The Fury **** (1978, Kirk Douglas, John Cassavetes, Carrie Snodgress, Amy Irving, Charles Durning) – Classic Movie Review 2187

Director Brian De Palma’s 1978 thriller stars Kirk Douglas as an American government ex-CIA agent Peter Sandza, who learns his son Robin (Andrew Stevens) has been kidnapped by a wily and unscrupulous former co-worker Ben Childress (John Cassavetes). Childress wants to use the young man’s psychokinetic powers in being able to move objects by mind control for the bad guys.

A secret US agency is gathering children and training them to become killers in war situations. Sandza investigates Childress and then gets the assistance of a similarly gifted woman with para-psychologic abilities called Gillian Bellaver (Amy Irving) to help him to find and rescue his son, who was officially declared dead after an arranged accident.

Written by John Farsis from his own novel, Fury is a compelling and riveting blend of horror thriller and spy story, delivered with a considerable punch and at a fast pace by De Palma, who is still in his Hitchcock phase here and who uses every trick in the business to get us involved in the movie’s plot. There is outstanding work in the special effects department for its day, eye-catching cinematography by Richard H Kline and score by John Williams.

The Fury also stars Carrie Snodgress, Charles Durning and Fiona Lewis. Also in the cast are Rutanya Alda, Gordon Jump, Carl Rossen, Joyce Easton, William Finley, Jane Lambert, Sam Laws, J Patrick McNamara, Alice Nunn and Melody Thomas. It is Daryl Hannah’s movie début.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2187

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