The Final Terror

The Final Terror (1983)

Without knowing they have awakened an unknown force. Can anyone survive?

A group of friends head out for what is expected to be a vacation of hiking, camping and a good time, but when a backwoods mama finds them on her turf, it becomes anything but a vacation.

Date of release
1983-05-01
TMDB
5.1 / 10 (101)
Runtime
1h 22m
Genres
Horror
Director
Andrew Davis

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Filmed in: California

The Final Terror is a 1983 American horror film directed and photographed by Andrew Davis, and starring John Friedrich, Rachel Ward, Daryl Hannah, Adrian Zmed, Mark Metcalf, Akosua Busia, and Joe Pantoliano. Blending elements of the survival thriller and the slasher film, the story follows a group of campers in the Northern California wilderness who are forced to fight for their lives against a backwoods, feral killer hunting them as prey.

Production

After the success of such slasher films as Halloween (1978) and Friday the 13th (1980), executive producer Samuel Z. Arkoff pitched the idea of making a horror film to his friend and co-producer, Joe Roth. The project marked Arkoff's first major feature following his departure from American International Pictures.

The original screenplay, which had the working title Bump in the Night, consisted of a sparse plot about "rich boys and girls going off into the woods and getting killed." The screenplay was co-written by Ronald Shusett, who had previously co-written Alien (1979) with Dan O'Bannon.

Director Davis was recommended for the film by Shusett, who had been impressed by Davis's previous work. Davis was also hired by producer Joe Roth to serve as cinematographer, billed under the pseudonym "Andreas Davidescu" to avoid problems with the filmmakers' union. Prior to shooting, Davis and Roth scouted various locations, including the Mount St. Helens area in Washington.

Most of the cast of The Final Terror were inexperienced or new actors. Rachel Ward was cast in the lead role of Margaret after Davis had seen a modeling portrait of her in Roth's office. Akosua Busia auditioned during an open casting call on Hollywood Boulevard, and was cast in the supporting role of Vanessa; Busia, the daughter of Ghana Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia, was a childhood friend of Ward, who became acquainted with her while they we…

In the role of Windy, Davis cast Daryl Hannah, who, like Ward, had little film experience at the time. Davis cast Joe Pantoliano in the role of Eggar after he entered the audition in character, impressing Davis with his commitment. Donna Pinder, who portrayed Mrs. Morgan, was producer Arkoff's daughter, who later married Roth.

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