Great movie about having telekinetic abilities played perfectly by Andrew Stevens with Kirk Douglas playing his dad who has been looking for him and also Amy Irving and others who became stars in other areas and films ot tv like Daryl Hannah whom we all know from Blade Runner and Splash and Melodie Scott Thomas from The Young and the Restless who played Nikki Newman after this and still at it now.This film is great and Jihn Cassavetes is spot in here too with his cool meaness and suave charisma always liked films that shows telekinetic ability it always a dream of ours to have such a gift right.This film is so memorable and ending was like wow.Gillian has these abilities too but at the end we find out that receives his gift before he passes away from him which is a more powerful telekinetic gift and so there becoming more powerful as we see come to fruition at the end yes that ending perfect.
I recently finished Tarantino's new book, Cinema Speculation.. He covers DePalmas 70's movies, and is a fan of Brian's work.. You would thoroughly enjoy the book, I recommend it!
Great video, Daisuke! This was the first film that I was aware of having been filmed near me. The amusement park climax was filmed at Old Chicago, which at that time stood in the town where I grew up. My older brother even worked there at the time! Its claim to fame was that all of its rides were indoors, and I remember being amazed to see spaces I'd personally visited in a movie. Or, I should say, the trailer...since I was only 10 and not allowed to watch the movie yet 😄...Old Chicago was razed and I think an Amazon warehouse might now stand on that spot.
***SPOILERS!!!*** Daisuke, my dear friend! I am very excited to be typing this comment because I have finally had a chance to watch the film "The Fury" (TWICE!) and also listen to your brilliant discussion here. I want to start off by saying thank you for guiding me to this film. Without knowing you and watching your RUclips channel, I wonder if I would have ever had the chance to discover this film because I can't say that I had ever heard of it before, even as the big film lover I claim to be. It is so important to me and something I will cherish to live the rest of my life on earth as someone who has seen The Fury. Always, you and your channel lend a hand in helping me discover films I have never seen before and ones that make others that I have seen even better! For example, there is a certain staircase/escalator in this film The Fury that I really wanted to see Kevin Costner and Andy Garcia save a baby stroller on. Brian De Palma films feature some first rate architecture/furnishings and this film is no exception! I am so honored to have listened to your brilliant discussion today, Daisuke. To me, I think it is amazing that there is someone out there recording themselves championing a film such as this one. I'm so happy to know this video discussion exists and that I can come back to it again and again to reminisce with the very person who would introduce this film to me. From the opening John Williams-scored title sequence that takes us to the "Mid East" shootout scene, did I know I would love this film. Who do I see greeting my eyes as well at the start of this film but the one and only Kirk Colonel Dax Douglas! His mere presence elevated this film for me so much. The villain played by John Cassavetes, like all great villains who seek to control some kind of super power was played so well! He betrayed his best friend and business partner of many years! I just can't get over that opening scene that hits us in such a flash when those bullets hit that waiter! Boom! Right into the action! And what's this? The whole scene is being filmed by a turban wearing cameraman?? I thought the mystery of the group(s) seeking to obtain, research, experiment was done so well. We never get much hints into the deeper world that involves these shadow organizations and what their motives are outside of researching these super-psychic powers. I love how they are kept a secret group all through the film. I love when Kirk Douglas has left that family's home in his old-man disguise and the men with walkie-talkies still spot him and call their cars to tail Kirk and his new "friends". What a true treasure to see Dennis Franz again!! He and Brian De Palma must be pretty good friends for him to get these spots in his films. This time as a guy who just really loves his car and hated to see it go into the water. I absolutely love that car chase that features a big slip-up by the bad guy with the oddly shaped uzi machine gun. How bout the barrel on that thing?? Lol! Or when the car goes into the fog as they run the red-light into that intersection and the scene cuts to a foggy city shot as they go into the construction site. Wow! Brian De Palma, you are truly doing it again for me with this film! I must also mention that without your brilliant comments about the use of slow motion in the films of Brian De Palma, I don't know if I would have had this level of anticipation like I do now waiting for the slo-mo scenes in his films. The use of slow motion in The Fury was so brilliant! The scene of Gillian escaping was truly intense and featured such shocking surprises! I mention the shadow organizations again; who is this nefarious jogger kidnapper?? Lol! Kirk Douglas wasted no time putting those bullets in him after realizing everything. Still so much more to mention! Where have I seen that actress who was taunting Amy Irving in the cafeteria? She looked like Laura Palmer's cousin Maddie. Upon recognizing Amy Irving from my recent Carrie viewing and seeing how terrific/beautiful she is in this film, I realize I have a massive 70's-girl crush on her! Her look and my attraction to it is distinctly 70's in a way that I have