Virus (1980): Cast & Plot
Virus is a 1980 sci-fi horror film directed by Kinji Fukasaku, starring Ken Pogue as Dr. Krause, Chuck Connors and Alf Humphreys. It runs 2 hours 36 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 36m (156 min)
- Director
- Kinji Fukasaku
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- TBS
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Virus About?
The premise of Virus without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In autumn 1982, a military virus released in a plane crash has exterminated humanity, leaving only 863 survivors stranded in Antarctica. Isolated scientists race against time to develop a cure, while the world wonders who will inherit the Earth after the pandemic’s devastation.
Virus Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- pandemic
- mass death
- mass grave
- death
- chaos
- apocalypse
- christmas
- christmas party
- mass killing
- disaster action
- virus
- antarctica
+38 more Show fewer
- vaccine
- submarine
- end of civilization
- end of the world
- disaster
- north pole
- argentinian
- russian scientist
- cult film
- suspense
- orchestral music score
- graveyard
- escape
- blood
- commando raid
- soldier
- hope
- army
- national guard
- military jeep
- montage
- rifle
- shotgun
- machine gun
- tommy gun
- pistol
- southern accent
- anarchy
- screaming
- fear
- paranoia
- danger
- panic
- survival
- survivor
- infection
- protest
- riot
Virus Cast & Characters
Ken Pogue leads the cast as Dr. Krause, with Chuck Connors as Captain McCloud - HMS Nereid and Alf Humphreys as Sailor #2 - HMS Nereid. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku; 40 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Kinji Fukasaku
- Ken Pogue as Dr. Krause
-
Chuck Connors as Captain McCloud - HMS Nereid - Alf Humphreys as Sailor #2 - HMS Nereid
- Michael Tough as Young Sailor - HMS Nereid
Also Starring in Virus
· 36 more- John Rutter Sailor #1 - HMS Nereid
- Nicholas Campbell Radio Operator - Palmer Station
- Julie Khaner Secretary - Palmer Station
- Bo Svenson Major Carter
- Masao Kusakari Doctor Shûzô Yoshizumi
- Robert Vaughn Senator Barkley
- Glenn Ford President Richardson
- George Kennedy Admiral Conway
- Henry Silva General Garland
- Edward James Olmos Captain Lopez
- Ken Ogata Prof. Tsuchiya
- Cec Linder Doctor Latour
- Sonny Chiba Dr. Yamauchi
- Nenji Kobayashi Doctor's Assistant #2
- Tsunehiko Watase Yasuo Tatsuno
- Isao Natsuyagi Commander Nakanishi
Show all 40 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Colin Fox Spy Z
- Toshiyuki Nagashima Akimasa Matsuo
- Takashi Noguchi Doctor's Assistant
- Olivia Hussey Marit
- Alberta Watson Litha (uncredited)
- Chris Wiggins Dr. Borodinov
- Stuart Gillard Doctor Ed Meyer
- Chū Takatsuki Crew Member
- George Touliatos Col. Rankin
- Eve Crawford Dr. Irma Ollich
- Takeshige Hatanaka Crew Member
- Yumi Takigawa Asami Noriko
- Mitsuko Oka Tatsuno Yoshiko
- John Bayliss Major King
- Chikara Gonoue Crew Member
- Danielle Schneider Secretary - Palmer Station
- Kensaku Morita Ryûji Sanazawa
- Stephanie Faulkner Sarah Baker
- Haruki Kadokawa Crew Member
- William Binney White House Aide Simmons
More from Kinji Fukasaku
More films directed by Kinji Fukasaku, best-rated first: Tora! Tora! Tora!, Battle Royale, Battle Royale II: Requiem and Battle Royale.
Virus Plot Summary
What happens in Virus from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1982, a shadowy deal sets the stage for a perilous game of bio-politics. An East German scientist, Dr. Krause, Ken Pogue becomes a key figure in a clandestine exchange over a dangerous virus known as MM88. This pathogen, accidentally created by an American geneticist, has the terrifying ability to amplify the potency of any virus or bacterium it touches. The Americans manage to recover the virus sample, which had been stolen from a U.S. lab the year before, but disaster strikes when the plane carrying it crashes. The virus is released into the world, and a grim pandemic unfolds, initially dubbed the Italian Flu as nations scramble to understand the threat.
Full summary
The whole story of Virus, scene by scene
Virus Videos
The clip of Virus.
How Well Do You Know Virus?
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
What is the designation of the virus that can amplify any other pathogen in the film?
Cars in Virus
7 cars on screen, including the Land-Rover Santana 109'' Series III Station Wagon and the 1949 Willys Jeep CJ-3A.
-
Land-Rover Santana 109'' Series III Station Wagon Main role -
1949 Willys Jeep CJ-3A Main role -
1971 Toyota Land Cruiser Minor role -
Pegaso 1135 Background role
Virus Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “Apocalypse - Das Ende der Welt” and “Apokalypse - Das Ende der Welt”.
- Also known as
-
- Apocalypse - Das Ende der Welt
- Apokalypse - Das Ende der Welt
- Tödlicher Virus
- Fukkatsu no hi
- Day of Resurrection
- The End
Seen Virus?
Movies Like Virus
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Virus, Virus Shark and COVID-21: Lethal Virus.
Virus FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Virus, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Virus?
Virus runs 2 hours 36 minutes (156 minutes).
When was Virus released?
Virus was released on June 26, 1980.
Who directed Virus?
Virus was directed by Kinji Fukasaku.
More films by Kinji Fukasaku Who is in the cast of Virus?
Virus stars Ken Pogue as Dr. Krause, Chuck Connors as Captain McCloud - HMS Nereid and Alf Humphreys as Sailor #2 - HMS Nereid, among 40 credited actors.
Does Virus have a post-credit scene?
No. Virus has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Virus in?
The original language of Virus is Japanese.
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