American Gothic (1987): Cast & Plot
American Gothic is a 1987 horror film directed by John Hough, starring Sarah Torgov as Cynthia, Mark Lindsay Chapman and Mark Erickson. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- John Hough
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- manor Ground
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is American Gothic About?
The premise of American Gothic without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Six friends on a weekend trip encounter engine trouble and are forced to land on a remote island. They seek refuge with Ma, Pa and their odd children, an eccentric backwoods family whose customs hint at something more sinister. What begins as simple hospitality quickly turns into a deadly game, as the guests vanish one by one and are found dead.
American Gothic Themes & Keywords
· 32 tags- island
- hixploitation
- dysfunctional family
- gothic
- hillbilly horror
- slasher horror
- group
- folk horror
- eccentricity
- spanking
- death of baby
- cult film
+20 more Show fewer
- knitting needle
- sex with the dead
- rape
- necrophilia
- neck breaking
- hatpin
- dinner
- skipping rope
- horseshoe
- flashback
- mouth organ
- adult as child
- swing
- axe
- slasher
- youth
- death of child
- independent film
- surprise ending
- pitchfork
American Gothic Cast & Characters
Sarah Torgov leads the cast as Cynthia, with Mark Lindsay Chapman as Rob and Mark Erickson as Jeff. Directed by John Hough; 11 actors are credited in all.
-
Director John Hough
- Sarah Torgov as Cynthia
- Mark Lindsay Chapman as Rob
- Mark Erickson as Jeff
- Stephen Shellen as Paul
Also Starring in American Gothic
· 7 more- Fiona Hutchison Lynn
- Caroline Barclay Terri
- Yvonne De Carlo Ma
- Rod Steiger Pa
- Janet Wright Fanny
- Michael J. Pollard Woody
- William Hootkins Teddy
More from John Hough
More films directed by John Hough, best-rated first: The Legend of Hell House, Twins of Evil, Escape to Witch Mountain and Dirty Mary Crazy Larry.
American Gothic Plot Summary
What happens in American Gothic from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Cynthia, traumatized by the death of her baby after she left it in a bathtub to drown, decides to go on vacation with five friends: Jeff, Rob, Lynn, Paul, and Terri. They charter a plane in Seattle, but engine trouble forces them to make an emergency landing on a lonely island in the Puget Sound, where they set up a makeshift camp and try to figure out their next move. The next morning, Paul stays behind while the others venture off in search of help, and their wanderings lead them to a large cottage hidden among the trees.
Full summary
The whole story of American Gothic, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know American Gothic?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Which character is haunted by the death of her own baby at the start of the film?
Cars in American Gothic
3 cars on screen, including the 1982 Ford Bronco and the 1980 Subaru GL.
-
1982 Ford Bronco Minor role -
1980 Subaru GL Background role -
1982 Mercury Marquis Brougham Background role
American Gothic Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “Dark Paradise” and “La casa degli orrori - American gothic”.
- Also known as
-
- Dark Paradise
- La casa degli orrori - American gothic
- Escóndete y tiembla
- Американская готика
- Amerykański gotyk
- 아메리칸 고딕
- Amerikai rémregény
- 美国哥特
- Os Anfitriões
- アメリカン・ゴシック
Seen American Gothic?
Movies Like American Gothic
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Grotesque, American Backwoods: Slew Hampshire and Anthropophagous.
American Gothic FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of American Gothic, each answered in a sentence.
How long is American Gothic?
American Gothic runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was American Gothic released?
American Gothic was released on August 17, 1987.
Who directed American Gothic?
American Gothic was directed by John Hough.
More films by John Hough Who is in the cast of American Gothic?
American Gothic stars Sarah Torgov as Cynthia, Mark Lindsay Chapman as Rob and Mark Erickson as Jeff, among 11 credited actors.
Does American Gothic have a post-credit scene?
No. American Gothic has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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