loved for the majority of my life! Hands down my favorite decade for so many reasons. I would like to mention once again the John Williams score. Sometimes the theme from the title sequence would play softly in the background only instead of horns it switches to a theremin which I consider a distinctly "psychic sounding" instrument! Genius!!! I love all of your comments in this discussion, Daisuke. Once again, you leave no stone unturned when speaking about a film you love and it elicits so many happy feelings in me when I listen to you not only talk about the points to this film but also you share your very evident love and passion for them too! Oftentimes when I finish watching a film for the first time, I will then read the Wikipedia entry to get a few small facts, behind the scenes details and also there is usually a brief mention of how a film was received at the time of the release and even afterwards. Sometimes the comments in the "critical reception" section leave me feeling a bit sour and with a strong desire to do what I already love doing in life which is "going against the grain" and finding other things that make a particular film special. You always do this in your discussions; you find ways to justify a film being enjoyable and so much more than what your usual "critic" would say. I know you don't claim to be a critic or anything, but I just want to find more ways to explain how much I cherish knowing you and having your valuable comments to listen to. They lead me to so many interesting thoughts that help me enjoy my day-to-day life. Watching a film that was introduced to me by you always takes my enjoyment of that film to even greater heights because I know when I think about it in the future, I know "that's a film that my dear friend Daisuke introduced to me!" That is a feeling I love having, when a friend does something like that in life. True joy! So much more to say, my friend!! How about Robin spinning his girlfriend/controller around with such horrific glee?? Brian De Palma sure loves spinning, doesn't he?? I love your mentioning of the weight of the deaths in Brian De Palma films that we as the viewer always feel so much more! Ever since I was a kid and watched Tony Montana kill the loveable Manny, his best friend (slo-mo ensues), I could feel the devastation of everything! It's the same here when we see Kirk Douglas' reaction to Hester's death. When Gillian mentions her name and Kirk Douglas just says "Hester..." before sobbing with that liquor bottle in his hand.. wow... Going back to those "critical comments" from others towards this film, I just can't get over what I read when they said there supposedly wasn't much to go off of in this film besides a few shocking violent scenes. I believe there is so much more to this film and I believe one could speak at length on some of what is going on in this film! Father/son relations, non-understanding of one's self, controlling powers beyond human comprehension, and I believe the film says something too about goings ons in romantic relationships. Okay, before I stop typing, I also must mention that ending... I don't even know what to say besides to thank you again for sharing this film with me so that I too could experience John Cassavetes exploding MULTIPLE TIMES and from multiple angles in slow motion!!! LOL!!! Truly one of the greatest endings ever and I love how Amy Irving is holding her arms out in that scene, first blinding John Cassavetes and it is so scary as he is clawing for her in that room. He was such a shadowy guy and I assume was going to keep Gillian from seeing her mother ever again so that he can pursue ultimate power! I would like to mention that I couldn't help but think about Akira as I watched this film. Must be the angry, gory psychic power thing. Lol! Oh and I just want to also talk about the scene where Gillian is on the staircase having that vision of Robin running away only to fall out that window. I absolutely loved how Amy Irving is super-imposed into the scene and the way the camera tracks Robin and sort of turns as we see Amy Irving's face and also the camera angle from the bloody hand being held by Amy Irving to the man's face that is playing dumb about being at that scene. Speaking of which, I loved that guy and the woman who ran the psychic institute. That woman who would eventually be unintentionally killed by Gillian seemed to have the hots for that man who just wanted to sit and drink his booze before stretching out on the couch! Lol!! At any rate, Daisuke, I hope the little bit that I express here shows even a little just how much fun I had watching The Fury. I look forward to bringing up this film and watching it many more times in the future. Hopefully one day I will have access to a blu-ray or 4K version of this film that will give me the excuse I need to re-purchase/re-watch a Brian DePalma film! Though I will also say that the DVD I purchased looked really great and I thank you once again for your speech championing the DVD format! The only other thing on my DVD is a trailer for the film but I will also never part with this DVD as that is how I have initially experienced this film and the actual item now has sentimental value. You know how these things go, my friend! I hope you are well and are still enjoying many exciting films like those in the filmography of Brian DePalma, Daisuke! These opportunities you give me to see a new film and then listen to/participate in a discussion are some of the main events in my life that I will always cherish. Thank you so much for all that you do. Cheers, my friend! **Edit/random thought** This film reminded me a lot of the film "Stereo" by David Cronenberg. Thank you also for introducing that film to me and for the ongoing Cronenberg/DePalma discussions!!
