Fallen (1998)

Director:

Gregory Hoblit

Writer (WGA):

Nicholas Kazan (written by)

Release Date:

16 January 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Don't trust a soul.

Plot:

Homicide detective John Hobbes witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese. Soon after the execution the killings start again, and they are very similar to Reese's style.

Plot Keywords:

Soul Transference | Cabin | Death | Demon | Disturbing

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Denzel Washington	...	Det. John Hobbes
John Goodman	...	Det. Jonesy
Donald Sutherland	...	Lt. Stanton
Embeth Davidtz	...	Gretta Milano
James Gandolfini	...	Det. Lou
Elias Koteas	...	Edgar Reese
Gabriel Casseus	...	Art Hobbes
Michael J. Pagan	...	Sam Hobbes
Robert Joy	...	Charles Olom
Frank Medrano	...	Charles' Killer
Ronn Munro	...	Mini Golf Owner
Cynthia Hayden	...	Society Woman
Ray Xifo	...	Society Man
Tony Michael Donnelly	...	Toby
Tara Carnes	...	Teenage Girl

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | English | Aramaic

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #35527) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Netherlands:16 (video premiere) | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Bear Mountain Bridge, New York, USA

Company:

Atlas Entertainment

Trivia:

The name John Hobbes is based on two philosophers from the 17th century, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Hobbes generally thought that men were evil and needed the constraints of society to make them better. Locke thought that men are thinking, rational creatures capable of peaceful coexistence. These two themes are explored in the film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Reflection in window when Hobbes returns to the house near the end. It is daylight and a definite human shadow can be seen walking in the bright window reflection to his left.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Azazel: I wanna tell you about the time I almost died....

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Big Wolf on Campus: The Pleasantville Strangler (#1.6)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Superman

Chilling yet intriguing

Fallen is not your typical suspense film. There is very little gore, a clever plot, gorgeous cinematography...but it all adds up to the scariest movie I've ever seen. Why? It plays with your mind. The horror is confined to your brain and not shown onscreen. Some people will (and do) hate this film; it eschews graphic storytelling for a visual, intellectual approach. The ending, which has been criticized for many reasons, is actually the only plausible way it could end. Yes we like to see the human spirit triumph, but more often than not things do not work out the way we like them to. It's refreshing to see a movie which ends on a real level, giving the film a true-to-life credibility which enhances the terror even more. Highly recommended for the intellectual person. Those easily bored stay away.