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Bullies (film)

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This article is about the 1986 film. For other uses, see Bully (disambiguation).
Bullies
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPaul Lynch
Written byBryan McCann
John Sheppard
Produced byPeter Haley
Starring
CinematographyRené Verzier
Edited byNick Rotundo
Music byPaul Zaza
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • August 29, 1986 (1986-08-29) (U.S. and Canada)
Running time
96 minutes (Canada)
90 minutes (U.S.)
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
BudgetCAD$2.7 million[1]
Box officeUS$2,995,527 (U.S.)

Bullies is a 1986 Canadian action drama film directed by Paul Lynch and starring Jonathan Crombie, Janet-Laine Green, Stephen Hunter, and Olivia d'Abo. In a story that has elicited occasional comparisons to Romeo and Juliet, a vendetta arises from the forbidden relationship between a teenage girl, whose clan terrorizes a small town, and the son of a newly arrived family.[2] The film received polarized reviews, which often praised its craftsmanship while questioning the ethics of its vigilante violence.

Plot

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When the peaceful Morris family move to a small town and buy the town grocery store, they run afoul of the Cullen family. The Cullen's have been bullying the town's folk for years, and now they are harassing the Morris family every chance they get. Matt meanwhile meets and starts seeing a lot of Becky who also likes him. Unfortunately her last name is Cullen, and when the rest of the family finds out about their relationship, they decide to get even, and their harassment is elevated to vicious assault.

Cast

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Production

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Bullies was part of a three-project slate made by Toronto-based Simcom in Western Canada in late 1985, under the legal entity Bullies Productions. Also included were the miniseries Mania and the feature High Stakes, which started filming right as Bullies ended.[3][4] British Columbia Television and Allarcom of Alberta were the other main partners in the venture (the latter only on Bullies and Mania).[3][5] In pre-production, the film's budget was pegged at slightly less than CAD$2 million,[5] but the final cost was estimated at 2.7 million.[1] Telefilm Canada, the government agency responsible for supporting the national film industry, refused to contribute to Bullies' financing due to its perceived exploitative content.[6][7]

According to director Paul Lynch, the film was not inspired by the likes of Straw Dogs, to which it has frequently been compared.[8][9][10] Rather, it existed as a counterpoint to Simcom's early family adventure films, where rurality offered a peaceful setting for families in need of rebuilding.[11] Although the casting of Jonathan Crombie, son of acting Canadian minister David Crombie, attracted some curiosity,[12] Lynch's intention was actually to use lesser known actors, as he felt that it had helped similar films such as The Ransom and The Last House on the Left to maximize their visceral impact.[11] Olivia d'Abo was a favorite of the director, and had already worked for him and writer John Sheppard on 1985's Flying.[13][14]

Bullies was filmed in the town of Kimberley and at Thunder Hill Provincial Park, both in British Columbia.[6] Photography began on September 23 and concluded on November 3, 1985.[15][16] Veteran genre director John "Bud" Cardos helmed the second unit. Like many Simcom films, it underwent a few reshoots, which were done in Toronto. American actor Dehl Berti did not participate, and a casting call was instead published in the local press for a lookalike who could appear in some non-dialogue pick-up shots.[12]

Release

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Pre-release

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Bullies was Canada's biggest sales success at the 1986 Cannes Film Market, and its U.S. rights were sold to Universal Pictures for CAD$4 million.[17][18] Again due to the film's violence, Norstar's distribution arm Norstar Releasing was refused marketing subsidies by Telefilm Canada.[7]

Theatrical

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Bullies arrived in Canadian and U.S. theaters on the same day of August 29, 1986.[19][20] In Canada, it was released by Norstar Releasing though Cineplex Odeon Theatres.[21] In the U.S., it was distributed by Universal Pictures,[22] in what appears to have been a hybrid release where the film, while available in most markets, only received a limited number of screens in some major agglomerations like Los Angeles.[23] Bullies opened in 13th place at the box office, grossing US$1,532,605 during Labor Day Weekend, and finishing its run with a tally of US$2,995,527.[24]

Home media

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The film was released on U.S. VHS on March 12, 1987, via MCA Home Video.[25] The following month, MCA issued a LaserDisc pressing,[26] while Simcom's sister company Norstar Home Video put out the Canadian tape.[27][28]

