Phobia (1980 film)
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Lew Lehman
Jimmy Sangster
Gary Sherman
| Phobia | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | John Huston |
| Written by | Peter Bellwood Lew Lehman Jimmy Sangster |
| Story by | Ronald Shusett Gary Sherman |
| Produced by | Zale Magder |
| Starring | Paul Michael Glaser Susan Hogan John Colicos |
| Cinematography | Reginald H. Morris |
| Edited by | Stan Cole |
| Music by | André Gagnon |
Production company | Borough Park Productions |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures (Canada/US) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | Canada[1] |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $5,100,000 |
| Box office | $59,167 |
Phobia is a 1980 Canadian psychological thriller-horror film directed by John Huston, with a screenplay by Peter Bellwood, Lew Lehman and Jimmy Sangster; from a story by Ronald Shusett and Gary Sherman. It stars Paul Michael Glaser, Susan Hogan, and John Colicos. In the film, experimental psychotherapist Dr. Peter Ross' (Glaser) patients are targeted by a killer that preys on their phobias.[2]
The film premiered at the 37th Venice International Film Festival, before being released in Canada by Paramount Pictures on September 26, 1980, to a generally negative response and poor box office performance.
Dr. Peter Ross, a psychiatrist, introduces a radical new therapy and tests it on five of his patients to cure them of their various fears (heights, crowded places, enclosed spaces, men and snakes). However, his patients start being murdered by an unknown assailant using methods relating to their respective fears.
Cast
- Paul Michael Glaser as Dr. Peter Ross
- Susan Hogan as Jenny St. Clair
- John Colicos as Inspector Larry Barnes
- David Bolt as Henry Owen
- Patricia Collins as Dr. Alice Toland
- David Eisner as Johnny Venuti
- Lisa Langlois as Laura Adams
- Alexandra Stewart as Barbara Grey
- Robert O'Ree as Bubba King
- Neil Vipond as Dr. Clegg
- Marian Waldman as Mrs. Casey
- Kenneth Welsh as Sgt. Joe Wheeler
- Gwen Thomas as Dr. Clemens
Production
Phobia was the only horror film directed by John Huston, and his only film produced in Canada.[3] The film was shot in Toronto, with many scenes filmed at Humber Polytechnic College.
The screenplay was re-written during production by an uncredited Dan O'Bannon and Gladys Hill (John Huston's longtime assistant).[4] In his book Dan O'Bannon's Guide to Screenplay Structure, O'Bannon claimed the script was altered without his input by a producer. He disliked the changes and offered to Huston his earlier draft, but Huston declined as a matter of convenience.[4]
Release
The film premiered in-competition at the 37th Venice International Film Festival. It was released in Canada and the United States by Paramount Pictures on September 26, 1980.
Home media
After years of being unavailable of home video, a remastered blu-ray was released in November 2019 by Kino Lorber.[3]
