A movies special effects man is hired by a government agency to help stage the assassination of a well known gangster. When the agency double cross him, he uses his special effects to trap the gangster and the corrupt agents.
Practical Effects
Every gag is real wires, latex, and ingenuity — zero CGI
Acting
Brian Dennehy's sweaty, desperate cop steals scenes
Writing
Chess-match structure: hero out-thinks, out-fakes everyone
Director
Robert Mandel
Bryan Brown
Roland 'Rollie' Tyler
Brian Dennehy
Lt. Leo McCarthy
Diane Venora
Ellen
Cliff DeYoung
Lipton
Mason Adams
Col. Mason
Jerry Orbach
Nicholas DeFranco
Joe Grifasi
Mickey
Martha Gehman
Andy
Trey Wilson
Lt. Murdoch
Roscoe Orman
Captain Wallenger
Tom Noonan
Varrick
Paul D'Amato
Gallagher
Jossie DeGuzman
Marisa Velez
Jean De Baer
Whitemore
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bryan Brown did many of his own effects work after training with the film's actual FX supervisor; the production couldn't afford a stunt double who looked right.
This film essentially created the 'tech-savvy everyman vs. system' template that Mission: Impossible and MacGyver would mine for decades — but with way more latex.
US