Reception

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Bullies received mixed-to-positive reviews. Michael H. Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote that when it comes to vigilantism, "few filmmakers have the savvy to treat the issue responsibly. Add the Canadian-made Bullies to the list of films that approach that turf with confidence and solid judgment." He also praised Crombie, whose "transformation bears favorable comparisons with that of Dustin Hoffman in Straw Dogs.[8] Bill Cosford of The Miami Herald also likened the climax to that of Straw Dogs, judging that it "shares some of that film's primal power." Although unimpressed by tropes like a "wise old Indian", he granted that Lynch "is competent with action" and "Bullies has its moments."[9] Barbara Vancheri of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that the revenge angle was "well executed with suspense and a heavy dose of blood and violence", adding that amateurs of the genre "should like this action-adventure film".[29] Alex Grant of The Province acknowledged "a series of sadistic setpieces", yet found that "Bullies brazenly delivers the goods" thanks to a "handsome look and punchy style", making it "easy to see why" a U.S. major would acquire it.[6] Mike Mayo of the Roanoke Times wrote that "people have spent a lot more money and told the same story not nearly as well." He deemed it "intense enough to satisfy fans of action movies and to disgust those who don't care for this kind of things."[30]

Bruce Bailey of The Montreal Gazette found the film representative of producer Peter R. Simpson's commercial product, balking at the premise that "to beat a homicidal maniac, you've got to act like a homicidal maniac", but accepting that "some of the scenes are pretty effective in a sick sort of way" and that "it looks like they put considerable thought into orchestrating the rhythm and impact of the mayhem."[1] James Adams of the Edmonton Journal opined that Bullies occasionally appeared to have "satirical tendencies", but was ultimately "a movie with too little wit and irony, too much blood 'n' guts, a movie that revels in its cliches, in its nasty depiction of murder and primal mayhem." He concluded that "[s]ocially redeeming, Bullies is not. But it does carry a visceral charge, and it's a movie that will likely make most of its moolah in the blood-and-thrills video market."[31] Joel Rubinoff of The Toronto Star was along the same lines, writing that there was something "strangely reassuring" about the film's exploitation formula and that the action was directed "with style and gusto", positing that "while Bullies' stay in movie theatres may be short, it will likely clean up in video sales".[32]

David Barber of the The Kingston Whig-Standard deemed that the story appeared "lifted from the pages of old comic books everywhere", but with "a darker tone, one disturbing in its nonchalant acceptance of retributive violence". He summed up Bullies as "the sort of movie Ronald Reagan might have written in his spare time".[33] Dale Stevens of The Cincinnati Post found it to be "one of the more ugly, unpleasant films of the last decade". He declared: "In general, I feel the public should make up its own mind about whether it should see certain things. This one, however, deserves a warning. It is a mean-spirited, dim-witted and made by people who think the public will accept any trashy film. Don't go."[34] Robert Garrett of The Boston Globe criticized the film's "exercise in sadism" and decreed that "it belongs under a stone, from where it seems to have crawled".[35] Christopher Harris of The Ottawa Citizen wrote that "Lynch seems to have the talent to sustain suspense [but] this feeble movie is so overcome by its own welter of blood and savagery that it becomes a monster of violence". He assessed that, while the director may have sought to emulate Deliverance, "all he's done is add one more pulpy B-movie to the list of Canadian cinema flops."[36]

Soundtrack

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The end credit song "Out of the Fire" was co-written by Simcom boss and music enthusiast Peter R. Simpson. It was penned for the film and performed at composer Paul Zaza's studio by Canadian singer Patti Jannetta, who was made aware of the story's themes to inform her performance.[37]

