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Deadline

  • 1980
  • R
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
925
YOUR RATING
Deadline (1980)
DramaHorrorThriller

A popular horror writer whose family life is falling apart struggles to write his next horror movie.A popular horror writer whose family life is falling apart struggles to write his next horror movie.A popular horror writer whose family life is falling apart struggles to write his next horror movie.

  • Director
    • Mario Azzopardi
  • Writers
    • Mario Azzopardi
    • Richard Oleksiak
  • Stars
    • Stephen Young
    • Sharon Masters
    • Marvin Goldhar
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    925
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mario Azzopardi
    • Writers
      • Mario Azzopardi
      • Richard Oleksiak
    • Stars
      • Stephen Young
      • Sharon Masters
      • Marvin Goldhar
    • 24User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos37

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    Top cast74

    Edit
    Stephen Young
    Stephen Young
    • Steven Lessey
    Sharon Masters
    Sharon Masters
    • Elizabeth Lessey
    Marvin Goldhar
    • Burt Horowitz
    Jeannie Elias
    • Darlene Winters
    Cindy Hinds
    Cindy Hinds
    • Sharon Lessey
    Phillip Leonard
    • Philip Lessey
    Tod Woodcroft
    • David Lessey
    Bev Marsh
    • Martha Lessey
    Carole Pope
    Carole Pope
    • Punk Rock Band Member
    Kevan Staples
    • Punk Rock Band Member
    • (as Kevin Staples)
    Rough Trade
    Rough Trade
    • Punk Rock Band
    Mary Risk
    • Professor
    Ken Camroux-Taylor
    Ken Camroux-Taylor
    • Moderator
    • (as Ken Camroux)
    Philip Akin
    • Student #1
    Bill Yak
    Bill Yak
    • Student #2
    • (as Bill Yack)
    Virginia Reh
    • Student #3
    Louis Negin
    Louis Negin
    • Older Man
    Brandy
    • Hostess…
    • Director
      • Mario Azzopardi
    • Writers
      • Mario Azzopardi
      • Richard Oleksiak
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews24

    5.5925
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    Featured reviews

    6Vomitron_G

    Writing Can Be Hazardous To Your Health, Part 2

    What a curious and weird Canadian production this turned out to be. About a horror screenwriter on a slow descent into depravity while trying to come up with his next screenplay, all this under pressure of his producer. There isn't much of a story present to carry the film, but other things manage to do this. First off, there are plenty of scenes portraying the kind of fiction our writer writes about. We're talking some graphic scenes of gore & bloodshed here, so be prepared for that. Then it seems this film tries to raise some issues about these topics. Like why write about such extremities? Like a producer that's only interested in having his screenwriter deliver what sells: sex & violence. Soon our writer can't get another coherent scene on paper anymore, and his mind starts deteriorating accordingly. His cynical wife isn't of much help. He starts having violent outbursts. His kids get scared. Then comes alcohol, drugs, women. Not sure what to think of this film, as it all seems so pointless in the end. But it was, uhm, an interesting watch.
    5udar55

    Interesting but flawed

    This Canadian film is often sold as a horror film but it is actually a twisted drama. Stephen Young stars as Steven Lessey, a successful author and screenwriter who is having a bad case of writer's block. The works he has profited from don't satisfy him now and he is searching for "true horror" to write about. As the film progresses, his personal life begins to unravel alongside a series of hallucinations.

    DEADLINE is a mixed bag. Its biggest flaw is that there are no likable characters in the film. Young's character is a jerk and his wife is just as bad. I couldn't care less what happens to these self centered people. Director Mario Azzopardi also makes sure to distance mainstream audiences by filling the scenes from Lessey's head with extremely graphic gore. It is well done but probably sends the audiences looking for a drama running. However, the film does make some interesting statements on the influence of violence in cinema and some of the hallucination scenes are truly haunting. Cindy Hinds, the young girl from Cronenberg's THE BROOD, co-stars as Lessey's daughter.
    tutbagsusa

    Self-Commenting Horror Film Could Use More Resolute Finale

    Horror movies that reference their own genre have been more prevalent lately, but it seems they come attached with a certain degree of mordant comedy, signifying that the directors probably aren't completely convinced of their own convictions. But that's not really a problem with this film. DEADLINE is a horror picture that begins like any typical slasher film would, but later becomes more laid back in an effort to reflect on itself from an idealistic point of view. The film chiefly appears to be another examination of the effects of graphic violence in cinema on its viewers, particularly child viewers. The narrative framework for all this is built upon the story of a horror movie screenwriter whose life begins to disintegrate when he begins writing for more violent and more lowbrow productions than he'd prefer. As to be expected, it eventually leads to a collapse of his sanity.

    I liked the film for its first two-thirds because director Azzapardi was trying to do something different and even attempting a resonant observation or two along the way. But like so many of these self-referential type films, it paints itself into a corner in the end to where it doesn't really have an ending. It rather just trails off in the final minutes, not knowing how to tie its various story threads. Nonetheless, its worth a look since much of it does hold some promise, at least before the third act.
    8HumanoidOfFlesh

    Plagued by gory visions.

    This gory and admirably engrossing Canadian horror is rarely seen and suitably obscure.It tells the story of an accomplished writer of horror scripts,who is plagued by ghastly visions of horror and bloody carnage.His ideas are often outrageous and transgressive.He writes about cannibalistic nuns,satanic goats and murderous children with gasoline.He is constantly fighting with his drug-addicted wife and his three children are neglected.When his small daughter is hanged his life breaks down into nightmarish pieces."Deadline" is about dysfunctional Canadian family and their tortured lives.The film is very gory,but the gore scenes are all shots from various movies Steve did.The acting is great and the atmosphere is sleazy and washed-out."Deadline" hates horror genre,but it works as a grimly effective shocker.8 out of 10 for this obscure horror classic.
    7delbruk

    Intriguing Little Gem

    Make no mistake this is a good horror film. It has some nice chills, good amount of gore and some disturbing moments that will be with you after the film has ended. But Azzopardi has attempted not just the usual horror flick here; he has fashioned an allegorical gem based on the debate over violence in the media using a horror writer and his family as the focus. Azzopardi has also crafted a post modern film which is self-commenting, non-linear, and offers no definitive resolution for all of his characters which can tend to instill an unsatisfying or muddled ending. However, this film should be viewed as ahead of its time in its treatment of the subject matter and original way of presenting it. The style of the film owes much more to the Italian horror masters (Argento, Fulci, etc.) than it does to North American cinema as Azzopardi, made his mark in Canadian cinema. It should also be noted that while the film is allegory, it was apparent to me that Stephen King was the basis for the main character (even his name is Stephen) and pre-dates any self-referential treatment (The Dark Half) from King by almost a decade. In this regard, the film remains highly original in theme and still well worth watching. Bottom Line: good horror film that will evoke Italian cinema but you must be willing to put the pieces together on your own...a thinking person's horror film.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Shot in 1979, but not released until five years after it was made.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Big Box: The Body Shop (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Roll Me Away
      Performed by Dwayne Ford

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    FAQ14

    • How long is Deadline?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1980 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ligne de Mort
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Horror Picture Films
      • Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • CA$850,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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