Summer of Fear

Starring:Linda Blair, Lee Purcell, Jeremy Slate, Jeff McCracken, Jeff East, Carol Lawrence, Macdonald Carey, James Jarnigan, Gwil Richards, Kerry Arquette, Beatrice Manley, Patricia Wilson, Ed Wright, Fran Drescher, Billy Beck, Nicole Keller, Sierra Pecheur, Frederick Rule, Helena MÃ¤kelÃ¤, John Steadman
Director: Wes Craven
Studio: Live / Artisan
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Shakey facade for pornography
Not a big fan of the Spikester
Spike lee is a horrible director
Spike Lee captures the reality of Summer in New York City - Bad vibes
Spike did not do the right thing

Summer of Sam
Starring: Michael Badalucco , Adrien Brody , Jennifer Esposito , Ken Garito , and Ben Gazzara
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Crime & Criminals | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

54
25th Hour
Spike Lee Joint Collection (Clockers/ Jungle Fever/ Do the Right Thing/ Mo` Better Blues/ Crooklyn)
Get on the Bus
Girl 6

ASIN: B00002RAO2
Release Date: 1999-12-21

Amazon.com

It's important to note that Spike Lee's drama is not titled Son of Sam. Summer of Sam doesn't chronicle the killer as much as the times: the blistering hot summer of 1977 when the Big Apple's psyche was taken hostage by the lone gunman. We spot the killer (Michael Badalucco) in his mad ramblings, but the film centers on two friends from the Bronx: Vinny and Ritchie (John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody). Vinny and his wife, Dionna (Mira Sorvino), bury a bad marriage (he cheats at a drop of a hat) in the disco halls of the area. Ritchie returns to the neighborhood sporting punk hair, punk clothes, and a British accent that immediately infuriates the neighborhood boys oozing far too much testosterone. Cops, local mob leaders, and the guys on the street all have ideas who the killer is; neighborhood loners to Reggie Jackson (in the midst of World Series heroism) are on their misguided lists of suspects. When the film looks at how the citizens faced the fearful times, Lee scores with his energetic camerawork and pop soundtrack. Yet the film is banal in its domestic dramatics. The film takes large detours into Vinny's home sex life (stagnant) and Ritchie's extracurricular activities. One of the marriage arguments--though real and well acted--is so long and cliché-ridden you wonder if someone fell asleep in the editing booth. Add the point-blank killings and nonstop vulgarity and you have Lee's most unpleasant film. --Doug Thomas

Description

The dynamic John Leguizamo (SPAWN, EXECUTIVE DECISION) is teamed with Academy Award(R)-winner Mira Sorvino (Best Supporting Actress, 1996, MIGHTY APHRODITE) in an electrifying, must-see movie that takes you back to New York City's infamous summer of 1977! The heat is soaring to record highs, blackouts are filling the streets with looters ... and the murders of a man who calls himself the Son of Sam are gripping the giant city in fear! As friends in a small Italian neighborhood become obsessed with the idea that Son of Sam is someone nearby, the madman's fearsome plague of terror becomes the catalyst that prompts relationships to fall apart and trust to disintegrate into dread! Also starring Adrien Brody (THE THIN RED LINE) and Jennifer Esposito (I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER), this powerful motion picture tells the gritty and hard-edged story about one nightmare season in the city that never sleeps!

Customer Reviews:

Shakey facade for pornography.......2007-04-30

This movie has all the marks of a bad porno movie; one animalistic and unrealistic sex scene after another loosely strewn together with a thin and uninspiring plot. One has a difficult time remembering the basic plot premise when every other scene is one more perversion splashed on the screen as if in attempts to shock us more than the previous scene. If you watch it at all, be sure you have the remote handy to fast-forward. Doing so will help you focus on what little plot their is and lesson the time you waste which you could have spent watching something worthwhile. If the Son of Sam murders of the late 1970's are your interest, you will find precious little about it here so do not bother. It is a very sad that Spike Lee, with hints of true talent, could release something that would not even pass for mediocre pornography - much less serious drama.

Not a big fan of the Spikester.......2007-03-22

but, I do give credit when credits due. The movie was very well done, the cast was sincere and portrayed their characters with a real-ness that was believable. The dumb as dirt New York Italian men, the long suffering woman who can't enjoy sex but are as neurotic as the men who kept them down. And don't forget the humidity, which, I'm sure, if anyone ever did a scientific survey,would show more violence is committed in the sweltering summer than winter. The always entertaining and talented, John Leguizamo adds much to the overall sleazey,horrific, humidity laden story. Enjoy!

Spike lee is a horrible director.......2007-02-01

During the sweltering summer of 1977, the notorious killer Son of Sam set New York City on edge. An accidental encounter with the homicidal maniac sends the life of a philandering Bronx hairdresser named Vinny (John Leguizamo) spinning out of control. As the police and vigilantes hunt the killer, Vinny's life unravels amid a haze of suspicion, drugs and promiscuity.

This film has the distinction of being the hands-down worst film I ever saw in the theater. It's so bad that I use it as a basis of comparison for other bad films "Dead Man on Campus? That's about a 30% Summer of Sam" "Last Action Hero? That's a 75% Summer of Sam" When I saw this film in the theater, about half the audience walked out in disgust and the other half toked up and watched the rest of the film high. I was in neither of these categories, sufficing to sit quietly, painfully, begging for it all to end. John Leguizamo should never be allowed near a camera again.

