late?
Review:
The telekinetic scenes are impressive, ranging from mass destruction to unnerving moments of small horror – Irving grasping the hand of Charles Durning, bloodily opening up an old wound as she psychically sees what happened to Robin, or simply causing a bitchy classmate’s nose to start bleeding are chillingly handled.
And of course, the film’s final sequence is literally explosive – a moment of breathtaking gore and physical destruction that sits alongside The Omen‘s decapitation scene as one of the most iconic horror moments of the 1970s.
David Flint, MOVIES & MANIA
Other reviews:
“As an exercise in logic or restraint The Fury obviously comes up lacking, but as an early example of Hollywood junk food treated like a high art thrill machine, The Fury has few peers.” Mondo Digital
“The Fury is a stylish entertainment, fast-paced, and acted with great energy. I’m not quite sure it makes a lot of sense, but that’s the sort of criticism you only make after it’s over. During the movie, too much else is happening.” Roger Ebert
“Arrow Video’s upcoming Blu-ray release of director Brian De Palma’s The Fury is a thing of beauty. Treated with a brand new high-definition transfer struck from the original camera negative, the film looks exceptionally healthy, the best it ever has.” Blu-ray.com
Buy: Amazon.co.uk
Cast and characters:
- Kirk Douglas … Peter
- John Cassavetes … Childress
- Carrie Snodgress … Hester
- Charles Durning … Dr Jim McKeever
- Amy Irving … Gillian
- Fiona Lewis … Susan Charles
- Andrew Stevens … Robin
- Carol Eve Rossen … Dr Ellen Lindstrom (as Carol Rossen)
- Rutanya Alda … Kristen
- Joyce Easton … Mrs. Bellaver
- William Finley … Raymond
- Jane Lambert … Vivian Nuckells
- Sam Laws … Blackfish
- J. Patrick McNamara … Robertson
- Melody Thomas Scott … LaRue (as Melody Thomas)
- Hilarie Thompson … Cheryl (as Hilary Thompson)
- Pat Billingsley … Lander
- J.P. Bumstead … Greene
- Barry Cullison … Chase #1 Driver
- Jack Callahan … DeMasi
- Dennis Franz … Bob
- Anthony Hawkins … Chase #1 Shotgun
- Michael O’Dwyer … Marty O’Brien
- Felix Shuman … Dr Ives
- Albert Stevens … Arab Prince
- Anne Peterson … Deborah (as Anne Brunk)
- Eva Cadet … Woman (Van Buren)
- John Roche … Drunk (Van Buren)
- Gordon Jump … Nuckells
- Eleanor Merriam … Mother Nuckells
- Harold Johnson … Garbage Man
- Wayne Dahmer … Nelson
- Joe Finnegan … Man
- Kathleen Francour … Betsy
- Daryl Hannah … Pam
- Laura Innes … Jody
- Clair Nelson … Dr Becker
- Peter O’Connell … Dr Conn
- Al Wyatt Sr. … Security Agent Driver (as Al Wyatt)
- Douglas J. Stevenson … Houseboy
- Mickey Gilbert … Agent
- Hanns Manship … Agent
- Marland Proctor … Agent
- Marshall Colt … Technician
- Roberta Feldner … Technician
- Stephen Johnson … Technician
- Robin Marmor … Technician
- Michael Copeland … Tough Youth
- Alfred Tinsley … Tough Youth
- Tom Blair … Top Guy #1
- Gunnar Lewis … Top Guy #2
- Jim Belushi … Beach Bum (uncredited)
- Sam Irvin … Amusement Park Patron (uncredited)
- Bruce Pobanz … Amusement Park Patron (uncredited)
- Jordan Williams … Beach Bum (uncredited)
Filming locations:
- Chicago, Illinois
- Caesarea, Israel
- Stage 5, 20th Century Fox Studios – 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California
Technical details:
- 118 minutes
- Aspect ratio: 1.85: 1
- Audio: Mono
