The ’80s Crime Thriller Everyone Forgot Is Being Saved
When legendary director William Friedkin passed away earlier this year, folks quickly pointed out his most notable contribution to cinema, the classic 1973 horror film, The Exorcist.
While the filmmaker went on to direct a handful of other major hits including The French Connection and Killer Joe, his 1987 thriller, Rampage has mostly flown under the radar. Now, thanks to Kino Lorber, the title will be back on shelves soon given a complete 4K Blu-ray makeover.
William Friedkin’s Rampage
Well known for his connection to the horror genre, Rampage was the perfect film for William Friedkin to helm as it centered around a string of brutal murders committed by Alex McArthur’s (Kiss the Girls) character Charlie Reece.
The idea of legal insanity is pulled into the plot as Charlie’s defense team claims that the young man was taken over by his mental debilitation and had no choice but to commit the murders.
A Box Office Miss
After escaping his initial capture, Charlie is put on trial for his abhorrent crimes with the liberal DA, Anthony Fraser (Michael Biehn) forced to seek the death penalty – a punishment he doesn’t agree with but one that certainly fits the crime.
Regarding box office earnings, Rampage majorly missed the mark, earning just south of $800,000 against its gargantuan $7.5 million production cost.
Production Timeline Problems
The main reason that the film performed so poorly in theaters is that while it celebrated a premiere at the 1987 Boston Film Festival, it wasn’t given a proper cinematic release for five years.
This is because the production company and distributor that was in charge of the project went bankrupt, with Miramax eventually picking up the rights and putting it out in 1992.
Critics Lukewarm
Rampage also met so-so reviews from critics who were torn on the film’s subject matter. While Friedkin did his best to paint a picture of severe mental illness, Rampage tore its viewers on the main character’s innocence despite his affliction.
For true crime fans, Rampage is a must-see feature as it is based on one of America’s most prolific serial killers who may be unknown to some. Friedkin adapted the screenplay for the film from the book of the same name penned by William P. Wood, which pulled inspiration from the life of Richard Chase.
Based On A Serial Killer
Nicknamed “The Vampire of Sacramento,” the real-life inspiration for Rampage murdered four adults, a young boy, and a baby during his reign of terror in the California city.
He would approach homes, and if the doors were unlocked, he would enter, taking it as his “invitation” that vampires require to enter buildings.
What set Chase apart from other killers of the 1970s like Ted Bundy or Gary Ridgway was that he believed himself to be a vampire and would drink the blood of his victims as well as cannibalize the corpses.
Rampage’s Main Character
Of course, not all of Chase’s life and crimes were turned into Rampage’s main character, with the book and movie putting their own twist on the character.
Still, the film remains one of the best in William Friedkin’s repertoire, right up there with The Exorcist, and one that has flown under the radar.
As of right now, no release date for the 4K drop has been revealed.