Accolades

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Award Date of Ceremony Category Nominees Result Ref.
Genie Awards March 18, 1987 Best Original Song Peter R. Simpson and Paul Zaza, "Out of the Fire" Nominated [38]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Bailey, Bruce (September 10, 1996). "Gore galore: Bullies tries to muscle in on the sadomasochistic movie". The Gazette. Montreal. p. F-8  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  2. ^ DePetrillo, Chris (September 26, 2019). "No Surrender Cinema: Bullies". bulletproofaction.com/. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Kupecek, Linda (February 1986). "Shoot Alberta". Cinemag. Cinema Canada. No. 127. Montreal: Cinema Canada Magazine Foundation. p. 43.
  4. ^ Gilbertson, Rona (December 1985). "Sager and Lynch to head Simcom office in Canada and USA". Cinema Canada. No. 125. Montreal: Cinema Canada Magazine Foundation. p. 45.
  5. ^ a b Gilbertson, Rona (December 1985). "Vancouver Vistas". Cinema Canada. No. 125. Montreal: Cinema Canada Magazine Foundation. p. 46.
  6. ^ a b c Grant, Alex (September 3, 1986). "Bullies Works". The Province. Vancouver. p. C4.
  7. ^ a b Adilman, Sid (September 3, 1986). "Eye on Entertainment". The Toronto Star. p. B1  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  8. ^ a b Price, Michael H. (August 30, 1985). "Scrappy little movie has a fighting chance". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. C5  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  9. ^ a b Cosford, Bill (September 3, 1986). "Bad guys in 'Bullies' don't need chain saws". The Herald. Miami. p. 5D  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  10. ^ Kane, Joe (2000). The Phantom of the Movies' VideoScope. New York: Three Rivers Press. p. 136. ISBN 0812931491.
  11. ^ a b Weisberg, Sam (November 18, 2011). "Interview with Paul Lynch". hidden-films.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Have you seen this face in a mirror?". The Toronto Star. December 12, 1985. p. C1  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  13. ^ Scott, Vernon (August 29, 1986). "Watch your back, Ringwald – 17-year-old 'Bullies' star says Brat Packers are over the hill". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. United Press International. p. 11 (Detours)  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  14. ^ Gilbert, Greg (host) (May 15, 2017). "Paul Lynch Interview". Python's Paradise. Episode 142. Fredericton: CHSR Broadcasting. Event occurs at 1:13:59. CHSR-FM 97.9. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  15. ^ Gaetz, Jamie (November 1985). "Production Guide: On Location". Cinema Canada. No. 124. Montreal: Cinema Canada Magazine Foundation. p. 54.
  16. ^ Gertz, Jamie; Gorman, Linda (December 1985). "Production Guide: On Location". Cinema Canada. No. 125. Montreal: Cinema Canada Magazine Foundation. p. 62.
  17. ^ "TV Spots". Newsday/Weekend. New York. May 12, 1986. p. 9 (Part II)  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  18. ^ Base, Ron (May 19, 1986). "Cannes successes bolster Canadian film industry". The Toronto Star. p. C1–C3  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  19. ^ "Opening". The Toronto Star. August 29, 1986. p. D8  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  20. ^ "Weekend winners: 'Born American', 'Bullies' open". Boca Raton News. August 29, 1986. p. C1  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  21. ^ "Bullies advertisement". The Vancouver Sun. August 28, 1986. pp. C9 – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  22. ^ "Bullies advertisement". The Reporter Dispatch. White Plains: Gannett Westchester Newspapers. August 29, 1986. p. C4  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  23. ^ "Opening". Los Angeles Times/Calendar. August 24, 1986. p. 26.
  24. ^ "Bullies (1986)". boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  25. ^ "Video: Coming Soon". The Journal News. White Plains. March 5, 1987. p. 10  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  26. ^ "Bullies (1986) [40431]". LaserDisc Database. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  27. ^ Kohanik, Eric (April 3, 1987). "VideoFile". Edmonton Journal/TV Times. p. 48  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  28. ^ "Bullies 1106A – Norstar Home Video". vhscollector.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  29. ^ Vancheri, Barbara (August 30, 1986). "'Bullies' is loaded with loathsome characters". Pitssburgh Post-Gazette. p. 22  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  30. ^ Mike, Mayo (August 30, 1986). "'Bullies' does well within its budget". Roanoke Times & World News. p. C8  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  31. ^ Adams, James (September 3, 1986). "Bullies revels too much in gore to rise above mayhem classics". Edmonton Journal. p. F9  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  32. ^ Rubinoff, Joel (August 26, 1986). "Lynch mob has all the ingredients for predictable exploitation success". The Toronto Star. p. D8  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  33. ^ Barber, David (September 3, 1986). "Bullies extols violence, lacks humanity". The Whig-Standard. Kingston. p. 38  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  34. ^ Steven, Dale (September 1, 1986). "The 'Bullies' is not tasty film fare". The Cincinnati Post. p. 6B  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  35. ^ Garrett, Robert (August 30, 1986). "'Bullies' mindless sadism". The Boston Globe. p. 11  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  36. ^ Harris, Christopher (September 2, 1986). "Violence-laden Bullies latest Canadian B-movie flop". The Ottawa Citizen. p. E13  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  37. ^ Jannetta, Patti (April 19, 2021). "I loved recording this song "Out of the Fire" for the soundtrack of the movie "Bullies"". facebook.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  38. ^ "Genie song award taken back". The Whig-Standard. Kingston. Canadian Press. May 12, 1987. p. 19  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
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