American Gothic

1987
R
1h 30m

IMDb RATING

5.8/10

4.8K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:38

1 Video

99 Photos

Slasher Horror Horror

After their seaplane malfunctions, a group of travelers make an emergency landing on an island in the Pacific Northwest and stumble across an isolated and psychopathic family.After their seaplane malfunctions, a group of travelers make an emergency landing on an island in the Pacific Northwest and stumble across an isolated and psychopathic family.After their seaplane malfunctions, a group of travelers make an emergency landing on an island in the Pacific Northwest and stumble across an isolated and psychopathic family.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.8/10

4.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win

Psychiatrist
(as Terry Kelly)

Mark Erickson

Jeff
(as Mark Ericksen)

Caroline Barclay

Terri

Mark Lindsay Chapman

Fiona Hutchison

Lynn

Stephen Shellen

Paul

Rod Steiger

Yvonne De Carlo

Janet Wright

Fanny

Michael J. Pollard

Woody

William Hootkins

Teddy

Steve Oatway

Paul (when dead)
(uncredited)

Director
- John Hough
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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American Gothic

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Originally, Stephen Shellen (Paul) was intended to be the lead. A week into principal photography, Shellan got into a bar brawl and returned to work with his face mangled so badly that makeup wouldn't cover it. Working quickly to prevent the production from shutting down, director John Hough revised the entire script and made Sarah Torgov (Cynthia) the leading character. Hough was credited as a co-writer in the British print.

Goofs
When Teddy and Woody douse Paul's body with gasoline, you can see him blink as this is happening.

Quotes
Ma: Don't you want to join the clean plate club?

Crazy credits
Steve Oatway Stood-in for Rod Steiger and the other men plus Body Doubled Steve Shellen when he was too injured to work and is seen from the back sometimes and lying face-up in a rowboat after the character "Paul" was killed.

Alternate versions
Although the cinema version was uncut the 1987 UK Virgin video release (as "Hide And Shriek") was cut by 58 secs by the BBFC. The cuts were fully waived for the 2005 Stax DVD and the film released under its original title.

Connections
Featured in Svengoolie: American Gothic (1998)

Soundtracks
Happy Birthday to You
(uncredited)
Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill

User reviews103

Review

Featured review

7/10

A Good and Original Horror Movie

Cynthia (Sarah Torgov) leaves a mental institution, where she stayed after losing her baby in a bath accident. Her husband decides to join a group of friends and fly from Seattle to a camping in a small hydroplane. The craft has a problem and it lands in a lonely island in the middle of nowhere. There, they are hosted by Ma (Yvonne de Carlo) and Pa (Rod Steiger), a very religious couple, who lives like they were in the beginning of the Twentieth Century. When the group meets the two sons and the daughter of Ma and Pa, they realize that they are in the middle of very demented persons, who start hunting them.

"American Gothic" was a great surprise. Although having a low rating in IMDB, it is indeed a good and original horror movie. The scary story has many funny situations, and the direction and performance of the cast are very good. The contrast in the behavior of such a nice Ma and Pa when the secret of that weird family is disclosed, is really frightening. Highly recommended for fans of horror movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): 'Os Anfitriões' ('The Hosts')

Note: On 23 Sep 2022, I saw this film again.