Communion (1989)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Philippe Mora

Writers (WGA):

Whitley Strieber (book)
Whitley Strieber (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 November 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

On December 26th, 1985, Whitley Strieber had a dream. Weeks later, he discovered his family had the same dream. Months later, he made the most shocking discovery of his life. Now, you will discover it.

Plot:

Whitley Strieber goes with his family and some friends to his holiday home in the forest. They experience some weird occurances...

Plot Keywords:

UFO | Halloween | Alien Contact | Cabin | Hypnosis

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Whitley Strieber
Lindsay Crouse	...	Anne Strieber
Frances Sternhagen	...	Dr. Janet Duffy
Andreas Katsulas	...	Alex
Terri Hanauer	...	Sarah
Joel Carlson	...	Andrew Strieber
John Dennis Johnston	...	Fireman
Dee Dee Rescher	...	Mrs. Greenberg
Aileen Fitzpatrick	...	Mother
R.J. Miller	...	Father
Holly Fields	...	Praying Mantis Girl
Paula Shaw	...	Woman from Apartment
Juliet Sorci	...	Second Grade Girl (as Juliet Sorcey)
Tifni Twitchell	...	Teacher
Joshua Miller	...	Tall Boy (as Joshua John Miller)
Kate Stern	...	Woman on Bus
Johnny Dark	...	Lab Technician
Jonathan Fromdahl	...	Whitley (5 years)
Andrew Magarian	...	Man in Hallway
Basil Hoffman	...	Dr. Friedman
Paul Clemens	...	Patrick
Maggie Egan	...	Nancy
Irene Forrest	...	Sally
Sally Kemp	...	Laurie
Vince McKewin	...	Bob
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Madeleine Mora	...	Alien Abductee (uncredited)
Ingrid Vold	...	Magician's Assistant (uncredited)

Directed by
Philippe Mora

Writing credits (WGA)
Whitley Strieber		(book)
Whitley Strieber		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dan Allingham	....	producer
Gary Barber	....	executive producer
Philippe Mora	....	producer
Paul Redshaw	....	executive producer
Edward Simons	....	co-producer (as Ed Simons)
Richard A. Strieber	....	associate producer
Whitley Strieber	....	producer

Original Music by
Eric Clapton
Allan Zavod

Cinematography by
Louis Irving

Film Editing by
Lee Smith

Casting by
Penny Perry

Production Design by
Linda Pearl

Art Direction by
Dena Roth

Set Decoration by
Diana Allen Williams

Costume Design by
Malissa Daniel

Makeup Department
Michelle Bühler	....	makeup artist
Denise Dellavalle	....	additional makeup artist
Erin Lyons	....	hair stylist
Ann Masterson	....	hair stylist: New York
Dixie McCracken	....	special makeup mechanical effects
Michael McCracken Jr.	....	special makeup mechanical effects (as Michael Shawn McCracken)
Melissa McCracken	....	special makeup mechanical effects
Michael McCracken	....	special makeup mechanical effects
Kris Rosenberger	....	hair stylist
Pamela S. Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Dan Allingham	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sharon Mann	....	first assistant director
Robert J. Metoyer	....	second assistant director

Art Department
David Esparza	....	scenic painter
Charles M. Lagola	....	property master: New York
Brian Markey	....	construction coordinator
Helen Wilson	....	seamstress
Bill Zullo	....	property master