Oh thank you so much!!! Yes, so many things going on here, and once again I am so impressed that you could observe and retain so much, given that this is your first time to watch this great film. Well done as always.
I’ve not seen this film, though I have heard quite a bit about it here and there. Thank you for giving your thoughts on this film Daisuke, I hope you’re doing well and are having a great day!
What happens when you have individuals who have psychic abilities that are far beyond our own understanding? How does this go in detail over the powers themselves? And what ulterior purposes does an organization have for this kind of power? These are some things to think about as one views Brian de Palma's supernatural thriller film The Fury. It is a movie that is about the idea of having abilities beyond our normal understanding and showing just how far one can go when one is pushed to use them for negative means. The movie starts off with a man named Peter Sandza and his son Robin in Israel meeting with Ben Childress who is an old colleague from the CIA. Peter wants to back to the U.S. and wants the best for his son Robin who has psychic powers. However, a terrorist attack is staged and Peter survives it but his son Robin is taken away from him which makes him want to find him again after he is kidnapped. Months later a young high school student named Gillian Bellaver discovers her own psychic powers and volunteers to go to the Paragon Institute which studies psychic powers in adolescents. But things are not as they seem as Gillian finds out through the use of her powers and when Peter comes into the picture again... I am amazed that de Palma was able to get quite a few big names for this production! The legendary Kirk Douglas stars in the movie and plays Peter who is determined to get his son back no matter the means. We have John Cassavetes as Ben who seems like a respectable man at first glance but has evil intentions. There's Oscar nominees Amy Irving and Carrie Snodgrass who play Gillian and Hester respectively with one discovering her powers while the other becomes something of a guardian angel to her. There's even performances from Charles Durning as Dr. Jim McKeever, Andrew Stevens as Robin and even appearances from de Palma regular William Finley and even Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue) and Daryl Hannah (Splash) to boot! The big display on hand in this film are the powers themselves. Robin and Gillian are center stage when it comes to their particular abilities which are coveted by the powers that be. In Robin's case, he has strong forms of telekinesis which we get to witness in all of its scary, yet magnificent display. When it comes to Gillian, her ability is a bit different since in addition to a little telekinesis of her own, she had the added ability of extra-sensory perception (ESP) which has her be able to see into the future, but with a terrible cost. These kids certainly are out of the ordinary and they are sought after because of this. Robin's story has him being the poster child for what the Paragon Institute, or PSI essentially to turn him into a weapon. This brings up the idea of exploiting the children for their abilities to help the government. Robin becomes something like that, but in the worst possible ways. He starts off like Gillian as a simple-minded and friendly kid who has his powers enhanced, but at the cost of his mental well being. This makes him dangerous to everyone around him along with himself. he becomes cold and distant and seems to be desensitized in a negative fashion, even those he loves. The only one who can reach out to him is Gillian, but even she has her own issues. Robin is a prime example of tampering with something one doesn't fully understand and corrupting something that could be used for good, only to be used for hate. Gillian's side of the story is the one that we explore more as we see her in an uncomfortable position. She is trying to just be a normal teenage girl but has to deal with these new abilities which upend her life. Her abilities are useful which bring her to the Paragon Institute, but she unintentionally hurts others with her psychic abilities. Whereas Robin is able to be fine tuned, Gillian has no control over what she has, though she gains a better understanding of everything later on. She represents a certain sense of purity to me when it comes to this new world and is not as corruptible unlike Robin. She