Incubus (1981 film)
A supernatural slasher about a demonic rapist in Wisconsin.
Incubus is a 1981 Canadian supernatural slasher directed by John Hough. The cast includes John Cassavetes, Kerrie Keane, and John Ireland. The story takes place in a small Wisconsin town where a mysterious figure commits a series of rapes and murders against young women. The film adapts Ray Russell's 1976 novel of the same name.
The screenplay was initially written by Sandor Stern, who had previously written *The Amityville Horror* (1979). During production, star John Cassavetes heavily rewrote the script—director Hough estimated that about eighty percent of Stern's work was changed. As a result, Stern received no credit; the official screenwriting credit went to the pseudonymous "George Franklin." Some Canadian trade advertisements for the film did list Stern's name shortly after production wrapped.
Filming took place in Guelph, Ontario, over ten weeks in the fall of 1980, beginning September 22 and ending November 17. The budget was CA$5.1 million, financed through a Canadian tax shelter. Actors and crew signed secrecy agreements. Colin Chilvers handled the special makeup effects. The film includes archival clips of the British hard rock band Samson, taken from the film *Biceps of Steel*, shown during a movie theater sequence.
In November 1981, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce placed the film into receivership, along with several other tax-shelter productions like *Best Revenge* and *Mr. Patman*. That same month, *Incubus* premiered at the Paris International Festival of Fantastic and Science-Fiction Film. It was released in France on February 24, 1982. Upon its theatrical release in the United States in 1982, the film received largely negative reviews, with critics citing its plot and overt violence as weaknesses. Despite this, it earned approximately $5.6 million at the U.S. box office.
**Plot**
In rural Wisconsin, a young woman named Mandy Pullman and her boyfriend Roy are swimming at a rock quarry lake. They camp overnight but are attacked by an unseen figure: Roy is killed, and Mandy is violently raped, suffering a ruptured uterus and severe trauma. Meanwhile, teenager Tim Galen experiences a recurring nightmare of a woman being tortured by a monstrous figure. His grandmother, Agatha Galen, tries to dismiss his fears that the dream is premonitory. Mandy is treated at the hospital by Dr. Sam Cordell, a local surgeon.
Quick Facts
- Director
- John Hough
- Producer
- Stephen J. Friedman / Marc Boyman / John M. Eckert
- Screenplay
- George Franklin
- Based On
- Incubus · Ray Russell
- Starring
- John Cassavetes / John Ireland
- Music
- Stanley Myers
- Cinematography
- Albert J. Dunk
- Editing
- George Appleby
- Studio
- Mark Film Productions, Inc.
- Distributor
- Pan-Canadian Film Distributors
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Incubus was shot near Toronto, Ontario over ten weeks in the fall of 1980, with principal photography beginning September 22 and ending November 17. The film was financed through a Canadian tax shelter and required cast and crew to sign secrecy agreements. Colin Chilvers designed the special makeup effects. The film features archival clips of the British hard rock band Samson from the film Biceps of Steel, shown during a movie theater sequence.
The original screenplay by Sandor Stern was heavily rewritten by star John Cassavetes during filming; director John Hough estimated that about eighty percent of Stern's work was changed. As a result, Stern was not credited, and the official screenwriter credit went to the pseudonymous 'George Franklin.' Stern's name did appear in some Canadian trade advertisements shortly after production wrapped.
The film was placed into receivership by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in November 1981, along with several other Canadian tax-shelter films. It was first exhibited at the Paris International Festival of Fantastic and Science-Fiction Film in November 1981, then released in France on February 24, 1982. Its US release began regionally in the summer of 1982, starting July 23 in Tucson, Arizona, and expanding to other cities through the autumn.
Reader's Guide
Incubus is a 1981 Canadian supernatural slasher film that has gained a modest cult following despite largely unfavorable reviews at the time of its release. Critics cited its plot and overt violence as weaknesses; Vincent Canby of The New York Times described the monster as looking 'like a large, shaggy, extremely mean E.T. with bad teeth.' The film earned approximately $5.6 million at the US box office, a moderate financial success.
The film's significance lies partly in its production history, with John Cassavetes' extensive uncredited rewriting of the screenplay creating a pseudonymous credit. The film also represents a Canadian tax-shelter production of the early 1980s. Its home media releases include a 2002 DVD from Elite Entertainment, a 2013 DVD from Scorpion Releasing under their Katarina's Nightmare Theater label, and a 2018 region-free Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome. Critical assessments have ranged from 'mildly effective' (John Kenneth Muir) to 'boring, confusing, and not very exciting' (TLA Video & DVD Guide).
Did You Know?
- The screenplay was so significantly rewritten by star John Cassavetes that the official screenwriter credit went to the pseudonymous 'George Franklin.'
- Principal photography took place in Guelph, Ontario, in the fall of 1980, over ten weeks on a budget of CA$5.1 million.
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