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IMDb > The Toolbox Murders (1978)

The Toolbox Murders (1978) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
4.9/10   932 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Neva Friedenn (writer) and
Robert Easter (writer) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Toolbox Murders on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
March 1978 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Bit by bit..By bit he carved a nightmare!
Plot:
Ski-masked maniac kills apartment complex tenants with the contents of a toolbox. full summary | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
DVD Playhouse--December 2009
 (From The Hollywood Interview. 19 December 2009, 3:11 PM, PST)

DVDetails of the Dead and more disc news
 (From Fangoria. 29 September 2009, 11:24 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
The Rodney Dangerfield of Horror films more (48 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)
Cameron Mitchell ... Vance Kingsley
Pamelyn Ferdin ... Laurie Ballard
Wesley Eure ... Kent Kingsley
Nicolas Beauvy ... Joey Ballard
Tim Donnelly ... Detective Jamison
Aneta Corsaut ... Jo Ann Ballard
Faith McSwain ... Mrs. Andrews
Marciee Drake ... Debbie
Evelyn Guerrero ... Maria
Victoria Perry ... Woman in Apartment
Robert Bartlett ... Man in Apartment
Betty Cole ... Middle Aged Woman
John Hawker ... Middle Aged Man
Don Diamond ... Sgt. Cameron
Alisa Powell ... Girlfriend
Kelly Nichols ... Dee Ann (as Marianne Walter)
Robert Forward ... Screamer Man
Kathleen O'Malley ... Screamer Woman
Gil Galvano ... Man
James Nolan ... Bartender
George Deaton ... Preacher
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dennis Donnelly ... Extra in bar (uncredited)
Robert Leh ... Policeman (uncredited)
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Directed by
Dennis Donnelly 
 
Writing credits
Neva Friedenn (writer) and
Robert Easter (writer) and
Ann Kindberg (writer)

Produced by
Tony DiDio .... producer
Jack Kindberg .... associate producer
Kenneth Yates .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
George Deaton 
 
Cinematography by
Gary Graver 
 
Film Editing by
Nunzio Drapino 
Skip Lusk 
 
Production Design by
D.J. Bruno 
 
Set Decoration by
Leamon Adams 
 
Makeup Department
Edward Ternes .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Ann Kindberg .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ann Kindberg .... assistant director (as Ann N. Kindberg)
Gary LaPoten .... second assistant director
 
Sound Department
Bob Dietz .... sound (as Robert Dietz)
Ron Moler .... sound editor
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Jean L. Clark .... electrician (as Jean Clark)
Catherine E. Coulson .... assistant camera
Hedy Dietz .... still photographer
Michael Ferris .... assistant camera
Gary Strange .... grip
R. Michael Stringer .... camera operator
R. Michael Stringer .... gaffer
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michele Logan .... wardrobe supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Mario S. Anthony .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Walt Cunningham .... music arranger: keyboards
Zeke Dawson .... music arranger: strings
Frank Evans .... music engineer
 
Transportation Department
Charles Franchimone .... driver
Thomas A. Gordon .... driver
 
Other crew
Tony Didio Jr. .... production assistant
Maria C. Dillon .... production secretary
Nancy Hansen .... script supervisor
Patty Koehnen .... production assistant
Jim Maggles .... bookkeeper
Ann McDonald .... production assistant
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Runtime:
93 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:Refused Classification | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Norway:(Banned) (1978-2003) | Norway:18 (2004) | Sweden:18 (video rating) | UK:18 (video rating) (2000) (cut) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:R
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Goofs:
Boom mic visible: In the scene where we first see Laurie Ballard tied up in the bed and Vance enters the room, the shadow of a boom mic is clearly visible on the wall behind them. more
Quotes:
Joey Ballard: I'll be home for dinner. What are you fixin'?
Laurie Ballard: Ah! La specialty of the house; chicken à la TV dinners.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Toolbox Murders (2003) more

FAQ

Is the movie The Toolbox Murders based on fact?
more
10 out of 12 people found the following review useful.
The Rodney Dangerfield of Horror films, 13 October 2005
7/10
Author: movieman_kev from United States

The great Cameron Mitchell is a masked maniac who kills the inhabitants with nail guns, screwdrivers & hammers, before kidnapping Laurie Ballard, a typical yet innocent 15 year old (played by Pamelyn Ferdin who is such a vegetarian that apparently she didn't even accept meaty roles). I really don't understand the general disdain for this fine grind-house film, especial by horror aficionados. The first 30 minutes are classic bloody grind-house shenanigans, while the rest is fun in a hokey, unintentionally humorous dialog type of way. And there's no doubt that Cameron played great nut cases in his career. Better than Tope Hooper's drab and lifeless 2004 re-make (or re-imagining, rather)

Eye Candy: Marciee Drake gets topless; Kelly Nichols gets fully nude; and extra nudity in the DVD menus & Extras

My Grade: B-

Blue Underground DVD Extras: Commentary with producer Tony Didio, cinematographer Gary Graver and actress Pamelyn Ferdin; an interview with actress Marianne Walter (AKA Kelly Nichols); Poster & still gallery; movie poster reproduction; Cameron Mitchell biography; TV spot; 2 Radio spots; and Theatrical trailer

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more (48 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Toolbox Murders (1978)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
HAD SOME GOOD MUSIC I BELIEVE MarieJ111
apartment building location finleproc
this was sick princess_jessie_2003
Closing credits said it was based on a true story. rachaela
The Depressive + the Psychopath (**SPOILERS**) agw2000
Pretty Lady? CatspawVP
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