still has the ability to fight for herself even if she doesn't know about it at the time thanks to coming across the right people. Ben is perhaps the main driving force of this movie. He represents the idea of being two-faced. This involves showing one side of himself which comes off as an understanding human being while the other is all about his own personal minded goals when it comes to using the powers for evil purposes. The audience won't be fooled by Ben for long as he showcases both sides in the beginning. But we discover that he too has a lot of power, not in the mental sense, but the physical with his secret organization. He is a master manipulator at heart and is evil incarnate. Considering that de Palma directed this movie, it should come as no surprise about the similarities it has to his previous work Carrie. Both movies involve adolescents who go through changes in their lives by being granted powers. Gillian and Robin are essentially like the two sides of Carrie. Gillian being the innocent and pure side, whereas Robin being the vengeful and wrathful side. And yet this movie is based off of the novel of the same name by John Farris (which also had him write the screenplay too). I consider this a movie as a spiritual successor to Carrie in its own way from my view on both of those de Palma works since they share certain ideas. The Fury is a de Palma movie that in my opinion is a but influenced by his previous movie Carrie (even though it is from a different novel) and is also the last supernatural film he did in the same vein as that previous one and even Phantom of the Paradise. But it was a fun time for him to do movies before he shifted to new horizons. It is a film of various influences as well which even includes a scene which would be his Cronenberg moment before that moment happened (I won't spoil, you'll have to watch it for yourself). It is psychology mixed with science fiction and gives us a glimpse of amazing powers along with the darkness that resides in human kind.
Based on the book by John Farris, this is actually a four book series: The Fury, The Fury and the Power, The Fury and the Terror, and Avenging Fury. It is really about psychic twins(non related) Gillian and Robin who have The Fury or a power that the government wants to harness. It gets more complicated in the other books which I recommend reading to truly understand the story. Fun fact: during the DePalma documentary he said he did not like filming “car chases” like the one in The Fury. A young LaRue actually is Nikki Neuman (Melody Scott Thomas) for DECADES on the tv soap The Young and the Restless. An early role for a young Daryl Hannah as a high school student. Helen character was also in Carrie(76). Amy Irving got to play her version of a strong telekinetic teenager who I think she may have been the one he was going to cast before Spacek got the role.
I am so happy to read this and your comment on the film discussion for Carrie. I am also really happy that you mentioned John Farris here, especially because I did not mention it in my discussion. And I really love your mentioning the book series as well. Regarding the comment made by De Palma about car chases, I remember that comment too! Yes it is also a neat reminder that this film The Fury works as a kind of action film which is somewhat new in his filmography at this point, though of course we will see more “action” like scenes in films like The Untouchables and Mission Impossible and others later in the filmography. Well done. This is a fantastic comment you have made. Warmest regards and applause to you.
One of the few DePalma films I've seen, but have wanted to greatly wanted to. I have been holding out for a blind buy pick up, but there is no Region A release right now as Twight Times is long gone. Hopefully Arrow can put out a Region A release in the near future. Would it be safe to say the movie influenced Cronenberg's The Scanners?
Thank you J Canada my dear friend. Yes, I hope a Region A release can reemerge very soon. And though I would not speculate as to how much of an influence the film is, I can definitely say that there are similarities.
When can we expect the next criterion flash sale? Hopefully this week or next. I always look to you to find out about the flash sales and you’re not even in the US! Lol. Much love to you my dear friend.
Great rundown of this, not seen it for many many years - I'll have to get ahold of a copy and rewatch.
