"Masters of Horror" Right to Die (2007)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Rob Schmidt

Writer (WGA):

John Esposito (written by)

TV Series:

"Masters of Horror" (2005)

Original Air Date:

5 January 2007 (Season 2, Episode 9)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

When a grisly car accident put his wife into a coma, a man reluctantly pulls the plug only to realize her spirit has turned vengeful against the living.

Plot Keywords:

Adultery | Nightmare | Airbag | Revenge | Cell Phone

Cast

Martin Donovan	...	Cliff Addison
Julia Benson	...	Abbey Addison (as Julia Anderson)
Robin Sydney	...	Trish
Anna Galvin	...	Dr. Loring
Linda Sorenson	...	Pam (as Linda Sorensen)
Corbin Bernsen	...	Ira
Xantha Radley	...	Abbey Thing
Derek Green	...	Reporter
Norman Misura	...	Mr. Schoening
Yvonne Myers	...	Nurse
Bryan Elliot	...	Doctor
Walcott E. Morgan	...	Orderly

Directed by
Rob Schmidt

Writing credits (WGA)
John Esposito		(written by)

Produced by
Keith Addis	....	executive producer
Morris Berger	....	executive producer
Steve Best	....	associate producer
Ben Browning	....	co-producer
Stephen R. Brown	....	executive producer (as Steve Brown)
Andrew Deane	....	executive producer
Mick Garris	....	executive producer
Adam Goldworm	....	co-producer
John W. Hyde	....	executive producer
Gabriel Monje	....	associate producer
Jernej Razen	....	associate producer
Lisa Richardson	....	producer
Tom Rowe	....	producer
Pascal Verschooris	....	line producer

Original Music by
Joey Santiago

Cinematography by
Attila Szalay		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Andrew Cohen

Casting by
Stuart Aikins
Sean Cossey
Lindsey Hayes Kroeger
David Rapaport		(as David H. Rapaport)

Production Design by
Don Macaulay

Art Direction by
Margot Ready

Set Decoration by
Ide Foyle

Costume Design by
Lyn Kelly

Makeup Department
Howard Berger	....	special effects makeup
Lyne Denomme	....	first assistant makeup
Sarah Graham	....	on-set key makeup artist
Jamie Grove	....	on-set key makeup artist
Marcy Hodel	....	first assistant hair stylist
Gregory Nicotero	....	special effects makeup
Vincenza Sharpe	....	on-set key makeup artist
Adina Shore	....	key hair stylist
Margaret Solomon	....	key makeup

Production Management
Margo Coughlin Zimmerman	....	production manager: Starz Productions (as Margo Zimmerman)
Sally Dixon	....	post-production supervisor
Sheri Mayervich	....	unit production manager
Stacey Jade Smart	....	executive in charge of production: Starz Productions
Pascal Verschooris	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ania Musiatowicz	....	second/third assistant director
Ian Samoil	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Andrei Andrianko	....	assistant art director
Nick Dibley	....	property master (as Nicholas Dibley)
Jim Geddes	....	construction coordinator
John McIntosh	....	greens
Jake Miller	....	assistant property master
Nathalie Morin	....	assistant set decorator (as Natalie Morin)
Zbibgniew Scheller	....	construction foreman (as Zbish Scheller)
John Wilcox	....	paint coordinator

Sound Department
Anke Bakker	....	sound supervisor
Kevin Belen	....	re-recording mixer
Brian Campbell	....	dialogue editor
Jay Cheetham	....	background sound editor
Jacqueline Cristianini	....	dialogue/adr supervisor
Kris Fenske	....	sound designer
Devan Kraushar	....	sound effects editor
Jason Mauza	....	foley editor
Laurie Melhus	....	audio post-production coordinator
Bill Mellow	....	re-recording mixer
Glen Noseworthy	....	adr mixer
Sebastian Salm	....	sound mixer
Paul A. Sharpe	....	re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe)
Shane Shemko	....	foley artist
Colin Smith	....	boom operator
Cam Wagner	....	foley artist
Matthew Wilson	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Randy Ball	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Derek Heselton	....	best boy special effects
Grady Holder	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Steve Katz	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Derek Krout	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group (as Derek Krouse)
Jim Leonard	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Wayne Szybunka	....	special effects coordinator
Veronica Torres	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
A.J. Venuto	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
John Wheaton	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Mike Hyrman	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Chris Sturges	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Attila Vaski	....	lead/fab/asst (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Christopher Ahrens	....	cg artist
Derel Babchishin	....	cg artist (as Derek Babchishin)
Matt Belbin	....	digital effects editor (as Matthew Belbin)
Sébastien Bergeron	....	digital effects supervisor
Julie Bergman	....	cg artist
Michael Goddard	....	cg artist (as Mike Goddard)
Gael Hollard	....	digital compositor
Annabelle Kent	....	digital compositor
Todd Liddiard	....	digital compositor
Lionel Lim	....	digital compositor
Adam Marisett	....	cg artist
Stephen Misek	....	cg artist
Stephen Paschke	....	cg artist
Lisa K. Sepp	....	visual effects producer (as Lisa Sepp-Wilson)
Philippe Thibault	....	digital compositor
Lee Wilson	....	visual effects supervisor
Bob Dewald	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Jim Dunn	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Sandy Cooper	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Keenan Horita	....	best boy lighting
Lane Koch	....	first assistant camera
Mike Kolafa	....	gaffer (as Michael Kolafa)
Brock Miller	....	best boy grip
Steve Sherlock	....	key grip
Richard Wilson	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Aaron Haesler	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Marc Nolet	....	grip (uncredited)
Pascal Jean Provost	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Jeremy Spofford	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sandra-Ken Freeman	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Glenna Owen	....	assistant costume designer
Tyler Tone	....	set costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Nathan Atkins	....	assistant editor
Richard Cordes	....	color timer
Andrea Dixon	....	color timer
Troy Sitter	....	post-production assistant
Matt Venables	....	post-production coordinator
Mike Williamson	....	editorial coordinator

