Stuck (2007)

Director:

Stuart Gordon

Writers (WGA):

John Strysik (screenplay)
Stuart Gordon (story)

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (Turkey)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Two Destinies Are About To Collide

Plot:

A young woman commits a hit-and-run, then finds her fate tied to her victim.

Plot Keywords:

Hit And Run | Garage | Taxi Driver | Nudity | Leg Spreading

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Mena Suvari	...	Brandi Boski
Stephen Rea	...	Thomas Bardo
Russell Hornsby	...	Rashid
Rukiya Bernard	...	Tanya
Carolyn Purdy-Gordon	...	Petersen
Lionel Mark Smith	...	Sam
Wayne Robson	...	Mr. Binckley
R.D. Reid	...	Manager
Patrick McKenna	...	Joe Lieber
Sharlene Royer	...	Tiffany
Bunthivy Nou	...	Gloria
Suzanne Short	...	Receptionist
Wally McKinnon	...	Beat Cop (as Wally MacKinnon)
John Dartt	...	Cop
Liam McNamara	...	Thin Young Man
Shuko Akune	...	Hospital Voice Menu (voice)
John Dunsworth	...	Cabbie
Marguerite McNeil	...	Mrs. Pashkewitz
Jeffrey Combs	...	911 Operator (voice)
Martin Moreno	...	Pedro
Lorena Rincon	...	Estela
Mauricio Hoyos	...	Luis

Directed by
Stuart Gordon

Writing credits (WGA)
John Strysik		(screenplay)
Stuart Gordon		(story)

Produced by
Christian Arnold-Beutel	....	executive producer
Jay Firestone	....	producer
Ken Gord	....	producer
Stuart Gordon	....	producer
Sam Grana	....	executive producer
Robert Katz	....	producer
John F.S. Laing	....	executive producer
Tim McGrath	....	executive producer
Julie G. Moldo	....	associate producer
Zenon Yunko	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bobby Johnston

Cinematography by
Denis Maloney

Film Editing by
Andy Horvitch

Casting by
Ferne Cassel
Lisa Parasyn

Production Design by
Craig Lathrop

Set Decoration by
Alan MacLeod

Costume Design by
Carol Cutshall

Makeup Department
Linda Flynn	....	key hair stylist
Kathrine Gordon	....	hair braiding: Ms. Suvari
Sylvie Mazerolle	....	key makeup artist
Mike Measimer	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Greg McDougall	....	makeup artist: second unit (uncredited)

Production Management
Andrew Barnes	....	assistant production manager
Andy Horvitch	....	post-production supervisor
Rob Urquhart	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Cotterill	....	second assistant director
Alexandra LeGuerrier	....	trainee assistant director
B. Scott Senechal	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Matt Likely	....	assistant art director
Elizabeth Moran	....	art department coordinator
Robert Richard	....	draftsman

Sound Department
Justin Bates	....	sound editor
Richard Burton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Burton	....	supervising sound editor
Thierry J. Couturier	....	sound editor
Corey Eccles	....	sound editor
Georges Hannan	....	sound mixer
Damian Reynolds	....	dubbing mixer

Special Effects by
Laird McMurray	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
David Alexander	....	CG animator: Switch VFX
Jon Campfens	....	visual effects supervisor
Gudrun Heinze	....	digital compositor: Switch VFX
Steven Nevius	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Bill Grimmer	....	animal stunts
Cheryl Quiacos	....	stunt performer
Sharlene Royer	....	stunt performer
John Stoneham Jr.	....	fight coordinator
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Darcy Fraser	....	second assistant camera
Mark Hemmings	....	still photographer
Reza Tabrizi	....	additional first assistant camera: pick-ups

Casting Department
Liza Gagnon	....	extras casting
Donna Rae Gibbs	....	co-casting director
Debbie Kwan	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Fileena Bahris	....	jewelry designer
Brenda McLeese	....	set costumer
Chris J. O'Neil	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Ester Brymova	....	assistant editor
Luis Ortiz Guillen	....	assistant editor
Rui Martins	....	telecine operator
Tom Mayclim	....	negative cutter

