Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe (1991)

User Rating:

2.2/10   

Director:

Damian Lee

Writer:

Damian Lee (writer)

Release Date:

18 December 1991 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi | Action

Plot:

An alien "policeman" (Abraxas) arrives on Earth to apprehend a renegade of his own race who impregnates...

Plot Keywords:

Policeman | Alien | Mother Son Relationship | Strip Club | Sheriff

Cast

Jesse Ventura	...	Abraxas
Sven-Ole Thorsen	...	Secundus (as Sven Ole-Thorsen)
Damian Lee	...	Dar
Jerry Levitan	...	Hite
Marjorie Bransfield	...	Sonia Murray
Ken Quinn	...	Carl
Marilyn Lightstone	...	Abraxas' Answer Box (voice)
Moses Znaimer	...	Secundus' Answer Box (voice)
Robert Nasmith	...	Sonia's Father
Kris Michaels	...	Sonia's Mother
Layne Coleman	...	Registry Clerk
Francis Mitchell	...	Tommy Murray
Sonja Belliveau	...	Doctor
James Belushi	...	Principal Latimer (as Jim Belushi)
Erica Heenan	...	School Secretary
John Blackwood	...	Camper Dad
Rae Johnson	...	Camper Mom
Adrian Burnett	...	Michael, Camper Son
David Mitchell	...	Deputy Johnny White
Al Timmer	...	Maxie
Michael Copeman	...	Sheriff Sharp
Michael Scherer	...	Garage Owner
Kathy Tapin	...	Irate Girl
Zion Lee	...	Jack (as Zeon Lee)
Tyrell Janos	...	Willy
Jason Turnpenny	...	2nd Bully
Lee Anne Simms	...	Betty
Johnny Askwith	...	Cocky Youth
Johanna Householder	...	Rosa, Grocery Clerk
Sarah James	...	Stripper
Leo Armoffe	...	Bar Patron
Alex Ruge	...	Bouncer
Ellen Dubin	...	First Waitress
Kate Healey	...	Second Waitress
Christine Wilson	...	Teacher (as Chris Wilson)

Directed by
Damian Lee

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Damian Lee		writer

Produced by
Reid Dennison	....	associate producer
William Dever	....	video producer
Damian Lee	....	producer
Armand Leo	....	line producer
David Mitchell	....	producer
Curtis Petersen	....	producer
Alexander Ruge	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Carlos Lopes

Cinematography by
Curtis Petersen
Keith Thomson		(director of photography)
Mark Willis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Reid Dennison

Casting by
Jon Comerford

Production Design by
Michael Borthwick

Art Direction by
Michael Borthwick

Set Decoration by
Greg Holmgren

Costume Design by
Kate Healey

Makeup Department
Leslie Dumbleton	....	hair stylist
Leslie Dumbleton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Armand Leo	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kalithea Kabas	....	third assistant director
Bruce Speyer	....	second assistant director
Chris Wilson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Trevor Emvies	....	graphic action
Jeff Mawle	....	property master
Jim Murrin	....	props assistant
Marie Nardella	....	assistant set decorator
Bob Segal	....	assistant set decorator
Robin Stephens	....	graphic action

Sound Department
David Appleby	....	sound re-recordist
Tony Bielow	....	sound transfer
Keith Elliott	....	sound re-recording mixer
Keith Elliott	....	sound re-recordist
James A. Gore	....	foley assistant
Nigel Haggis	....	sound transfer
Jack Heeren	....	foley recordist
Ormond Jobin	....	sound engineer
Peter Kelly	....	adr recordist
Richard Kelly	....	assistant sound editor
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Shelly Morrow	....	assistant sound editor
Dan Munro	....	location sound mixer
John Paxton	....	boom operator
James Reid	....	adr editor
Ernie Rilcup	....	sound transfer
Alban Streeter	....	sound designer
Alban Streeter	....	sound effects editor
Haydn Streeter	....	adr editor
Haydn Streeter	....	dialogue editor
Don White	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don White	....	sound re-recordist

Special Effects by
Ron Craig	....	special effects
Peter Phillips	....	pyrotechnician
Stan Zuwala	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Gunter Busch	....	optical layout
Ian Elliot	....	optical camera
Klaus Richtmann	....	optical color timer

