Cinema Canada (Jan-Feb 1981)

Incubus Movie sets are notorious as breeding grounds for hostility, distrust and friction, where the competitive ego reigns supreme. On the set of Incubus, which has resumed filming in Lakeshore Studios after a brief shooting stint in Guelph, the atmosphere is so harmonious that the outsider feels vaguely suspicious. The cast and crew seem almost heady with high spirits; and if the production has undergone any setbacks there is no evidence of them. Incubus appears to be the kind of project that movie-makers dream of: a unified collection of pros have assembled with enthusiasm and panache, to work on a suspense story that means enough for them to keep mum about its surprise outcome. An incubus is a demon who preys on mortals while they sleep. Yes, another horror film. But Incubus, it is claimed, will be more than just a monster pic of the bloodied-fangs-and-claws variety. In the best of monster-movie tradition, the perpetrator of evil — the occult sore spot in the characters’ lives — will make a delayed appearance, prompting the viewer's imagination to help move the story along. With John Cassavetes in the lead role, director John Hough will work the story's tensions into a character-study format. And Cassavetes, whose less conventional films include the studio-bound Too Late Blues, Faces, Husbands, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, AWoman Under the Influence and his recent hit Gloria, seems to be the right man for the job. As a director, Cassavetes has usually dealt with people lashing out against elements and situations not easily understood and difficult to accept as part of the human condition; as an actor he often appears as one who has learned to deal with many of life's harsher moments, sometimes at the expense of the soul. The mystery elements of the story are known only to those directly involved in the production. Whether or not the film will succeed in balancing the mysterythriller-mumbo-jumbo-character-study ingredients convincingly, remains to be seen. Producers Marc Boyman and John Eckert seem clam-happy with everything concerned. “We have a wonderful crew here,” says Eckert, who, in the ten years he has spent working in film, has worked his way up from Joe Everybody to the coproducer on both Running and Middle Laying the groundwork for the thrills to come, director John Hough (left) rehearses Duncan Mcintosh (flat out) and Erin Flannery in Incubus. Photo: Horst Ehricht Incubus p.c. Incubus Productions Inc. 1980 exec.p. Stephen Friedman p. Marc Boyman, John Eckert d. John Hough p.man. Mary Kahn unit/ loc. man David Coatsworth p.sec. Sue Murdoch p.acct. Rosemary McCarty, Jean McDougall (asst.) office asst. Deborah Geaghan, Rick Williams asst. to Mr. Boyman Heather Waese asst. to Mr. Eckert Philippa King a.d. David Hood (1st), Louise Casselman (2nd), Bob Wertheimer (3rd) cont. Lisa Wilder p. des. Ted Watkins art d. Elinor Fairless Hawksley, Tom Doherty (1st asst), Martha Fleury (trainee), Jeff Meirovici (trainee) set dress. Hilton Rosemarin, Robert James (asst.), Jaro Dick (asst.) prop mas. Dan Conley, Doug Shambrook (asst.) ward. Erla Lank (head) Mary McLeod (co-ord.) Ann Russell (asst.) d.o.p. Bert Dunk cam. op. Harold Ortenburger cam.asst. Neil Seale(1 st), Kerry Smart (2nd) gaf. Howie Galbriath best boy Brian Montaque key grip Jon Hackett 2nd grip Jim Krauter make-up Kathy Southern, Maureen Sweeney (sp. efx.) hair Jim Keelersd. David Lee boom Stephen Switzer transp. co ord. Bill Jackson driver capt. Stuart Hughes unit pub. Pat Whittingham stills Horst Ehricht coffee person Mary Bell loc.contact Don Bereziuk casting Claire Walker/Deirdre extra casting Peter Lavender sp.efx. consult. Colin Chilvers ed. George Appleby, John Schofield (1st asst.) Michael Furoy (2nd asst.) I.p. John Cassavetes, Kerrie Keane, Erin Flannery, Duncan Mcintosh, Helen Hughes, Harvey Atkin, John Ireland, Jefferson Mappin, Mitch Martin, Jennifer Leak, Helen Udy, Beverley Cooper, Matthew Birman, Brian Young, Jack Van Evera, Denise Fergusson, Dirk McLean, Stephen Whistance-Smith, Jim Bearden, Neil Daynard, Lisa Bunting, Alan Levson, Wes Lee, Barbara Franklin, Glynis Davies, Roger Dunn, Harry Ditson, Mary Pirie, Les Rubi, Morison Bock, Derek Mitchell, Judith Grimley Cinema Canada/7