Special Effects (1984): Cast & Plot
Special Effects is a 1984 drama thriller starring Eric Bogosian as Chris Neville, Zoë Lund and Brad Rijn. It runs 1 hour 46 minutes.
English What Is Special Effects About?
The premise of Special Effects without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Mary Jean longs to become a movie star and finally sees an opportunity. Murderous director Chris Neville has killed an aspiring actress and decides to turn the crime into a film. He coerces the victim’s unsuspecting husband into a role and searches for a perfect look‑alike to portray the deceased actress, weaving real homicide into his cinematic vision.
Special Effects Themes & Keywords
· 40 tags- murder of a nude woman
- actress
- voyeur
- public nudity
- breasts
- female nudity
- female rear nudity
- snuff film
- film director
- sex scene
- falling from height
- violence
+28 more Show fewer
- sex in bed
- panties
- blonde
- female frontal nudity
- cleavage
- new york city
- hot tub
- actress playing multiple roles
- woman strangled to death
- filmmaking
- white panties
- black panties
- jacuzzi
- male rear nudity
- independent film
- investigation
- scissors
- nude photoshoot
- female star appears nude
- psychological horror
- murder
- southern accent
- dead body in a car
- dual role
- dead woman with eyes open
- electrocution
- strangulation
- detective
Special Effects Cast & Characters
Eric Bogosian leads the cast as Chris Neville, with Zoë Lund as Andrea Wilcox / Elaine Bernstein and Brad Rijn as Keefe Waterman.
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Eric Bogosian as Chris Neville - Zoë Lund as Andrea Wilcox / Elaine Bernstein
- Brad Rijn as Keefe Waterman
- H. Richard Greene as Leon Gruskin
Also Starring in Special Effects
· 9 more- Kevin O'Connor Det. Lt. Philip Delroy
- Bill Oland Det. Vickers
- Larry Cohen Journalist (uncredited)
- Steven Pudenz Wiesanthal
- John Woehrle Studio Executive
- Kitty Summerall Andrea's Roomate
- Mike Alpert Taxi Driver
- Heidi Bassett Neville's Asst. Director
- Kris Evans Cosmetician
Special Effects Plot Summary
What happens in Special Effects from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
From Dallas, Andrea Wilcox is an aspiring actress who has run away from her husband, Keefe Waterman, and their toddler son. Keefe tracks her down in New York City, locating her during a nude modeling shoot, and he pursues her into the street before forcing her into his car. The couple return to Andrea’s apartment, where he reveals film footage of their son, exposing a private story she hoped to keep hidden. Andrea manages to escape the confrontation and flees to the home of Christopher Neville, a film director who has promised her a role in his upcoming project. Neville, a once-celebrated filmmaker who has recently returned to New York from Los Angeles after a budget dispute derailed his previous movie, toggles between sly charm and mounting frustration.
Full summary
The whole story of Special Effects, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Special Effects?
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
- 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
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the aspiring actress who runs away from her husband?
Cars in Special Effects
19 cars on screen, including the 1981 Lincoln Town Car Stretched Limousine and the 1975 Plymouth Fury Sport Suburban.
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1981 Lincoln Town Car Stretched Limousine Important role -
1975 Plymouth Fury Sport Suburban Important role -
1981 Dodge Diplomat Minor role -
1979 Ford LTD Minor role
Special Effects Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “Efectos especiales” and “פעלולים רצחניים”.
- Also known as
-
- Efectos especiales
- פעלולים רצחניים
- Hollywood Kills
- 惊心特效
- Спецэффекты
- Ο Θάνατός σου... Η Ταινία μου!
- Efekty specjalne
- 애욕의 테라스
- Especiais Efeitos
Seen Special Effects?
Movies Like Special Effects
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Effects, Murder Obsession and She Killed in Ecstasy.
Special Effects FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, cast and post-credit scenes of Special Effects, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Special Effects?
Special Effects runs 1 hour 46 minutes (106 minutes).
When was Special Effects released?
Special Effects was released on November 16, 1984.
Who is in the cast of Special Effects?
Special Effects stars Eric Bogosian as Chris Neville, Zoë Lund as Andrea Wilcox / Elaine Bernstein and Brad Rijn as Keefe Waterman, among 13 credited actors.
Does Special Effects have a post-credit scene?
No. Special Effects has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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