IMDb > Spontaneous Combustion (1990)

Spontaneous Combustion (1990) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
4.0/10   714 votes
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Director:
Tobe Hooper
Writers:
Tobe Hooper (story)
Tobe Hooper (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Spontaneous Combustion on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 February 1990 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller more
Plot:
A young man finds out that his parents had been used in an atomic-weapons experiment shortly before he was born, and that the results have had some unexpected effects on him. | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Neil Marshall Bursts Back Onto The Scene
 (From EmpireOnline. 12 October 2009, 1:23 AM, PDT)
American Film Market 2008 Part Three: More Reviews
 (From Fangoria. 17 December 2008, 2:03 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
The temperature is boiling… a volcanic firestorm. more (30 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Brad Dourif ... Sam
Cynthia Bain ... Lisa Wilcox
Jon Cypher ... Dr. Marsh
William Prince ... Lew Orlander
Melinda Dillon ... Nina

Dey Young ... Rachel

Tegan West ... Springer
Michael Keys Hall ... Dr. Cagney

Dale Dye ... General
Dick Butkus ... Lt. General
Joe Mays ... Dr. Persons
Stacy Edwards ... Peggy Bell
Brian Bremer ... Brian Bell
Frank Whiteman ... Young Orlander

Judy Prescott ... Student Director
Judy Behr ... School Nurse
Betsy Thomas ... Nurse at Hospital

John Landis ... Radio Technician
Jaime Alba ... Walter (as Jamie Alba)
Mark Roberts ... Dr. Simpson
Dick Warlock ... Mr. Fitzpatrick (as Richard Warlock)
Judith Jones ... Jennifer
William Forward ... Scientist (as Bill Forward)

Ron Blair ... Maitre 'D
Mimi Wearn ... Vicky
Sandy Ignon ... Doctor in 50's
Nick Gambella ... Student in Theater
Patricia Gallagher Layton ... Maid
Barbara Leary ... Amy Whitaker
Paul Barresi ... Hospital Guard

George 'Buck' Flower ... Preacher on Radio
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patrick Brock ... Paramedic (uncredited)
André De Toth ... Vandenmeer (uncredited)
Deb Havener ... Military Dancer / Hostess (uncredited)
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Directed by
Tobe Hooper 
 
Writing credits
Tobe Hooper (story)

Tobe Hooper (screenplay) and
Howard Goldberg (screenplay)

Produced by
Henry Bushkin .... executive producer
Sanford Hampton .... associate producer
Jerrold W. Lambert .... co-producer
Jim Rogers .... producer
Arthur M. Sarkissian .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Graeme Revell 
 
Cinematography by
Levie Isaacks 
 
Film Editing by
David Kern 
 
Casting by
Carol Lewis 
 
Production Design by
Gene Abel 
 
Art Direction by
Richard N. McGuire (uncredited)
 
Set Decoration by
Ann Job 
 
Costume Design by
Carin Hooper 
 
Makeup Department
Tony Hooper .... makeup effects
Michael R. Jones .... special makeup effects artist
Eric H. Lasher .... special makeup effects artist
Kerry Mendenhall .... head hair stylist
Bill Miller-Jones .... makeup artist
Steve Neill .... special makeup effects
Doreen F. Schultz .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Sanford Hampton .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen David Brooks .... second unit director
Michael Looney .... second assistant director
Robinson Miller .... second second assistant director
Paul Moen .... first assistant director
Kristi 'Kat' Morias .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Frank Bertolino .... property master
Bill H. Roberts Jr. .... property master
Christine H. Scott .... set dresser
Lance Simco .... supervising scenic artist
Robert A. Sturtevant .... lead propmaker
John Eaves .... storyboard artist (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Kelly Cabral .... sound editor
Patrick Cabral .... foley artist
Tim Chilton .... foley artist
Craig Felburg .... sound mixer
Cameron Hamza .... sound mixer
Stanley Kastner .... sound re-recording mixer
Don MacDougall .... sound re-recording mixer
Ken Stephens .... boom operator
Christopher M. Taylor .... boom operator (as Christopher Taylor)
 
