‘Some legends must be destroyed.’
The Runestone is a 1991 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Willard Carroll, based on a novel by Mark E. Rogers.
Plot:
A Norse runestone is discovered in Western Pennsylvania. The prophecy tells of the Norse great wolf Fenrir (Fenris), and that its release from the stone will bring about Ragnarok — the end of the world. After it is brought to New York City, a beast goes on a rampage of slaughter. Archaeologist Sam Stewart and wife Marla find it has some connection to their friend Martin…
Reviews:
“The monster design was pretty cool and the whole film reminded me of one long Tales from the Crypt episode […] The dramatic score made the film seem more epic than it really was but that’s all part of the fun. It’s not a very gory film and kind of felt like a made for TV movie at times.” Belial Carboni
“Most of the violence takes place off screen, but this seems to be a budgetary decision more than anything. The gore is there, but nothing special. The creature effects are especially weak, all claws and fur, but with a most unconvincing mask. The Runestone is a noble failure that should have worked on more levels than it does.” Charles Tatum
“The movie is a real mixed bag, it takes about 43-minutes to pick up, there’s a constant struggle to hear what the characters are saying because the music and sound FX drowned them out, and the final confrontation was about 10-minutes too long but! there were a lot of moments I really enjoyed too.” Hollie Horror
“Over 25 people bite the dust in this flick and most of them do so offscreen. No fun. There is a sweet ancient Norse wolfman tearing up the city and I don’t get to see any of it?! What the hell? I know the majority of director Willard Carroll’s work would go on to be in animation for children, but if you’re going to make a crazy flick like this you have to give the audience what they want.” Horror’s Not Dead
“The scares are generated with a degree of competence and they at least keep the exercise moving even if they never exactly offer any real surprises. And there are times when the film almost – almost but not quite – comes close to being more than an average monster movie.” Richard Scheib, Moria
“Proof of what a talented group of people can do with standardized material if they treat it with intelligence, The Runestone is quite a pleasant surprise, a deft and intriguing low-budget horror item that deserved much better handling than it received..” TV Guide
Choice dialogue:
Marla Stewart: “Rosemary’s baby live here?’
Lars Hagstrom: “It’s good to be on a first name basis with evil.”
Cast and characters:
- Peter Riegert … Captain Gregory Fanducci
- Joan Severance … Marla Stewart
- William Hickey … Lars Hagstrom – The Nightmare Before Christmas (voice); Tales from the Darkside: The Movie; Puppetmaster
- Tim Ryan … Sam Stewart
- Mitchell Laurance … Martin Almquist
- Lawrence Tierney … Chief Richardson – The Horror Show; From a Whisper to a Scream; Silver Bullet; Midnight
- Dawan Scott … Fenrir
- Chris Young … Jacob
- Alexander Godunov … Sigvaldson, The Clockmaker
- Donald Hotton … Ask Franag
- Erika Schickel … Angela
- Bill Kalmenson … Lester
- Arthur Malet … Stoddard
- John Hobson … Marotta
- Anthony Cistaro … Detective
- Merilyn Carney … Tawny
- Greg Wrangler … Bob
- Ed Corbett Ed Corbett … Janitor
- William Utay … Truck Driver
- Carl D. Parker … Elevator operator (as Carl Parker)
- Josef Rainer … Boardmember #1
- Christopher Holder … Boardmember #2
- Susan Lentini … Wife #1
- Kelly Miracco … Wife #2 (as Kelly Miller)
- Sam Menning … Wino
- Gil Perez … Alberto
- Gary Lahti … Sanders
- Ralph Monaco … Cabbie
- Peter Bigler Peter Bigler … Harris
- Richard Molinare … Pulaski
- Rick Marzan … Strange
- Kim Delgado … Reynolds
- David Newman … Graves
- Josh Coxx … Crossley (as Joshua Cox)
- Vanessa Easton … Nurse
Film Facts:
A night watchman watches White Zombie (1932) on television.