Stunts
Shane Cardwell	....	stunt coordinator
Shane Cardwell	....	stunts
Eric Christensen	....	stunts
Wayne Dower	....	stunts
Terry Howson	....	stunts
Daniel Lima	....	stunts
Danny Lima	....	stunts
Ben Quinn	....	stunts
Michael Scherer	....	stunts
Suzanne Smith	....	stunts
Peter Szkoda	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Johnny Askwith	....	gaffer
Mike Chrisholm	....	best boy electric
Mike Chrisholm	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Richard Eagan	....	focus puller
Richard Eagan	....	second assistant camera
Charles Gould	....	key grip
Olaf Haeussler	....	camera technician
Curtis Herbert	....	key grip
Hamish McIntyre	....	best boy grip
John Medland	....	still photographer
Doug Nelson	....	second second assistant camera: second unit
Gerald Packer	....	gaffer
Glenn Pineau	....	first assistant camera
Peter Schalakowskyj	....	generator operator
Keith Thomson	....	camera operator
Chuck Trottier	....	animation camera operator

Casting Department
Ruth Hache	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Janet K. Van Duzen	....	wardrobe assistant (as Janet Van Duzen)

Editorial Department
John Cameron	....	assistant editor
Thea Geldorp	....	negative cutter
Shelly Morrow	....	assistant editor
Jennifer Norman	....	assistant editor
Ricardo Olivero	....	color timer
J.R. Reidman	....	post-production coordinator
Tonny Werdekker	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Dennis Jameson	....	music editor
John Johnson	....	musician

Transportation Department
Trond Halle	....	driver captain
Michael Kidder	....	driver
Ed McManus	....	driver
Tim Rivers	....	driver
Evan Siegel	....	driver
Chuck Vergara	....	transportation coordinator
Noel Verhoog	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Dan Abransky	....	production assistant
Carole Ann Alloway	....	adr voice group
William Alloway	....	adr voice group
Andrea Clark	....	adr voice group
Rae Crombie	....	office assistant
Matthew B. Foote	....	adr voice group
Helder Goncalves	....	production accountant
David Graham	....	adr voice group
Linda Halle	....	production secretary
Al Heslip	....	caterer
Max Hilpert	....	financial services
Roseanna O. Samantha Istance	....	production coordinator
Roseanna O. Samantha Istance	....	production coordinator: Vancouver (as Roseanna Istance)
Patty Kazmer	....	adr voice group
Jason Lancuncki	....	adr voice group
Brent MacLeod	....	projectionist
Angela Mastronardi	....	script supervisor
Heather Menard	....	production accountant: Vancouver
Kris Michaels	....	production coordinator
Candace Mollins	....	adr voice group
Peter Muldoon	....	assistant accountant
Tim O'Connell	....	projectionist
Monique Savin	....	production secretary
Ted Schmitt	....	business affairs
Kathy Tapin	....	craft service (as Katy Tapin)
Michael Uretz	....	legal counsel
Brian Wells	....	production assistant

Thanks
Ellen Anderson	....	special thanks (as Mayor Ellen Anderson)
David Beesley	....	special thanks (as Chief David Beesley)
Antonio Columbu	....	dedicated to the memory of
Joe Ertel	....	special thanks
Paul Lee	....	special thanks (as Mr. Paul Lee)
Sheleigh Mitchell	....	special thanks (as Mrs. Sheleigh Mitchell)
Irv Moundt	....	special thanks
Norm Ontonio	....	special thanks (as Mr. Norm Ontonio)
Charlie Sangster	....	special thanks
Will Walker	....	special thanks (as Mr. Will Walker)