Great movie about having telekinetic abilities played perfectly by Andrew Stevens with Kirk Douglas playing his dad who has been looking for him and also Amy Irving and others who became stars in other areas and films ot tv like Daryl Hannah whom we all know from Blade Runner and Splash and Melodie Scott Thomas from The Young and the Restless who played Nikki Newman after this and still at it now.This film is great and Jihn Cassavetes is spot in here too with his cool meaness and suave charisma always liked films that shows telekinetic ability it always a dream of ours to have such a gift right.This film is so memorable and ending was like wow.Gillian has these abilities too but at the end we find out that receives his gift before he passes away from him which is a more powerful telekinetic gift and so there becoming more powerful as we see come to fruition at the end yes that ending perfect.
I recently finished Tarantino's new book, Cinema Speculation.. He covers DePalmas 70's movies, and is a fan of Brian's work.. You would thoroughly enjoy the book, I recommend it!
Oh thank you! I have heard about the book but not yet had the chance to get it.
Great video, Daisuke! This was the first film that I was aware of having been filmed near me. The amusement park climax was filmed at Old Chicago, which at that time stood in the town where I grew up. My older brother even worked there at the time! Its claim to fame was that all of its rides were indoors, and I remember being amazed to see spaces I'd personally visited in a movie. Or, I should say, the trailer...since I was only 10 and not allowed to watch the movie yet 😄...Old Chicago was razed and I think an Amazon warehouse might now stand on that spot.
***SPOILERS!!!***
Daisuke, my dear friend! I am very excited to be typing this comment because I have finally had a chance to watch the film "The Fury" (TWICE!) and also listen to your brilliant discussion here. I want to start off by saying thank you for guiding me to this film. Without knowing you and watching your RUclips channel, I wonder if I would have ever had the chance to discover this film because I can't say that I had ever heard of it before, even as the big film lover I claim to be. It is so important to me and something I will cherish to live the rest of my life on earth as someone who has seen The Fury. Always, you and your channel lend a hand in helping me discover films I have never seen before and ones that make others that I have seen even better! For example, there is a certain staircase/escalator in this film The Fury that I really wanted to see Kevin Costner and Andy Garcia save a baby stroller on. Brian De Palma films feature some first rate architecture/furnishings and this film is no exception! I am so honored to have listened to your brilliant discussion today, Daisuke. To me, I think it is amazing that there is someone out there recording themselves championing a film such as this one. I'm so happy to know this video discussion exists and that I can come back to it again and again to reminisce with the very person who would introduce this film to me. From the opening John Williams-scored title sequence that takes us to the "Mid East" shootout scene, did I know I would love this film. Who do I see greeting my eyes as well at the start of this film but the one and only Kirk Colonel Dax Douglas! His mere presence elevated this film for me so much. The villain played by John Cassavetes, like all great villains who seek to control some kind of super power was played so well! He betrayed his best friend and business partner of many years! I just can't get over that opening scene that hits us in such a flash when those bullets hit that waiter! Boom! Right into the action! And what's this? The whole scene is being filmed by a turban wearing cameraman?? I thought the mystery of the group(s) seeking to obtain, research, experiment was done so well. We never get much hints into the deeper world that involves these shadow organizations and what their motives are outside of researching these super-psychic powers. I love how they are kept a secret group all through the film. I love when Kirk Douglas has left that family's home in his old-man disguise and the men with walkie-talkies still spot him and call their cars to tail Kirk and his new "friends". What a true treasure to see Dennis Franz again!! He and Brian De Palma must be pretty good friends for him to get these spots in his films. This time as a guy who just really loves his car and hated to see it go into the water. I absolutely love that car chase that features a big slip-up by the bad guy with the oddly shaped uzi machine gun. How bout the barrel on that thing?? Lol! Or when the car goes into the fog as they run the red-light into that intersection and the scene cuts to a foggy city shot as they go into the construction site. Wow! Brian De Palma, you are truly doing it again for me with this film! I must also mention that without your brilliant comments about the use of slow motion in the films of Brian De Palma, I don't know if I would have had this level of anticipation like I do now waiting for the slo-mo scenes in his films. The use of slow motion in The Fury was so brilliant! The scene of Gillian escaping was truly intense and featured such shocking surprises! I mention the shadow organizations again; who is this nefarious jogger kidnapper?? Lol! Kirk Douglas wasted no time putting those bullets in him after realizing everything. Still so much more to mention! Where have I seen that actress who was taunting Amy Irving in the cafeteria? She looked like Laura Palmer's cousin Maddie. Upon recognizing Amy Irving from my recent Carrie viewing and seeing how terrific/beautiful she is