Storm Catcher (1999)

Director:

Anthony Hickox

Writers:

Bill Gucwa (writer)
Ed Masterson (writer)

Release Date:

28 October 1999 (Malaysia)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

To fight the winds of war... he must enter the eye of the storm.

Plot:

A renegade general (Robert Miano) plots to bomb Washington using a new top secret jet called the Storm Catcher...

Plot Keywords:

General | Conspiracy | Pilot | Frame Up | Fighter Pilot

Cast

Dolph Lundgren	...	Major Jack Holloway
Mystro Clark	...	Captain 'Sparks' Johnson
Jon Pennell	...	Captain Lucas (as John Pennell)
Robert Miano	...	General William Jacobs
Yvonne Zima	...	Nicole Holloway
Kylie Bax	...	Jessica Holloway
Jody Jones	...	Sergeant McGarry
Robert Glen Keith	...	Sergeant Stanley
Anthony Hickox	...	Agent Load (as Tony Hickox)
Kimberley Davies	...	Agent Lock
Rudy Mettia	...	Commando
Burt Goodman	...	Old Guy
Andreea Radutoiu	...	Havens
Phil Culotta	...	Commando #1
Mark Delasandro	...	Commando #2
Matthew R. Anderson	...	Commando #3 (as Matt Anderson)
Travis McKenna	...	Big Man
Ernest Harden Jr.	...	Gate Guard
Roger Clinton	...	Flight Controller
Laura Kim	...	Female Reporter
David Fabrizio	...	SP Douglas
Bean Miller	...	Doctor
Barry Morris	...	Hangar Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Scott Levy	...	Commando (uncredited)
Eric Melstad	...	Commando (uncredited)

Directed by
Anthony Hickox		(as Tony Hickox)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Bill Gucwa		writer
Ed Masterson		writer

Produced by
Ashok Amritraj	....	executive producer
William Burke	....	line producer
Alan B. Bursteen	....	executive producer
Tim Moore	....	line producer
Demitri Samaha	....	executive producer
Tracee Stanley	....	producer
Andrew Stevens	....	producer
Jim Wynorski	....	producer (as Noble Henry)
Elie Samaha	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
David Wurst
Eric Wurst

Cinematography by
David Bridges

Film Editing by
Brett Hedlund

Casting by
Joey Paul

Production Design by
Pamela Marcotte

Set Decoration by
Greta Grigorian

Costume Design by
Carol Ramsey

Makeup Department
Sheri Knight	....	key hair stylist
Sheri Knight	....	key makeup artist
Cynthia Laws	....	assistant hair stylist
Cynthia Laws	....	assistant makeup artist
Linda-Marie Monier	....	assistant hair stylist
Linda-Marie Monier	....	assistant makeup artist
Rosanna Montes	....	assistant hair stylist
Rosanna Montes	....	assistant makeup artist
Nancy Montgomery	....	key hair stylist
Nancy Montgomery	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Tim Moore	....	unit production manager
Maureen Norton	....	post-production supervisor
Alison Semenza	....	executive in charge of production
Alison Semenza	....	unit production manager: additional photography
Lori A. Spall	....	production supervisor
Andrew Stevens	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alexander H. Gayner	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Alex Gayner)
Spiro Razatos	....	second unit director
Daniel R. Suhart	....	second assistant director (as Dan Suhart)
Gregory Allen Webb	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jamie Boyce	....	set dresser
Jeff Cockerell	....	set dresser
John Cuda	....	property assistant: second unit
Bill Davis	....	property master
Bryce Holtshousen	....	lead man (as Bryce Holts Housen)
Tony Dale Russo	....	set dresser
Tennille C. Ruth	....	set dresser
Josh J. Sheridan	....	assistant property master
Darcy Wennes	....	on-set dresser

Sound Department
Stuart C. Bailey	....	adr editor
Stuart C. Bailey	....	dialogue editor
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist
Michael Clark	....	sound effects editor
Lorita de la Cerna	....	adr mixer
Lorita de la Cerna	....	foley mixer
Eric Enroth	....	production sound mixer
Jan Kikumoto	....	sound supervisor
Scott C. Kolden	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lionel Luna	....	boom operator
Kitty Malone	....	foley artist
Joel E. Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dennis Michael Tenney	....	sound supervisor
Trevor Ward	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Special Effects by
Santiago Barbalace	....	special effects technician
Dean W. Miller	....	special effects technician
Eddie Surkin	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Chris Ervin	....	visual effects
Todd Hall	....	optical supervisor
James R. Kerrigan	....	optical cameraman
James Raitt	....	digital effects artist

Stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (as Dick Butler)
Jeff Cadiente	....	stunts
Doc D. Charbonneau	....	stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (as Gil Combs)
Erik Cord	....	stunts
Mark De Alessandro	....	stunts
Ousaun Elam	....	stunts (as Ousaun T. Elam)
David M. Graves	....	stunts
Brett A. Jones	....	stunts (as Brett Jones)
Denney Pierce	....	stunts (as Denny Pierce)
Spiro Razatos	....	stunt coordinator
Michael M. Vendrell	....	stunts (as Michael Vendrell)
Nancy Young	....	stunt double: Kylie Bax
Matthew R. Anderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Andy Gill	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Douglas L. Adam Jr.	....	first assistant Steadicam
James Alden	....	dolly grip
Tony Assini	....	grip
Steve Austin	....	video playback operator
Scott R. Boettle	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Jad Carmona	....	second assistant camera (as Jadira Carmona)
Raul Colletta	....	video playback operator
Tony Deale	....	key grip: second unit
Tony Donato	....	electrician
David Elmore	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Steve Galloway	....	video playback operator
Coby Garfield	....	second assistant camera
David Gottlieb	....	electrician
Julius Graham	....	additional second assistant camera
Bruce Green	....	Steadicam operator
Cam Hinz	....	grip
John Joyce	....	Steadicam operator
Douglas S. Kennedy	....	best boy electric (as Doug Kennedy)
Kevin Lachoff	....	additional second assistant camera
Kevin Lachoff	....	camera loader
John T. Martin	....	key grip
Maurice K. McGuire	....	camera operator: second unit
Christopher McKool	....	grip
Igor Meglic	....	director of photography: second unit
Chris Morley	....	gaffer: second unit
Mike Mueller	....	best boy grip
Gregory Peters	....	still photographer
Michael A. Price	....	additional camera operator (as Michael Price)
Roger Sassen	....	gaffer
Mike Satrazemis	....	camera operator
Mike Satrazemis	....	director of photography: additional photography
Christopher Taylor	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Ted T.E. Tunney	....	gaffer: additional photography (as Edward T.E. Tunney)
Ryan Vanlossberg	....	grip
John Vetter	....	second assistant camera
Michael Woolaway	....	electrician (as Mike Woolaway)

Casting Department
Sarah Dalton	....	casting associate
Joseph Hicks	....	extras casting
Ron Roggé	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lou Eyrich	....	assistant costume designer
Susan Strubel	....	set costumer
Christine Wada	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Mick Erausquin	....	assistant editor
Chuck Winston	....	color timer

Music Department
Steve Cohn	....	music mixer
Eric Wurst	....	conductor

Transportation Department
John Cardos	....	driver
Alberto Coto	....	driver
John Cuda	....	driver: water truck
Ronald P. Dyer	....	driver
Joe Feeney	....	transportation captain
Scotty Goudreau	....	driver
P. Gerald Knight	....	transportation coordinator
Luis Mata	....	driver
Edward Porras Jr.	....	driver
Steve Shoemaker	....	driver
Keven Simmons	....	driver
Jarrett Spencer	....	driver: additional photography
Aliza Washabaugh	....	driver

Other crew
Matthew Anderson	....	military advisor
Steve Bell	....	production assistant
L. Britton	....	script supervisor
Judith M. Brown	....	studio teacher
Paul Brown	....	location assistant
Hèctor Claramunt	....	production assistant
Jeff Clark	....	stand-in: Mr. Lundgren
Marie Fischer	....	accounting assistant
Beth Fricke	....	location assistant
Tara Georgenes	....	production assistant
Bryan Gettman	....	production assistant
Sam Greenmun	....	spacesuit technician
Jim Hartz	....	studio teacher
Robert Hepburn	....	first aid
Rusty Howard	....	production assistant: additional photography
Kamal John Iskander	....	production assistant (as Kamal J. Iskander)
Patrick Joseph	....	assistant production coordinator
Elana Karstofsky	....	location assistant
Marc Kunis	....	post-production accountant
Katie Ladyko	....	assistant: Mr. Lundgren
Diane Laney	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Betsy Mackey	....	production consultant
Ron Mechler	....	craft service
Eric Melstad	....	production assistant
Bill Monroe	....	location manager
Nick Nahas	....	production assistant (as Nicholas Nahas)
Robert L. Oppenheim	....	production legal services
Alan D. Purwin	....	helicopter pilot (as Allen Purwin)
Errol Reichow	....	location manager
Benjamin Sacks	....	production assistant
Florian Schereck	....	production controller
Jo Ann Smith	....	studio teacher
Shari Sontag	....	production accountant
Mic Tomasi	....	stand-in: male utility
Marvin Turpin	....	stand-in: Mr. Clark
Susan E. Walter	....	production assistant
John Burton West	....	production coordinator
Caleb Wilson	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Franchise Pictures
• Phoenician Entertainment
• Stormy Productions Inc.