Sound Department
Andrew Adams	....	utility sound
Peter Burgess	....	sound editor
Alan Douglas	....	sound recording engineer
David Harrison	....	sound re-recording mixer
Doron Kipen	....	sound recording engineer
Hugh Little	....	boom operator: New York
Matthew McFadden	....	boom operator
Bill Meredith	....	sound mixer: New York
Richard Murphy	....	boom operator: New York (as Rich Murphy)
Glenn Newnham	....	sound editor
Ron Purvis	....	sound re-recording mixer
Terry Rodman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Terry Rodman	....	supervising sound editor
Ed White	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Dave Gregory	....	photographic effects supervisor
Hal Miles	....	animatronics supervisor
Richard Ratliff	....	special effects
AJ Workman	....	alien effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Savas Alatis	....	camera loader: New York
Gary Dagg	....	key grip
Michael Kelem	....	aerial camera operator
Steven Kline	....	additional focus puller
Steven Kline	....	first assistant camera: New York
Bob Lee	....	key grip: New York
Chuck Mason	....	best boy electric
Mark Roemmich	....	best boy grip
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
Russ St. John	....	dolly grip
Jorgen Wedseltoft	....	first assistant camera
Kevin Williams	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Donna B. Anderson	....	casting assistant (as Donna Anderson)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Emmy Taylor	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Sharon McGeeney	....	negative cutter
Mike Milliken	....	color timer
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Eric Clapton	....	composer: main theme
Eric Clapton	....	performer: main theme
Alan Clarke	....	composer: end theme
Allan Zavod	....	composer: additional score
Eduardo Ponsdomenech	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Lee Sanders	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Stephanie Alexander	....	additional unit publicist
Steve Beeson	....	production accountant
Benita Brazier	....	script supervisor
Marty Capune	....	additional location manager
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Alan Clarke	....	additional arrangement & performer: "End Theme"
Pam Cornfeld-Walker	....	production coordinator (as Pam Cornfeld)
Kristi Frankenheimer	....	location manager (as Kristi Frankenheimer-Davis)
Jonathon Green	....	production assistant
Karen Kelsall	....	script supervisor: New York
Eduardo Ponsdomenech	....	assistant: Christopher Walken
Larry Stephens	....	location manager: New York
Amy Wells	....	production associate

Production Companies

• Allied Vision
• M.C.E.G. Virgin Home Entertainment
• Pheasantry Films
• The Picture Property Company

Distributors

• Fox Network (1993) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• New Line Cinema (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Home Video (1990s) (Canada) (video)
• Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1990) (Canada) (VHS)
• Elite Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• M.C.E.G. Virgin Home Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA Home Video (1990) (Canada) (VHS)
• New Line Home Video (1990s) (USA) (video)
• TriPictures (1990) (Spain) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance
• Creative Effects  special make-up mechanical effects
• Enterprise Casting  extras casting
• McCracken Studio  special make-up mechanical effects
• Movieland Caterers  catering
• Music & Effects Sound Laboratory  music recorded at
• Payments Plus  payroll services
• Ryder Sound Services  sound services
• The Town House  music recorded at
• Title House  titles and opticals
• Vista Group  picture vehicles

Runtime:

Netherlands:101 min | Germany:106 min (video) | USA:107 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Allied Vision

Trivia:

Cameo: [Whitley Strieber and son]in the museum sequence near the end.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Whitley leaves his vehicle in the 'final' visit to the cabin, the camera cuts to the entire cabin drenched in light. As he starts approaching it you can clearly see the source of light as a spotlight at the top right of the screen.

Quotes:

Andrew Strieber: [Asking about God] So we're all alone except for the little blue doctors? Can I dream Dad's dream?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Blast from the Past (1999)

Soundtrack:

PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ

Freakin' WEIRD movie, this!

Director Philippe Mora has made some bizarre movies in his time, and 'Communion' is one of the strangest. Christopher Walken plays writer Whitley Strieber who finds his life going in a very odd direction. Strieber isn't the most grounded guy in the first place - his writing technique seems to consist of putting on funny hats and pretending to be a wolf - but even his broadminded wife Anne (Mamet regular Lindsay Crouse) draws the line at freaking out at Halloween masks, pulling a gun on imaginary owls or intruders or whatever it was, and generally nutso behaviour. She convinces Whit to see a doctor, and then a psychiatrist. Under hypnosis Strieber finds out more than he is prepared for. At least he's not insane... I think.

This is one of Walken's greatest "out there" performances, as memorable as 'The Deerhunter', 'The King Of New York' and 'Wild Side'. He mumbles, grimaces, laughs, dances, twitches, stares, freaks out, charms, irritates and scares. I don't think his "Whitley Strieber" has anything to do with the real life one, but it's a sensational performance nonetheless. Walken has few rivals in screen psychos - only Dennis Hopper during his 70s excesses, or vintage Timothy Carey can rival him. Freakin' weird role in a freakin' weird movie! A must see for lovers of movie strangeness.