in this film, I realize I have a massive 70's-girl crush on her! Her look and my attraction to it is distinctly 70's in a way that I have loved for the majority of my life! Hands down my favorite decade for so many reasons. I would like to mention once again the John Williams score. Sometimes the theme from the title sequence would play softly in the background only instead of horns it switches to a theremin which I consider a distinctly "psychic sounding" instrument! Genius!!! I love all of your comments in this discussion, Daisuke. Once again, you leave no stone unturned when speaking about a film you love and it elicits so many happy feelings in me when I listen to you not only talk about the points to this film but also you share your very evident love and passion for them too! Oftentimes when I finish watching a film for the first time, I will then read the Wikipedia entry to get a few small facts, behind the scenes details and also there is usually a brief mention of how a film was received at the time of the release and even afterwards. Sometimes the comments in the "critical reception" section leave me feeling a bit sour and with a strong desire to do what I already love doing in life which is "going against the grain" and finding other things that make a particular film special. You always do this in your discussions; you find ways to justify a film being enjoyable and so much more than what your usual "critic" would say. I know you don't claim to be a critic or anything, but I just want to find more ways to explain how much I cherish knowing you and having your valuable comments to listen to. They lead me to so many interesting thoughts that help me enjoy my day-to-day life. Watching a film that was introduced to me by you always takes my enjoyment of that film to even greater heights because I know when I think about it in the future, I know "that's a film that my dear friend Daisuke introduced to me!" That is a feeling I love having, when a friend does something like that in life. True joy! So much more to say, my friend!! How about Robin spinning his girlfriend/controller around with such horrific glee?? Brian De Palma sure loves spinning, doesn't he?? I love your mentioning of the weight of the deaths in Brian De Palma films that we as the viewer always feel so much more! Ever since I was a kid and watched Tony Montana kill the loveable Manny, his best friend (slo-mo ensues), I could feel the devastation of everything! It's the same here when we see Kirk Douglas' reaction to Hester's death. When Gillian mentions her name and Kirk Douglas just says "Hester..." before sobbing with that liquor bottle in his hand.. wow... Going back to those "critical comments" from others towards this film, I just can't get over what I read when they said there supposedly wasn't much to go off of in this film besides a few shocking violent scenes. I believe there is so much more to this film and I believe one could speak at length on some of what is going on in this film! Father/son relations, non-understanding of one's self, controlling powers beyond human comprehension, and I believe the film says something too about goings ons in romantic relationships. Okay, before I stop typing, I also must mention that ending... I don't even know what to say besides to thank you again for sharing this film with me so that I too could experience John Cassavetes exploding MULTIPLE TIMES and from multiple angles in slow motion!!! LOL!!! Truly one of the greatest endings ever and I love how Amy Irving is holding her arms out in that scene, first blinding John Cassavetes and it is so scary as he is clawing for her in that room. He was such a shadowy guy and I assume was going to keep Gillian from seeing her mother ever again so that he can pursue ultimate power! I would like to mention that I couldn't help but think about Akira as I watched this film. Must be the angry, gory psychic power thing. Lol! Oh and I just want to also talk about the scene where Gillian is on the staircase having that vision of Robin running away only to fall out that window. I absolutely loved how Amy Irving is super-imposed into the scene and the way the camera tracks Robin and sort of turns as we see Amy Irving's face and also the camera angle from the bloody hand being held by Amy Irving to the man's face that is playing dumb about being at that scene. Speaking of which, I loved that guy and the woman who ran the psychic institute. That woman who would eventually be unintentionally killed by Gillian seemed to have the hots for that man who just wanted to sit and drink his booze before stretching out on the couch! Lol!! At any rate, Daisuke, I hope the little bit that I express here shows even a little just how much fun I had watching The Fury. I look forward to bringing up this film and watching it many more times in the future. Hopefully one day I will have access to a blu-ray or 4K version of this film that will give me the excuse I need to re-purchase/re-watch a Brian DePalma film! Though I will also say that the DVD I purchased looked really great and I thank you once again for your speech championing the DVD format! The only other thing on my DVD is a trailer for the film but I will also never part with this DVD as that is how I have initially experienced this film and the actual item now has sentimental value. You know how these things go, my friend! I hope you are well and are still enjoying many exciting films like those in the filmography of Brian DePalma, Daisuke! These opportunities you give me to see a new film and then listen to/participate in a discussion are some of the main events in my life that I will always cherish. Thank you so much for all that you do. Cheers, my friend!
