Rampage (1987)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

William Friedkin (writer)
William P. Wood (novel)

Release Date:

30 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

This is the face of Charles Reece, a mass murderer. He doesn't think he's done anything wrong. The real crime is that the jury may agree.

Plot:

Liberal district attorney decides to seek the death penalty for a man who slaughtered a family at Christmastime...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Independent Film | Based On Play

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Michael Biehn	...	Anthony Fraser
Alex McArthur	...	Charlie Reece
Nicholas Campbell	...	Albert Morse
Deborah Van Valkenburgh	...	Kate Fraser
John Harkins	...	Dr. Keddie
Art LaFleur	...	Mel Sanderson
Billy Green Bush	...	Judge McKinsey (as Billy Greenbush)
Royce D. Applegate	...	Gene Tippetts
Grace Zabriskie	...	Naomi Reece
Carlos Palomino	...	Nestode
Roy London	...	Dr. Paul Rudin
Donald Hotton	...	Dr. Leon Gables
Andy Romano	...	Spencer Whalen
Patrick Cronin	...	Harry Bellenger
Roger Nolan	...	Dr. Roy Blair

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (1990) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1989) | Australia:R | France:-12 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

El Dorado Street, Stockton, California, USA

Company:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Trivia:

Due to legal complications, this film wasn't shown theatrically in America until several years after its European debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the doctor turns off the oxygen machine, he closes the girl's eyes. But, her eyes were already closed when they said she was brain dead.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Directors: The Films of William Friedkin (#2.13)" (????)

The difficult conflict of legal insanity and the death penalty.

Rampage is based on the 1978 killings of Robert Chase, Sacremento's "Vampire Killer," aptly named because he drank the blood of his victims, claiming that he believed his blood was poisoned, so he had to kill people for their blood. In four days, Chase killed six people.

Like Charlie Reece, the film version of Chase, Chase had previously been committed to a mental institution, but neither his mother nor the institution seemed to take seriously his condition and peculiar, if not deranged, habits. And indeed, he was much more obvious about those peculiarities than the film lets on.

Both the movie and the case which it is based on bring up an important question about the death penalty. Michael Bein is prosecutor Anthony Fraser, who is prosecuting for the death penalty. Fraser, however, had previously been staunchly opposed to the death penalty, remarking how had he been in the legislature, he would vote against it. But, these are one of the situations where people are forced to ask: are you opposed to the death penalty in ALL situations? Even Fraser was forced to reconsider his position, after the investigation reveals numerous brutal murders. As a result, he tries a tough case.

Tough in part because of the issue of Reece's mental capacity at the time of the murders. The defense argues not guilty by reason of insanity, expecting the plea will keep him from getting a prison sentence (and the death penalty), and instead, get him in a mental institution. Fraser can't believe that someone would want to argue that for someone as vicious as Reece, but one psychiatrist, in testifying for the defense says, nothing can be solved if he is dead. It does nothing for those who died, and it does nothing for him. The psychiatrist reasons that Reece should be put in a hospital and studied, that investigators would be able to formulate a profile to prevent future murders.

Fraser retorts, asking, so people must die for that? The ultimate question becomes, in Charlie Reece's case, would it be worth it to declare him insane? Especially considering the lack of attention he could possibly be given anyways as he sat drugged up in a mental institution as just another patient. The system itself is one of the arguments against the insanity plea in a case like this.

In a case like this, so brutal, and with Charlie Reece (and the real Robert Chase) so wacked, is reform possible? And is it necessary? Those are the issues this film wrestles with, and not easily so. It does somewhat capture the eerieness evoked by such a brutal serial killer, particularly with intermitten scenes of flashbacks and symbolic scenery. You get sucked into this strange character of Reece and you keep wondering if this guy is really crazy or was it all just a game? The movie makes it seem like Reece is initially faking it, but then you can't be too sure. And that's essential to the viewer looking for justification for their conclusions as to whether Reece should be executed or not. Definitely a worthy courtroom drama to try.