Special Effects by
John Dykstra .... special effects consultant
Tony Hooper .... special mechanical effects
Eric H. Lasher .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Stephen David Brooks .... optical and visual effects supervisor (as Stephen Brooks)
Clint Colver .... animation supervisor
Roger Dorney .... post-production optical supervisor
Tony Hooper .... optical fire effects
Michael Douglas Middleton .... visual effects optical still photographer
Joseph Yanuzzi .... optical effects editor
 
Stunts
Rick Barker .... stunt coordinator: second unit
Monty Cox .... stunts
Glory Fioramonti .... stunts
Greg Gault .... stunt coordinator: first unit
Paula Marie Moody .... stunts (as Paula Moody)
Don Pike .... stunts
Pat Romano .... stunts
Debby Lynn Ross .... stunts (as Debbie Ross)
Dick Warlock .... stunts (as Richard Warlock)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Bernstein .... second assistant camera
Monica Carey .... assistant camera
Molly Cheshire .... best boy electric
Richard Crompton .... dolly grip
Dana Gonzales .... first assistant camera
Todd Griffith .... key grip
David Hayball .... gaffer
William K. Koski .... electrician
Eric H. Lasher .... still photographer
Michael Lund .... second assistant camera
John Nuler .... Steadicam operator
Mónica Silvera .... clapper loader
Monty Spillers .... best boy grip
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Julia Gombert .... costume supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Syd Cole .... negative cutter
Jeff Smithwick .... color timer
 
Music Department
Dick Bernstein .... music editor
 
Transportation Department
Herman Hadler .... picture cars
Lawrence Morgan .... transportation coordinator
 
Other crew
Seth Cirker .... location manager
Stan Giesea .... journalist
Rochell Linker Goodrich .... production coordinator
Nan Herst .... unit publicist
Nancy Karlin .... script supervisor
Marc Kunis .... production accountant
Zachary Selig .... consultant: paranormal phenomena
Jeanne Talbot .... additional script supervisor
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
97 min | Argentina:96 min | Finland:89 min (cut)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Netherlands:16 | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (nf) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Los Angeles, California, USA
Company:
Black Owl Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Cameo: [Tobe Hooper]man with his back to the camera, lighting a cigar, when Sam enters the rest room at the restaurant. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The position of the syringe stuck in Lisa, changes. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Ring (2002/I) more
Soundtrack:
YOU BELONG TO ME more

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
The temperature is boiling… a volcanic firestorm., 4 October 2009
Author: lost-in-limbo from the Mad Hatter's tea party.

Not as bad, as it's credited to being (Hooper's done far worse)… more so disappointing for me. Such an imaginative concept, which is never really tapped in to by Hooper with his economical direction and even less so in the smoky (excuse the pun) writing. It goes so sinister and over-the-top in a dead serious tone, becoming ridiculous and unfocused letting the whole pessimistic mystery / conspiracy-laced narrative being easily telegraphed to end on something completely abrupt. Because of that, the pacing goes on to be rather sluggish and Brad Dourif (cool to see him in a leading role) seems to struggle with an off-balanced performance, despite etching out a bemusedly quirky intensity to his off-colour character. Even though it's cheaply done, there's a competent technical attitude to it. However it doesn't seem to go anywhere out of the ordinary with its idea and wants to plaster in nasty jolts (which some do work) and strikingly steaming special effects (flames, flames everywhere) instead. Hooper does display some stylishly frenetic imagery (more so towards the latter end), and the camera-work is swiftly manoeuvred and the beaming score is titillating. The performances are bit all over the shop with the appearances of William Prince, Cynthia Bain, Dey Young, Jon Cypher and Melinda Dillon. Also Geroge Buck Flower and John Landis have small, but amusing cameos… especially Landis. Nothing surprises, but it's passably engaging.

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