**Edit/random thought**
This film reminded me a lot of the film "Stereo" by David Cronenberg. Thank you also for introducing that film to me and for the ongoing Cronenberg/DePalma discussions!!
Oh thank you so much!!!
Yes, so many things going on here, and once again I am so impressed that you could observe and retain so much, given that this is your first time to watch this great film. Well done as always.
I’ve not seen this film, though I have heard quite a bit about it here and there. Thank you for giving your thoughts on this film Daisuke, I hope you’re doing well and are having a great day!
What happens when you have individuals who have psychic abilities that
are far beyond our own understanding? How does this go in detail over
the powers themselves? And what ulterior purposes does an organization
have for this kind of power? These are some things to think about as
one views Brian de Palma's supernatural thriller film The Fury. It is
a movie that is about the idea of having abilities beyond our normal
understanding and showing just how far one can go when one is pushed
to use them for negative means.
The movie starts off with a man named Peter Sandza and his son Robin in
Israel meeting with Ben Childress who is an old colleague from the CIA.
Peter wants to back to the U.S. and wants the best for his son Robin
who has psychic powers. However, a terrorist attack is staged and Peter
survives it but his son Robin is taken away from him which makes him
want to find him again after he is kidnapped. Months later a young high
school student named Gillian Bellaver discovers her own psychic powers
and volunteers to go to the Paragon Institute which studies psychic
powers in adolescents. But things are not as they seem as Gillian finds
out through the use of her powers and when Peter comes into the picture
again...
I am amazed that de Palma was able to get quite a few big names for
this production! The legendary Kirk Douglas stars in the movie and
plays Peter who is determined to get his son back no matter the means.
We have John Cassavetes as Ben who seems like a respectable man at
first glance but has evil intentions. There's Oscar nominees Amy Irving
and Carrie Snodgrass who play Gillian and Hester respectively with
one discovering her powers while the other becomes something of a
guardian angel to her. There's even performances from Charles Durning
as Dr. Jim McKeever, Andrew Stevens as Robin and even appearances
from de Palma regular William Finley and even Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue)
and Daryl Hannah (Splash) to boot!
The big display on hand in this film are the powers themselves. Robin
and Gillian are center stage when it comes to their particular abilities
which are coveted by the powers that be. In Robin's case, he has strong
forms of telekinesis which we get to witness in all of its scary, yet
magnificent display. When it comes to Gillian, her ability is a bit
different since in addition to a little telekinesis of her own, she
had the added ability of extra-sensory perception (ESP) which has her
be able to see into the future, but with a terrible cost. These kids
certainly are out of the ordinary and they are sought after because of
this.
Robin's story has him being the poster child for what the Paragon
Institute, or PSI essentially to turn him into a weapon. This brings
up the idea of exploiting the children for their abilities to help the
government. Robin becomes something like that, but in the worst possible
ways. He starts off like Gillian as a simple-minded and friendly kid
who has his powers enhanced, but at the cost of his mental well being.
This makes him dangerous to everyone around him along with himself.
he becomes cold and distant and seems to be desensitized in a negative
fashion, even those he loves. The only one who can reach out to him
is Gillian, but even she has her own issues. Robin is a prime example
of tampering with something one doesn't fully understand and corrupting
something that could be used for good, only to be used for hate.
