IMDb > Of Unknown Origin (1983)

Of Unknown Origin (1983) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
5.9/10   609 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
George P. Cosmatos
Writers:
Chauncey G. Parker III (novel)
Brian Taggert (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Of Unknown Origin on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 November 1983 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror more
Tagline:
The terrifying last word in home invasion from the director of "Tombstone" and "Cobra." more
Plot:
A man who recently completed rebuilding a townhouse becomes obsessed with a rat infestation until it becomes an interspecies duel. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
2 wins more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Happy Birthday To Me (Restored!) Comes To DVD October 13th!
 (From Icons of Fright. 28 July 2009, 8:48 PM, PDT)
Score Restored for Happy Birthday to Me DVD Release
 (From Dread Central. 27 July 2009, 8:10 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
The Rodent Jaws more (28 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Peter Weller ... Bart Hughes

Jennifer Dale ... Lorrie Wells
Lawrence Dane ... Eliot Riverton
Kenneth Welsh ... James Hall
Louis Del Grande ... Clete

Shannon Tweed ... Meg Hughes
Keith Knight ... Hardware salesman
Maury Chaykin ... Dan Errol
Leif Anderson ... Peter Hughes
Jimmy Tapp ... Meg's father
Gayle Garfinkle ... Janis Wycoff
Earl Pennington ... Mr. Thompson
Jacklin Webb ... Newspaper Vendor
Bronwen Mantel ... Florence Riverton
Monik Nantel ... Secretary

Aimée Castle ... Birthday Party Child (as Aimee Castle)
Jesse Grasis ... Birthday Party Child
Tara O'Donnell ... Birthday Party Child
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Amber T. Chase ... Dan Errol's Wife (uncredited)
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Directed by
George P. Cosmatos 
 
Writing credits
Chauncey G. Parker III (novel "The Visitor")

Brian Taggert (screenplay)

Produced by
Pierre David .... executive producer
Claude Héroux .... producer
 
Original Music by
Kenneth Wannberg  (as Ken Wannberg)
 
Cinematography by
René Verzier 
 
Film Editing by
Roberto Silvi 
 
Casting by
Deirdre Bowen 
Ginette D'Amico 
 
Production Design by
Anne Pritchard 
 
Art Direction by
Rose Marie McSherry  (as Rosemarie McSherry)
 
Set Decoration by
Serge Bureau 
 
Costume Design by
Paul-André Guérin 
 
Makeup Department
Michèle Dion .... makeup artist
Chantal Ethier .... makeup artist
Martin Ménard .... hair stylist
Constant Natale .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Roger Héroux .... production supervisor
François Ouimet .... unit manager (as Francois Ouimet)
Bill Wiggins .... post-production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Fretz .... first assistant director
Frank Ruszczynski .... assistant director
Michael Sarao .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Tina Boden .... art department coordinator
Peter Borowski .... sculptor (as Peter Borowsky)
Jacques Chamberland .... property master
Tom Coulter .... set dresser
Violette Daneau .... set dresser
Michael Devine .... construction crew
Frank DiGiacomo .... construction crew
Peter Dowker .... sculptor
Jean-Vincent Fournier .... assistant set props (as Jean Vincent Fournier)
Denis Hamel .... set dresser
Serge LaForest .... construction crew
Larry Lamont .... construction crew
P. Karen Langshaw .... sculptor
Abraham Lee .... set dresser
Jak Oliver .... construction crew
Marc Rainville .... construction crew
Barbara Shrier .... set dresser
Jean-Baptiste Tard .... set dresser (as Jean Baptiste Tard)
Harold Thrasher .... construction coordinator
Maurice Tremblay .... set dresser
 
Sound Department
Peter Burgess .... sound effects editor
Terry Burke .... foley artist
Don Cohen .... sound
Paul Coombe .... sound re-recording mixer
Gary Daprato .... assistant sound editor
Leslie Hodgson .... supervising sound editor
Mike Hoogenboom .... sound re-recording mixer (as Michael Hoogenboom)
Kerry Kohler .... assistant sound editor
Dick Lewzey .... sound recording engineer
Alban Streeter .... dialogue editor (as Al Streeter)
Haydn Streeter .... assistant sound editor
Eric Zimmer .... boom operator
 