Music Department
John Krovoza	....	musician: cello

Other crew
Jacquie Anderson	....	location manager
Rick Constantineau	....	production accountant
Ken Dhaliwal	....	legal counsel
Joanne Duguay	....	production coordinator
Gary Allen Ferguson	....	gun wrangler (as Gary Ferguson)
Liza Gagnon	....	accommodation coordinator
Mary Louise McCloskey	....	script supervisor
Steven Nevius	....	title designer
James Ordonez	....	production consultant
Tim Turnell	....	stand-in: male lead

Production Companies

• Prodigy Pictures
• Amicus Entertainment
• Tumidor

Distributors

• THINKFilm (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• All Interactive Distribution (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Focus Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (DVD)
• HBO Hungary (2009) (Hungary) (TV) (Cinemax)
• Image Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Rigel Entertainment (2007) (non-USA) (all media)
• Seville Pictures (2008) (Canada) (all media)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing content, sexuality/nudity, language and drug use.

Runtime:

85 min | Canada:94 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada | USA | UK | Germany

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:R | Australia:MA (DVD release) | Australia:MA (2008) | UK:15 | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

Company:

Prodigy Pictures

Trivia:

Scriptwriter John Strysik has stated that the last name of Stephen Rea's character - Bardo - comes from the Buddhist term for an intermediate or transitional state of being, and thus is a reference to the life-or-death situation Tom experiences.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Bardo is seen walking down the street, you can see the visible breath of a crumbier on the right side of the shot. This is apparently due to the cold temperature on the night this was filmed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[At the care facility, a patient offscreen calls for Brandi]
Mr. Binckley: Brandi! I want Brandi!
Gloria: He did it again.
Brandi Boski: He did?
Gloria: I tried helping, but he keeps asking for you.
Brandi Boski: Yeah, he does that.

Movie Connections:

Version of Hit and Run (2009) (V)

A Great Transition for Stuart Gordon

Mena Suvari plays nurse Brandi Boski who, on the eve of her promotion, strikes a homeless man who gets stuck (hence the title) in her windshield. Not wanting to get fired (or lose her promotion), she decides to hide the man in her garage rather than report him to the local hospital. A problem arises soon thereafter when it is revealed that the man is not actually dead.

When word came my way that a movie was coming out based on the Chante Mallard story, I was pretty pumped. I had written a novella based on the same case back in 2003, so I was not only familiar with it but had something of a personal connection. And then when I heard it was from the legendary Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator"), I was more than just a little pumped. I was ecstatic. Gordon, back in the director's seat... and soon enough his newest creation was in my hands. It's good to be a horror reviewer.

This was actually a departure for Gordon, being far more a "real" movie (with drama bits) and much less a b-movie. Not much Jeffrey Combs, no Dennis Paoli... and Mena Suvari had been brought in... and the cover of the box is glowing with positive reviews from The New York Times and USA Today. I don't know for certain, but I don't think this is the level of attention he normally musters. You've come a long way from Empire, baby. And as much as I'll always love the Gordon classics, both old and new, it's nice to see him getting the recognition he deserves. There's room for a new giant among Wes Craven and John Carpenter. Maybe Romero will give up his seat.

The film itself is powerful as a drama and the horror elements are downplayed until much later on. We begin by following the homeless man on a regular day trying to find work at the government's assistance bureau. He is less than successful. Suvari, on the other hand, is finally rewarded for putting up with other people's crap (most literally). For the next hour, it is the exposition of these lives that is the focal point. I may never have thought of Stuart Gordon as a dialogue-driven director, but this film really showcases his ability to bring normal characters to life without gimmicks.

By the time you read this, "Stuck" should be available in stores. And you really must give it a chance. Long-time Gordon fans will enjoy it and I think we can safely say this isn't him selling out. (Some Peter Jackson fans likely regret Jackson's move towards the big budget films... but many aspects of "Stuck" hint that no matter how big, Gordon knows his roots.) Those who never heard of Stuart Gordon and are confused by all my ranting and raving will enjoy the film as well, because it's a story that real, with real people and real emotions. A respectable date movie for those who like horror on their dates but may not necessarily want the splatter. Oh, and drink Scotch while you watch it.