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Horror thriller

Intensity (1997): Cast & Plot

Intensity (1997) movie poster

Intensity is a 1997 horror thriller directed by Yves Simoneau, starring Molly Parker as Chyna Shepherd, John C. McGinley and Kavan Smith. It is based on Intensity by Dean Koontz. It runs 3 hours 6 minutes.

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Intensity (1997) movie poster
Released
Runtime
3h 6m (186 min)
Director
Yves Simoneau
Genres
Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Intensity About?

The premise of Intensity without spoilers, adapted from Intensity by Dean Koontz. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Chyna Shepherd, a 26‑year‑old psychology student with a traumatic past, visits Laura Templeton’s farm in Napa Valley. Serial killer Edgler Foreman Vess breaks in, murdering Laura and her parents. Chyna escapes, only to discover Vess has another captive—a young girl as innocent as herself—held far from the valley.

Intensity Themes & Keywords

· 37 tags
  • serial killer
  • captive
  • kidnapping
  • murder of a police officer
  • car accident
  • murder
  • gas station
  • based on novel
  • holiday horror
  • female pedal pumping
  • house
  • refusing to eat
+25 more
  • starving oneself
  • killing an animal
  • one word title
  • tire
  • shotgun
  • shot in the head
  • shot in the chest
  • road rage
  • person on fire
  • lighter
  • hammer
  • falling down stairs
  • dog attack
  • corrupt cop
  • child abuse
  • chase
  • blood
  • beaten to death
  • truck
  • knife
  • dog
  • car
  • fire
  • gun
  • wolf
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Cast & crew

Intensity Cast & Characters

Molly Parker leads the cast as Chyna Shepherd, with John C. McGinley as Edgler Foreman Vess and Kavan Smith as Jack Templeton. Directed by Yves Simoneau; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Intensity

· 8 more
From the director

More from Yves Simoneau

More films directed by Yves Simoneau: The Lost Wife of Robert Durst, Betty and Coretta, Ruffian and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

Full filmography
Plot

Intensity Plot Summary

What happens in Intensity from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Chyna Shepherd, Molly Parker, accompanies her friend Laura Templeton, Deanna Milligan, to her family’s house in rural Washington State for Thanksgiving dinner. A serial killer named Edgler Foreman Vess, John C. McGinley, invades the home and kills Laura and her relatives while Chyna hides in the killer’s RV. When Vess stops for gas, Chyna makes her escape and pleads with two attendants to call the police. Before she has a chance to explain, Vess returns and torments the workers before brutally killing them with a shotgun.

Full summary

The whole story of Intensity, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Intensity?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the main female protagonist who tries to rescue the hostage?

Cars

Cars in Intensity

8 cars on screen, including the 1985 Ford LTD Crown Victoria and the Vanguard Class A.

All 8 cars
  • 1985 Ford LTD Crown Victoria in Intensity 1985 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Main role
  • Vanguard Class A in Intensity Vanguard Class A Main role
  • 1987 Chevrolet Caprice in Intensity 1987 Chevrolet Caprice Important role
  • 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon in Intensity 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier Wagon Important role

Seen Intensity?

FAQ

Intensity FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Intensity, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Intensity?

Intensity runs 3 hours 6 minutes (186 minutes).

When was Intensity released?

Intensity was released on August 5, 1997.

Who directed Intensity?

Intensity was directed by Yves Simoneau.

More films by Yves Simoneau

Who is in the cast of Intensity?

Intensity stars Molly Parker as Chyna Shepherd, John C. McGinley as Edgler Foreman Vess and Kavan Smith as Jack Templeton, among 12 credited actors.

Is Intensity based on a book?

Yes. Intensity is adapted from Intensity by Dean Koontz.

Does Intensity have a post-credit scene?

No. Intensity has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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