Didn't we learn our lesson from Spawn? Yikes, Lee, give it up. I mean, it'd be one thing to make bad films that have some sort of unintentional comedic quality so that at least those who are not awed by your B.S. can have a good chuckle or two, but your films are just painful to watch. Right after we got out of the theater, I screamed "I must watch a decent movie! Anything, I don't care! Let me have faith in film again!A little advice...Hey Spike, how about a movie about the serial killer next time?!

Spike Lee captures the reality of Summer in New York City - Bad vibes.......2006-11-30

I think this is clearly Spike Lee's best movie. I am not a great fan of Spike Lee - I think he is a pretty repulsive individual and his movies generally fall down into hatred of White people, pornography and just general disrespect of everyone, especially women, but I will give Spike Lee credit that he does have a very good understanding for the look and feel of New York City in his time (70s) - he understands the hostile vibes of the street, various different racial, ethnic, class parts of New York City, with the various groups falling down into the same bad, hostile vibes. Summer of Sam shows you how disgusting and hateful New York City can become in the hot, hot Summer. Also, Lee does a great job of depicting a very interesting lower middle class Italian community that is completely hostile to all outsiders - all, hostile to Blacks, hostile to upper class White suburbanites that might want to date an Italian girl from the neighborhood, hostile to anything "different" like British punk rock music and a local guy from the neighborhood who tries to act like a British punk. The movie is very vulgar and violent, but yeah, New York City in the late 70s was violent and hostile. One of the best movies about New York.

Spike did not do the right thing .......2006-09-13

This film was so bad that the scenes in the ltalian restaurant didn't even make me hungry

Average customer rating:

Performance of a lifetime by Jeff East
To be more than honest with you...
Gives witches a bad name.
Summer of Fear (1978)
Fun TV movie!!!

Summer of Fear
Starring: Linda Blair , Lee Purcell , Jeremy Slate , Jeff McCracken , and Jeff East
Director: Wes Craven
Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Born Innocent
Wes Craven's Invitation to Hell
Hell Night
Night Patrol
One Dark Night

ASIN: B0000844IE
Release Date: 2003-02-18

Customer Reviews:

Performance of a lifetime by Jeff East.......2006-11-14

Fran Drescher is a hottie but Jeff East steals the show. Those that comment on his hair are just jealous--that's his natural look--no perm added! i suggest people see this movie and I bet they will be overwhelmed with pleasure.

To be more than honest with you..........2006-01-15

I really enjoyed this considering it was in the bargain basement (most of them aren't uusually worth picking up). I was forewarned that the front cover-art had nothing realling to do with the film (ie. skeleton). When I looked at the back of the cover and saw some of the scenes from the film with Linda Blair, I vaguely remembered seeing this years ago on TV.

I finally watched the DVD the other day and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's one of those films that you cannot take seriously, but just treat it as a bit of escapism. While the storyline is totally far-fetched, the acting makes up for it. Lee Purcell was great as the cousin who is nothing but a nasty witch.

This 1978 movie turned out to be an enjoyable afternoon's viewing. Worth a look (just don't take it too seriously).

Gives witches a bad name........2005-09-23

I'd have given it 2 1/2 stars if i could.
A demon mama shows up at Linda Blair's house,seduces her family and friends with magic and it's up to poor Linda to fix it.
The performances were good ,good enough that i found myself yelling stuff like "she stole her bf and you think that it's ok that they still live in the same room, mom???" at the tv.
It could've been better if the witchcraft savvy professor had been given more screen time.
He was a fairly interesting and underutilized character.
Dumbest thing about the movie was all the witchcraft themed stuff.
Wicca aren't evil and they aren't like vampires who can't be seen in photographs.
This movie is worth renting but not buying.

Summer of Fear (1978).......2004-06-27

Entertaining telechiller from Wes Craven starring Linda Blair. Blair plays Rachel, whose cousin Julia (Lee Purcell) comes to live with her and her family at the farm, but macabre events begin to happen and Rachel soon suspects that Julia is practicing witchcraft and voodoo. I wasn't expecting much out of this thriller but in my opinion, it worked very well and was surprisingly scary. Blair does a good job as Rachel and we are with her every step of the way, and Purcell is great as Julia. Wes Craven gives the film a slick, hard look and an impressive atmosphere (this was Craven's first 35mm film), and the script by Glenn M. Benest and Max Keller is riveting and suspenseful. Lois Duncan's acclaimed novel gets a nice little fright of a treatment with this little TV gem.

Fun TV movie!!!.......2004-06-23

When young Julia's (Lee Purcell) parents are killed in a car accident, she moves in with cousin Rachel (Linda Blair) and her family. At first, things are seemingly normal, but Rachel quickly comes to believe that the distant newcomer is a witch who's out to steal her boyfriend, her father, and her new party dress.

The story is based on Louis Duncan's (I Know What You Did Last Summer) well-regarded young adult novel. For Linda Blair, the role marks a transition between her prepubescent "Exorcist" character and the flashy roles she'd play a few years later. In the same way, for director Wes Craven, the film is a huge step away from his early exploitation attempts (Last House on the Left, The Hills have Eyes) and toward mainstream respectability (A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream).

Produced for CBS television in the 70's, as A Stranger in the House, standards and practices at the time didn't allow any gore or extreme violence -- a pair of demonic eyes and a car crash or two is all you're gonna get, so don't expect any more than cheesy 70's PG-13 violence. But comparing Wes Craven's early efforts, Summer of Fear is actually his most accomplished film, at least technically. His first feature shot on 35mm, Fear looks slicker, is generally better acted, and comes from acclaimed source material, which it sticks pretty closely to.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Snow Dogs

Tom Robinson - Bedrock Live : DVD

Good Night Maisy (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Judge

Tocororo - A Cuban Tale