Name: Special Effects
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Released: 1984-11-16
Duration: 1 h 46 min
Cast: Zoë Lund, Eric Bogosian, Brad Rijn, Kevin O'Connor, Bill Oland

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Story

Mary Jean is just dying to get in the movies… She's about to get her wish.

Reality and illusion collide as megalomaniacal filmmaker Chris Neville murders a young would-be actress, then sets about making a feature about the deed, casting the deceased's clueless husband as the patsy, and finding a dead ringer to play the late actress.

Feels like

Meta-Narrative
Showbiz Thriller
Psychological Horror
Exploitation Cinema
Murder Mystery
Dark Humor
Unreliable Narrator
Cynical Worldview

Cast

6 of 6

Crew

Directed by: Larry Cohen
Written by: Larry Cohen
Produced by: Paul Kurta
Music by: Michael D. Minard

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

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Facts

November 16, 1984 · 1 h 46 min · R

Released: November 16, 1984
Runtime: 1 h 46 min
Age rating: R
Content: Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres: Thriller, Crime
Original language: English
Made in: United States
Available in: 58 countries

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream Special Effects?"

Questions about Special Effects

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Special Effects?

In the United States, Special Effects streams on Prime, fuboTV, MGM+, and Philo, and it is free with ads on Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. It also streams in 2 other countries.

Is Special Effects worth watching?

43

WeakGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 43 (IMDb 5.5 and Rotten Tomatoes 43%).

Will I feel good after watching Special Effects?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 5 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Will Special Effects scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

At times: scares are rated 7 of 10.