Distributors

• Franchise Pictures (1999) (Non-USA) (all media)
• Phoenician Entertainment (1999) (Non-USA) (all media)
• New City Releasing (1999) (Non-USA) (all media)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• High Fliers Distribution (2002) (UK) (VHS)
• Highlight Film (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Highlight Film (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1999) (USA) (TV)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• PFC Vidéo (1999) (France) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5)

Other Companies

• Background Players  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• DeForest Research  clearance
• F-Stop Film & Video  titles and opticals
• Film Finance  completion bond
• Global Effects  space suit
• Golden Seale Productions  motion picture equipment rentals
• Ideal Post Sound  re-recording facilities
• Imperial Entertainment Group  production financing
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Magic Film and Video Works  video dailies
• Truman Van Dyke Company  insurance
• Ultravision  Arriflex cameras and lenses provided by
• World Class Catering  catering

MPAA:

Rated R for strong, graphic violence and for language.

Runtime:

95 min | Germany:89 min (25 fps) (cut version) | Germany:91 min (25 fps) (uncut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:18 | Germany:16 (cut) | Germany:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Franchise Pictures

Trivia:

Filmed in 18 days.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Major Jack Holloway's wife gets stabbed, she lies on the floor looking upwards you see blood from her mouth running down the right side of her face, on the next scene it shows that she no longer has blood in the right side of her face.

Quotes:

Major Jack Holloway: Storm Catcher to base, storm catcher to base, control this is storm catcher do you read me. Sparks are you there.
Captain 'Sparks' Johnson: Hello, no one is home right now, please leave a message after the beep.
Major Jack Holloway: Yes this is Jack Holloway how the hell do i stop this thing damm it.
Captain 'Sparks' Johnson: I thought I gave you the instruction book.
Captain Lucas: Hey, will you two stop with the phone sex, we got a plane to test.
Major Jack Holloway: You know Sparks you make my co-pilot jealous.
Captain 'Sparks' Johnson: Awww, I didn't even know he cared. Prick.
Captain Lucas: Yeah, I'll show you how much I care when I get to the ground.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Edited into Agent Red (2000)

Poor even by Lundgren's low standards.

Major Jack Holloway is the pilot of a revolutionary new fighter jet that is totally invisible to all forms of radar when it goes into stealth mode. When ever someone steals the jet, they frame him for the crime and kidnap his family in order to force him to fly it (he being the only person able to). However Holloway escapes from the group and enlists the help of technical wizard Sparks Johnson to out smart the group.

I'm not a big Lundgren fan but I'll always give his movies a go when they come on TV as I tend to hope that they will at least give me some cheap thrills as an average action movie. This film was a major disappointment in many ways. First of all the plot is not exactly clever but it hasn't been developed well enough to make it plausible, it feels like they wrote it with 8 key scenes in mind but were unable to make good links between them – hence we have bad guys simply bursting into Holloway's home etc. It all feels very bitty and this also affects any excitement or tension it may have been able to have – it simply doesn't flow as a film. In fact it is hardly developed at all when the climax occurs – I had to wonder about the extent of the chief villain's plan, his claims were grand on a global scale but we had seen no evidence of the might he would need to pull it off, all I'd seen was a few guys who had been mostly dispatched by Holloway!

However a bad plot and poor development could easily describe many average action movie filling up the late night TV schedules, but this one has other flaws. The direction is indicative of the whole film – rushed, untidy and uncaring. The camera swings around wildly, but not like is the fashion with NYPD Blue or H:LOTS but really wildly so that the mildest scenes are supposed to feel exciting and frantic – they don't. The production values feel cheap with few special effects and al aerial stuff clearly stock footage. The most laughable thing (spotted as well by another reviewer) was when the unit came for Holloway's family and burst through his windows you could see the fake silencers on the toy guns bending all over the place! This is one example but it was full of cheap touches that gave me the overall impression that they just wanted to get the film finished and damn the quality.

The acting is poor at best. Lundgren is poor as he clearly has no character and has been given no direction and is thus not involved with his character. Therefore he seems relaxed in the plane (despite the seriousness of the situation on the ground) and also doesn't even convince when cheering his daughter on at a football game. Only in the fight scenes (of which there are few) does he seem to be trying and even then it's temporary. Clark is a typical `comedy black sidekick' and just exactly what he has seen done in other films before and just mugs his way through. Bax is annoyingly wooden as Holloway's wife and has a grating cut glass English accent which I can only assume the casting crew thought would `add colour' to the film. Miano is a really poor villain and never gets even to the standard of average thrillers. His character has no teeth and I never really saw his plan as realistic or something that couldn't be easily overcome – his failure to be a threat really knocked whatever small amount of interest I still had out of me.

Overall even people who look forward to the next Lundgren film will be disappointed with this. In every area it feels cheap and rushed – it is a product rather than a film. I had to wonder why I was bothering to watch this when it was so clear that everyone involved had put so little effort into this. Poor even by Lundgren's low standards.