Thriller (1983) (TV)

Director:

John Landis

Writers:

John Landis (written by) and
Michael Jackson (written by)

Release Date:

2 December 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Romance | Short | Thriller | Music

Plot:

A night at the movies turns into a nightmare when Michael and his date are attacked by a hoard of bloody-thirsty zombies - only "Thriller" can save them now.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Zombie | Werewolf | Spontaneous Choreography | Cemetery

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Michael Jackson	...	Michael
Ola Ray	...	Michael's Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vincent Price	...	Narration (voice)

Also Known As:

Michael Jackson's Thriller (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

13 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (video rating) | Iceland:12 | Argentina:Atp | UK:15 | USA:PG | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Rialto Theatre - 1023 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Optimum Productions

Trivia:

Director Trademark: ['John Landis'] [SYNW]"See you next Wednesday" spoken by someone in the movie that Michael and Ola are watching. It's written in blood on a wall.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Michael and his girlfriend are walking by the cemetery, in the first shot (crane shot) the spotlights illuminating the set are visible.

Quotes:

Michael: There's something I've got to tell you.
Michael's Girl: Yes, Michael?
Michael: I'm not like other guys.
Michael's Girl: Of course you're not. That's why I love you.
Michael: No, I mean I'm different.
Michael's Girl: What are you talking about?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Donga (1985)

Soundtrack:

Thriller

perhaps the perfect pop video

'Thriller' remains the greatest of the pop music promos to have a plot, great visuals, and a tip-top song to wrap the film around. Michael Jackson was at the top of the tree at this time (and not so altered in his plastic surgery regime for it to matter). Here he is in good form - the song is terrific, he leads the zombies in dance like no other.

Ola Ray plays the girl who watches with incredulity as her sweet boyfriend (Jackson, natch) turns into a werewolf! Then to the pulsing rhythms of the opening line 'It's close to midnight', he stomps around the graveyard with the other zombies and creatures of the night.

The crowning glory of all this is the fruity voice of the great horror star Vincent Price speaking in the middle of the record. Terrific.