Gillian's side of the story is the one that we explore more as we see
her in an uncomfortable position. She is trying to just be a normal
teenage girl but has to deal with these new abilities which upend her
life. Her abilities are useful which bring her to the Paragon
Institute, but she unintentionally hurts others with her psychic
abilities. Whereas Robin is able to be fine tuned, Gillian has no
control over what she has, though she gains a better understanding of
everything later on. She represents a certain sense of purity to me
when it comes to this new world and is not as corruptible unlike Robin.
She still has the ability to fight for herself even if she doesn't know
about it at the time thanks to coming across the right people.
Ben is perhaps the main driving force of this movie. He represents the
idea of being two-faced. This involves showing one side of himself
which comes off as an understanding human being while the other is
all about his own personal minded goals when it comes to using the
powers for evil purposes. The audience won't be fooled by Ben for long
as he showcases both sides in the beginning. But we discover that he
too has a lot of power, not in the mental sense, but the physical with
his secret organization. He is a master manipulator at heart and is
evil incarnate.
Considering that de Palma directed this movie, it should come as no
surprise about the similarities it has to his previous work Carrie.
Both movies involve adolescents who go through changes in their lives
by being granted powers. Gillian and Robin are essentially like the
two sides of Carrie. Gillian being the innocent and pure side, whereas
Robin being the vengeful and wrathful side. And yet this movie is based
off of the novel of the same name by John Farris (which also had him
write the screenplay too). I consider this a movie as a spiritual
successor to Carrie in its own way from my view on both of those de
Palma works since they share certain ideas.
The Fury is a de Palma movie that in my opinion is a but influenced
by his previous movie Carrie (even though it is from a different
novel) and is also the last supernatural film he did in the same vein
as that previous one and even Phantom of the Paradise. But it was a
fun time for him to do movies before he shifted to new horizons. It
is a film of various influences as well which even includes a scene
which would be his Cronenberg moment before that moment happened (I
won't spoil, you'll have to watch it for yourself). It is psychology
mixed with science fiction and gives us a glimpse of amazing powers
along with the darkness that resides in human kind.
Based on the book by John Farris, this is actually a four book series: The Fury, The Fury and the Power, The Fury and the Terror, and Avenging Fury. It is really about psychic twins(non related) Gillian and Robin who have The Fury or a power that the government wants to harness. It gets more complicated in the other books which I recommend reading to truly understand the story. Fun fact: during the DePalma documentary he said he did not like filming “car chases” like the one in The Fury. A young LaRue actually is Nikki Neuman (Melody Scott Thomas) for DECADES on the tv soap The Young and the Restless. An early role for a young Daryl Hannah as a high school student. Helen character was also in Carrie(76). Amy Irving got to play her version of a strong telekinetic teenager who I think she may have been the one he was going to cast before Spacek got the role.
I am so happy to read this and your comment on the film discussion for Carrie. I am also really happy that you mentioned John Farris here, especially because I did not mention it in my discussion. And I really love your mentioning the book series as well.
Regarding the comment made by De Palma about car chases, I remember that comment too! Yes it is also a neat reminder that this film The Fury works as a kind of action film which is somewhat new in his filmography at this point, though of course we will see more “action” like scenes in films like The Untouchables and Mission Impossible and others later in the filmography. Well done. This is a fantastic comment you have made. Warmest regards and applause to you.
Awesome awesome video!!!!
Thank you my friend
One of the few DePalma films I've seen, but have wanted to greatly wanted to. I have been holding out for a blind buy pick up, but there is no Region A release right now as Twight Times is long gone. Hopefully Arrow can put out a Region A release in the near future. Would it be safe to say the movie influenced Cronenberg's The Scanners?
Thank you J Canada my dear friend. Yes, I hope a Region A release can reemerge very soon. And though I would not speculate as to how much of an influence the film is, I can definitely say that there are similarities.
When can we expect the next criterion flash sale? Hopefully this week or next. I always look to you to find out about the flash sales and you’re not even in the US! Lol. Much love to you my dear friend.
It's definitely an entertaining film. However bit inconsistent in quality when compared to Carrie or Blow out. For me a 6.8/10 film.
Thank you so much my dear friend!!