Of Unknown Origin (1983)

Director:

George P. Cosmatos

Writers:

Chauncey G. Parker III (novel)
Brian Taggert (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 noviembre 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Frase comercial:

If it can't scare them to death, it will find another way.

Plot:

A man who recently completed rebuilding a townhouse becomes obsessed with a rat infestation until it becomes an interspecies duel.

Plot Keywords:

House | Businessman | Mouse Trap | Poison | Psychological Drama

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Not to be Underestimated!

Cast

Peter Weller	...	Bart Hughes
Jennifer Dale	...	Lorrie Wells
Lawrence Dane	...	Eliot Riverton
Kenneth Welsh	...	James Hall
Louis Del Grande	...	Clete
Shannon Tweed	...	Meg Hughes
Keith Knight	...	Hardware salesman
Maury Chaykin	...	Dan Errol
Leif Anderson	...	Peter Hughes
Jimmy Tapp	...	Meg's father
Gayle Garfinkle	...	Janis Wycoff
Earl Pennington	...	Mr. Thompson
Bronwen Mantel	...	Florence
Jacklin Webb	...	News Vendor
Monik Nantel	...	Secretary

Duración:

Sweden:89 min | USA:88 min

País:

Canada | USA

Idioma:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sonido:

Mono

Clasificación:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)

Quotes:

Bart Hughes: Keep it up. Just keep it up. I've got friends in Jersey.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in WildCat (2007) (V)

Not to be Underestimated!

This movie is about a large, smart rat threatening to undermine everything a worldly wall street climber (Peter Weller) has worked to create for his world. The movie is like it's clever rat...creeping up with more intelligence than should be expected.

Great movies work equally on separate levels so that a wide audience can take what they will from it and still enjoy it immensely. Although technically a B-movie punctuated by 80's camp, it is unmistakable that "Of Unknown Origin" is truly special.

It's unfortunate that this movie has enough unattractive elements to deter a viewer's interest. First of all, it's a "rat movie". When has that ever been a favorable genre? Second of all, Shannon Tweed's involvement, however early in her career, emits an odor of genericness and illegitimacy.

Don't be turned off by all these potentially fatal bad traits. Director George P. Cosomotos and Peter Weller had an interesting, artful collaboration going on in "Of Unknown Origin". The film has a tight focus on theme and story, and goofy, highly entertaining, cult-status-worthy performance bits from Weller. It's a fun film- there's no doubt about that. There may be cheese, but there's also sincerity in how the film refuses to take itself seriously. Also, the familiar moral of the story is shown in so fresh a form that you won't even care.

For a story that works so well on an intellectual level, it's a blessing that the actual rat combat scenes are a great time. As Weller's lost yuppie starts to lose his sanity, his battles with his furry foe become more and more extravagant. Let's just say the conclusion is incredible.

The title refers to the clouded evolution of rats. It also speaks of the burning, unavoidable core of our hearts that is pure and determined to defeat our dark sides. Our consciences? Our God? Or is it just a fear of a big friggin' rat? Ponder that if you'd like, but enjoy "Of Uknown Origin" regardless.