Music Department
Mike Beckett	....	music editor
Jennifer Ross	....	music supervisor
Ed Shearmur	....	composer: main title music (as Edward Shearmur)

Transportation Department
Louie Hausner	....	transportation captain
John Swetlikoe	....	transportation coordinator
Duane Shearer	....	office driver (uncredited)
Jovan Vujatovic	....	picture car coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Christine Barrie	....	stand-in
Michael Bishop	....	key production assistant
Laura Collini	....	script supervisor (as Laura June Colini)
Genessa Davis	....	assistant production coordinator
Jim Desroches	....	production coordinator (as James Desroches)
Annie Doyon	....	assistant accountant
Scott 'Big Dog' Franklin	....	assistant location manager (as Scott Franklin)
Chris Garbasauskas	....	production assistant
Cameron Grierson	....	assistant to producer
Cameron Grierson	....	script coordinator
Richter Hartig	....	production auditor: Starz Productions (as Richter Q. Hartig)
Dave Harvey	....	assistant accountant
Elissa Howarth	....	production administration manager: Starz Productions
Andrea Kaufman	....	production coordinator: Starz Productions (as Andrea M. Kaufman)
Max Lavine	....	assistant to producers
Katy Lew	....	executive administrator
Susan Nestibo	....	location manager
Ross Redhead	....	assistant to producers
Adrian Salpeter	....	producers assistant: Lisa Richardson
Stephen Tibbetts	....	stand-in (as Stephen Tibbets)
Bill Vigars	....	unit publicist
Beverly Wiens	....	production accountant
Stephanie Brown	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Nancy Heller	....	office manager: Anthem Visual Effects (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Starz Productions
• Nice Guy Productions
• Industry Entertainment

Distributors

• Kadokawa Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Premiere (2009) (Germany) (TV)
• Showtime Networks (2007) (USA) (TV)
• Splendid Film (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Starz Home Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)

Runtime:

58 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-MA | Australia:R (2007) | Italy:VM14 | Germany:18

Company:

Starz Productions

Movie Connections:

References "The Montel Williams Show" (1991)

The Hidden Treasure in Season Two

A man and his wife get in a horrible car accident. When the wife is left in a persistent vegetative state, the man must choose between pulling the plug and letting her live. The decision is made even harder when he realizes her ghost wants to extract revenge on him and those around him.

This comes to us from director Rob Schmidt, who made "Wrong Turn" (a film I have not seen). With only one horror film under his belt, and not a particularly notorious one at that, I was a bit reluctant to watch this episode, expecting Schmidt to be a "Master of Horror" in only the most liberal sense. My apologies to him for my underestimation. As of episode 10 in a 13 episode season, this was actually the best one yet.

The issue of the "right to die" is dealt with and covered in enough detail to be a solid plot device. However, this is only the foundation on which the story revolves. Once the horror elements show up, the film goes from "decent" to "spectacular". Great acting, great plot, great dialogue, great suspense. I was a little creeped out at times (which is good) and most of all: the gore is in extreme abundance! I read a review of this episode prior to watching it, where the reviewer said there is a strong hint of "Hellraiser" in this. Through the first part of the show, I had no idea what they were talking about. Then there is a bit later where some images do remind me of "Hellraiser 2". However, I in no way wish to say that this takes away from the film. I can see no other way to create the effect that was created, and in my opinion this looks remarkably better than "Hellraiser 2".

Some plot twists show up later on, and might invite the viewer to give the film a second look. I didn't watch it a second time, but I think the beginning would make more sense if I had (not that it's confusing). The subplot with the dental hygienist is also nice, and I found myself going back and forth about whether I disliked the main character for his relationship with her or if I felt bad for him. He's somewhat of an anti-hero to the whole story, if you will. I feel inclined to cheer for him as the protagonist, but he's completely unlovable.

While the Stuart Gordon episode may be better and I'm excited about the "Washingtonians" episode, I think I could safely bet that this is the key episode of the season and by far the saving grace of what was otherwise lackluster and routine. When legends like John Carpenter let me down (again) I get a bit worried about the genre's future, but then a fresh face like Rob Schmidt comes along and gives me hope. This one is a keeper, and please bring Schmidt back for season 3!