Awful, turgid, - Rampage (1992) Discussion

[–] gnolti 17 years ago

It was this film that served as a wake-up call that not only was Bill Friedkin's best work far behind him, but that I now had a reason to actually hate the guy. The film is an unnecessary bloodbath that takes itself WAY too seriously. I wouldn't be surprised if Bret Ellis intended to parody it when he wrote American Psycho.

This is not a psychotic episode. This is a cleansing moment of clarity.

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[–] VWstarwars 15 years ago

You had a reason to hate the guy over a movie. Ughhh, get a life!

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[–] gnolti 15 years ago

What I meant was that I hate the post-Cruising/To Live and Die in L.A. Friedkin. And I am not alone.

There, daddy, do I get a gold star?

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[–] supercygnus 12 years ago

You're also not the majority either. And as of this writing his new flick is getting some pretty good notices.

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[–] flaggaz 17 years ago

Disagree. I thought it was one of his best films. It's a fascinating study of a psychopathic killer as well as a powerful argument about the pros and cons of the death penalty. Of course, I haven't seen the re-edited version where Friedkin got cold feet and apparently made the film more pro death penalty.

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[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] khudspith 16 years ago

I agree this is a very good film. Friedkin, perhaps not at the top of his game, but very close. This has to be eventually released on DVD, afterall Cruising finally saw the light of day. Rampage, The Boys in the Band and a better version of Sorcerer on DVD would really be welcome additions to any collection.

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[–] Lt_Coffey_182 16 years ago

there's a polish copy you can find on ebay but i too am waiting for it come out where i live. there's so much rubbish released on dvd that are way more unknown than this and has no actors who have been in anything worth of note. it doesnt make sense! cruising getting released on dvd has given me hope though, fingers crossed.

to the OP, you clearly must have only seen a handful of films to consider rampage awful. personally, i think its very good.

I'll be back!

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[–] Adec 16 years ago

Likewise, I rank this as one of Friedkin's best films, and along with To Live & Die In L.A., his best work since the seventies when he was really at his peak. Likewise the acting from the two leads, Biehn and McArthur, is just terrific, and it's a damn shame that the film got buried under a collapsing studio, because had it gotten it's chance in the sun I think it'd be a lot more respected and admiringly looked back upon now.

I just wish someone would put this out on dvd, preferably with both cuts of the film included. Along with a decent copy of Sorcerer, this is the one Friedkin film that still screams for a decent dvd release.

Maybe with Cruising finally out on dvd and persistent rumours of a Sorcerer SE coming down the pipe sometime we might finally get to see this out on shiny disc as well one day. One can only hope.

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[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

These "love him"/"hate him" comments prove why Friedkin is such an effective director. Mark me down under the "love him" column.

This is a very challenging film that has lingered in obscurity for two decades now, just as "Sorcerer" has never fully gotten the respect it so richly deserves. "Rampage" may not be on the same level as "The Exorcist" or "The French Connection," but hey, it's no "Deal of the Century" either. I admire Friedkin through thick or thin, and this film is definitely in the thick category. 8/10 stars.

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[–] voyageur0713 15 years ago

I think this film had the feel of those 70's "TV made issues films" only with much better production values and a the always wonderful Nicholas Campbell.

Psst -- I like those 70's "TV made issues films" with low production values and has-been/declining actors.

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[–] vitolucia 12 years ago

Huh, maybe not among Friedkin's absolute best work, but I really liked this film and totally LOVE To Live And Die In LA. Go figure.

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[–] SnoozeAlarm 9 years ago

I found this movie mildly entertaining, but not very good. Production values (lighting, etc.) especially weak. Script and plot meandering.

It should be against the law to use 'LOL'; unless you really did LOL!

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[–] manram24 9 years ago

Yes the lighting was bad especially in the courtroom scenes, but I did like the movie, it's not great by any means but I liked it.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

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[–] Oliver-50 8 years ago

This had been on my queue for years, and when I finally got around to watching it last night, I completely forgot this was Friedkin. When Friedkin's name popped up at the close I winced hard. This was the man who made some of the best films of the 70's and now was making a bland, made-for-tv-feeling courtroom drama. No wonder it sat on the shelf for years.

I have two major problems with the film. First, nothing in the film is handled with any subtlety. The filmmakers really wanted to pound you over the head with Biehn's dilemma (continuously referring to him as a liberal at the beginning) and showing flashbacks of his daughter and the difficult choice his made.

Second, this screenplay must have been written by someone who had never been around an actual cop or courtroom. Every single person speaks in expository dialogue, reiterating over and over again the struggles with the case. None of the exchanges felt real, bordering on parody at times.

On top of that, all the courtroom scenes, with the constant close-ups of McArthur and poor camera work in general, amplify how lousy this movie is.

McArthur is creepy and the opening scenes are disturbing, but Rampage was exceptionally bad.

I know who I am! I'm the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude!

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[–] christomacin (4537) 3 years ago

"Second, this screenplay must have been written by someone who had never been around an actual cop or courtroom. "

Friedkin himself wrote the script solo. I agree, this was a drab, lifeless, poorly shot, & poorly cast (except for the killer).

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