Shattered (1991 film)

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Shattered
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
Written by Wolfgang Petersen
Richard Neely (novel)
Starring Tom Berenger
Bob Hoskins
Greta Scacchi
Joanne Whalley
Corbin Bernsen
Music by Alan Silvestri
Cinematography László Kovács
Editing by Glenn Farr
Hannes Nikel
Distributed by MGM/UA
Release date(s) October 11, 1991
Running time 98 min
Country USA
Language English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Shattered is a 1991 neo-noir/psychological thriller starring Tom Berenger, Greta Scacchi, Bob Hoskins, Joanne Whalley, Corbin Bernsen and Scott Getlin.

Contents

[edit] Plot Synopsis

A Hitchcockian thriller directed and written for the screen by Wolfgang Petersen, Shattered stars Tom Berenger as Dan Merrick, a man who at the film's start gets himself into a horrible car wreck off a mountain road. The impact causes brain damage for Merrick, which results in complete amnesia. After undergoing surgery to repair his disfigured face, Merrick tries to reintegrate back into his normal life. However, flashbacks of events he can't remember keep popping into his mind and this leads him to a dark secret no one wants him to know. Filled with twists and turns, the film is reminiscent of the classic noir films of the 40s. Its surprise revelation at the film's climax has given the film a cult status amongst viewers.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Critical Reception

  • The film's twist ending has caused a division among the responses given by critics. Several critics find the revelation too ridiculous to accept, while others find it inventive and clever. Roger Ebert falls into the former category, stating that the film's resolution is "inconceivably implausible," and that the "screenplay is too clever by half." However, he goes onto say that this quality "is always sort of fun."[1] About.com falls into the later category, calling the finale "a killer twist ending!"[2] and the Washington Post says, "It would be disastrous to even hint at the movie's denouement; a critic could get lynched for giving away an ending as shockingly unexpected as the one here. Let's just say that it blows the top of your head off."[3] Despite this division, critics generally hold the film's surprise denouncement as unexpected and startling, though whether it is too clever for its own good is debatable and left up to the viewer.

[edit] Technical Notes

  • Awards: Deauville Film Festival - Nominated - Critics Award.
  • Film Locations:
    • Oregon: Nehalem, Tillamook County; Oswald West State Park; Neahkahnie Mountain.
    • California: Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin County; City and County of San Francisco; Sausalito, Marin County.[4]
  • Release Date: October 11, 1991
  • Box Office:
    • Opening Weekend: $3,457,105 (1,286 theaters, $2,688 average)[5]
    • Total Gross: $11,511,031
  • Songs Used:

[edit] Trivia

Shattered Poster Art
Shattered Poster Art
  • The video cassette box for the movie "Shattered" can be seen in the movie The Ring (2002), specifically in the scene at the log cabin.
  • Plastic surgeon George Herbert Semel, M.D., not only served as a medical adviser on the film, but also played the plastic surgeon.[6]
  • Nineteen stunt people were utilized in the film's stunt work.[6]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Roger Ebert, "Shattered" Review, Chicago Sun Times
  2. ^ Fred Topel, "Shattered" Review, About.com
  3. ^ Hal Hinson, "Shattered" Review, The Washington Post
  4. ^ Film in America
  5. ^ Box Office Mojo
  6. ^ a b Rotten Tomatoes