Review of The Fury (1978) by Edward C — 30 Apr 2011

An interesting bridge between two DePalma classics, Carrie and Blow Out, incorporating psychic teenagers under stress and conspiranoia. I know I saw this at a much younger age, but all I could remember was my disappointment with it.

Now, I can see why I was so dissatisfied. Only in the '70s could a Hollywood film get away with setting up the viewer for several major disappointments in a row. One example that's only a mild spoiler.

Kirk Douglas is being pursued by the heavies who stole his son and there is a ten minute sequence of him hiding out, chitchatting with a little family he's holding captive while he engineers a disguise.

It goes on quite some time while he whitens his hair with shoe polish, makes himself look fat with a couch cushion, etc. Then the second he leaves his hideout he's spotted. Which doesn't mean it's a bad movie, just less of a feel-good movie than your usual thriller.

Although, in 1978 the ending must have seemed spectacularly gory and satisfying to the typical cineplex audience. Bit parts are played by a very young Laura Innes (Carrie Weaver on ER), Daryl Hannah, and Dennis Franz (has he ever *not* played a cop?).