Production Companies

• Rose & Ruby Productions

Distributors

• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1991) (Canada) (theatrical)
• BFS Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Brentwood Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (Canada) (VHS)
• Front Row Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (laserdisc)
• MCA (video)
• Madison Home Video
• Prism Pictures (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Simitar Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• United American Video (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Bank Nederland  financial services
• Beaver Valley Community Public School  special thanks
• Budget Car Rentals  special thanks
• Canadian Motion Picture Equipment Rentals  special thanks (as Canadian Motion Pictures Equipment Rentals)
• Chrysler  special thanks
• Coca Cola  special thanks (as Coca-Cola Limited)
• Credit Lyonnais  financial services
• Echo  title art
• End of the Rainbow Farm & Orchard  special thanks
• Film House  film processing
• Film Opticals  special visual effects
• Georgian Peaks Club  special thanks
• Granary, The  special thanks
• Grosvenor Park Equities  financial services
• Hilmac Consulting  financial services
• Miller Brewing Company  special thanks (as Miller's Brewery)
• Molson Breweries  special thanks (as Molson's Brewery)
• Moveable Type  
• PPI Camera Corporation  camera equipment
• PPI Camera Corporation  location trucks
• PPI Camera Corporation  sound equipment
• Panavision Canada  special thanks
• Parker Public Relations  public relations
• Ron Craig Special Effects Associates  pyrotechnics
• Stan Zuwala Special Effects Associates  model set design and construction
• T.N.T.-Toronto  negative cutting
• The Film House Group  special thanks
• Thornbury Fire Department  special thanks
• Thornbury Police Department  special thanks
• Victoria Centre  special thanks
• Waterloo's Network  special thanks

Also Known As:

Abraxas

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | USA:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Thornbury, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Rose & Ruby Productions

Trivia:

Cameo: [James Belushi appears as Principal Latimer]as a favor to his then-wife Marjorie Bransfield, who plays Sonia.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Secundus throws the man talking about erotic dancers to the ground, his cap falls off. In the next shot, it is still on his head.

Quotes:

Father: So what makes you think you can locate my 4-by-4?
Abraxas: My box has VD, trust me.
Mother: Your what?
Abraxas: VD. Vibrational Detection.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Planet X: (#2.4)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Silent Night

Keep a straight-face.

Anything starring ex-wrestler / former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura gotta be worth your weight in gold. After appearing as support in such films 'Predator', 'The Running Man and 'Ricochet', his first leading role happens to be in something rather lesser; 'Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe'. It's a low-rent, corny b-grade sci-fi chase get-up in the form of those efforts done in the late 80s / early 90s ('The Hidden', 'The Peacekeeper' and 'Dark Angel') with certain elements of 'The Terminator' (1984) obviously featuring.

Abraxas, an alien officer comes to earth to track down a renegade who plans to impregnate a woman with a child, which would be an actual ticking time bomb waiting to explode if caught in the wrong hands. He captures the renegade, but is too late to stop the pregnancy. Instead of destroying the threat, he spares the mother and baby's life. Times passes and the renegade escapes and heads back to earth to find the child, but Abraxas is soon on his trail by trying to get to the child first.

It's best that you just go with the flow. Don't look too hard into it, as it won't be impossible to get some sort enjoyment out of it with its unintentional mocking and bizarre nature (like the birth scene). Ventura rocks, but something about his burly physic not matching up to his well-mannered delivery of the material raises some chuckles with his almost-like second-rate Terminator impression. At times the chewy dialogues (honestly it was Shakespeare stuff) seemed too much of a mouth-fall for the two outer-space guests. A robotic Sven-Ole Thorsen forcefully played the evil foe, but Ventura has an sincerely likable air to him that makes him rather appealing in the role. Marjorie Bransfield is decent in her part. Also appearing in very minor support is James Belushi (who has a ridiculous conversation with Bransfield's character) and the dependable Michael Copeman.

Damien Lee (b-grade actor/writer/director) manages to make the production look better technically than its budget would allow. Sure the minimal special effects and (out of place slow-motion) action set-pieces are low-scale, but modestly crafted. It's well-photographed and the soundtrack is a flavoured sample of swiftly soothing jazz (odd I know) and electrifying rock. The flabby script is constantly stiff drivel and the screenplay while focused is still quite pedestrian (with a meandering midsection), but whenever Ventura's narrative voice-over pops up it amuses. The supposed humour on the other hand, (which the script tries for in parts) is dumb and falls flat, because they're not the moments you'll laugh at. Talk about a dud of an ending.

Undistinguishable, but better than expected camp that has some heart.