Special Effects by
Louis Craig .... special effects
Stephan Dupuis .... special effects makeup
Jacques Godbout .... special effects
 
Stunts
Jean Lysight .... stunts
Marie-Patricia St-Laurent .... stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Claude Alarie .... best boy
Peter Benison .... camera operator
Claude Brasseur .... electrician
Marc Charlebois .... electrician
Jean Courteau .... electrician
Jean-Maurice de Ernsted .... grip
Marc de Ernsted .... key grip
Gilles Fortier .... electrician
Jacques Fortier .... gaffer
Denis Gingras .... focus puller
Paul Gravel .... focus puller
Serge Ladouceur .... camera operator
Glen MacPherson .... focus puller
Piroska Mihalka .... still photographer
Patti Morein .... loader
Christine Pelletier .... loader
Jean-François Pouliot .... loader (as Jean Francois Pouliot)
Jean Trudeau .... electrician
René Verzier .... camera operator (as Rene Verzier)
Normand Viau .... electrician
Serge Ladouceur .... director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Rosina Bucci .... casting assistant
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laura Drew .... wardrobe
Louise Gagne .... wardrobe
Hazel Pethig .... wardrobe (as Hazel Pethig-Cote)
 
Editorial Department
Chantal Bowen .... assistant editor
Teresa De Luca .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
David Franco .... music supervisor
Albert Woodbury .... orchestrator
 
Other crew
Mable Arial .... assistant accountant
David Bailey .... production assistant
France Boudreau .... continuity
Geoff Bowie .... production assistant
Maurice Boyer .... production assistant
Michel Boyer .... production assistant
Patricia Cahill .... production secretary
Brian Campbell .... production assistant
Richard Carriére .... production assistant (as Richard Carriere)
Frank D'Amico .... production assistant
Pierre David .... presenter
Denise Di Novi .... assistant to director
Robbie Ditchburn .... production assistant (as Robert Ditchburn)
Robert Dunn .... animal trainer
Linda Ekdahl .... production assistant
Pierre Guevremont .... production accountant
Paul Hotte .... production assistant
Nicholas Koppen .... production assistant
Nathalie Laporte .... assistant accountant
Gilles Léonard .... production accountant (as Gilles Leonard)
Marilyn Majerczyk .... production assistant
Serge Major .... administrator
Michel Martin .... production assistant
Monik Nantel .... assistant to executive producer
Lawrence Nesis .... presenter
Pierre Tessier .... production assistant
Bob Tschanz .... animal handling supervisor
 
Crew believed to be complete


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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
Sweden:89 min | USA:88 min
Country:
Canada | USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Montréal, Québec, Canada
Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Quotes:
Bart Hughes: You never said anything about rubber gloves, you boneheaded fart. more
Movie Connections:
Features The Old Man and the Sea (1958) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
The Rodent Jaws, 12 July 2006
7/10
Author: dmacpherson12-1 from Toronto, Canada

Peter Weller anchors a cast of Canadian actors in this entertaining low budget thriller directed by George Cosmatos. Plenty of action and a good through line of how an obsessively detailed individual would battle a threat to his environment. Louis "Seeing Things" Del Grande is very good as the helpful janitor next door to Weller's yuppie palace. Features rising Canadian actors Kenneth Welsh, Jennifer Dale and a slimmer Maury Chaykin. The Canadian Tax Credit system helped put this film in Montreal, doubling as New York. With little to work with in terms of sets and exteriors, Cosmatos shows his chops as a director who tries to make each shot pay off in a particular way. The overhead shot of Weller looking out over the "human" rat race crossing the street draws an interesting parallel with the main story. More than a couple of 'homages' to Jaws, which Cosmatos admits was one of his favourite movies.A bit repetitive at times but better than 'Willard'. Worth a look.

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