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Overview

User Rating:
5.8/10   473 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Writers (WGA):
Shirley Jackson (short story)
Anthony Spinner (television story)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Lottery on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
29 September 1996 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
On his deathbed in the hospital, Jason's father asks that he be buried in the town from which he came... more | add synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
User Comments:
A study in why not to make movies out of short stories more (40 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Dan Cortese ... Jason Smith

Keri Russell ... Felice Dunbar

Veronica Cartwright ... Maggie Dunbar

Stephen Root ... Graham Dunbar
William Daniels ... Reverend Hutchinson

William Morgan Sheppard ... Mayor Warner (as W. Morgan Sheppard)

Joe Chrest ... Deputy Jeff Simmons
Salome Jens ... Faith Lloyd

M. Emmet Walsh ... Chief Davis

Sean Murray ... Henry Watkins
Jon Huffman ... Dr. Wasserman
Jeff Corey ... Albert Smith

Amy Parrish ... Kelly Malone

Alex Van ... Craig Lloyd
David Lenthall ... Postmaster
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Additional Details

Runtime:
100 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

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FAQ

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7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
A study in why not to make movies out of short stories, 1 April 2004
Author: Mean_Joe_Weeks from United States

There are some things in this world that are tied very exclusively to one time period, and though their essence is eternal, there is a need, sometimes, to bring subtle changes to the details in order to allow other generations to share in their merit. Unfortunately for the film version, 'The Lottery' is not one of these. The original short story by Shirley Jackson is the perfect encapsulation of every interesting facet the story had to offer. it beautifully and subtly creates tension and then shocking horror, and makes us question ourselves and the things we hold to be normal. It does all this in a few scant pages.

The movie drags on and on for about an hour and a half, and the payoff is exactly the same. Along the way you have to sit through mercilessly lame acting and flat, dull characters. The idea that the town has a mysterious secret is introduced almost immediately, but the film's final climax is where everything is revealed. Simple enough, but it unfortunately means that through the vast bulk of the movie, the same theme is repeated over and over. Jason comes to a situation that seems mysterious. But the townies won't tell him what's going on! Even if it were well acted, even if the subplots were remotely engaging, there just isn't any way to get around the tedious repetition. And folks, the acting is not good. And the subplots are just corny as all hell. Keri Russel in particular seems unfathomably cast. She stands out as totally inappropriate for the role of a small-town girl with her modern vernacular and of course her suspiciously flawless tan. Most of the other character actors just play the predictable role of "belligerent small town sheriff" and the like. Nothing to see here. The film particularly produces groans with it's implausible romance -replete with an exploding car, natch - and absurdly vague expository dialog.

As for the end, its executed with appropriate style. But the wait it takes to get there just isn't justified. All and all, the film can't get past the troublesome point that there just isn't enough there to fill an hour and a half. Read the short story instead, its impact is at least as potent. And considerably more eloquent as well.

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
DVD or VHS release? trevorzimm
MR FEENY! thelooking_glass
I'm trying to find the name of this movie snickers1964
maybe im thinking of a different movie.. mildlypsychotic
Wouldn't you move? TheLastUnicorn
this movie is just disturbing to watch cubfan82990
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