F/X poster

1986·109 min·Released

F/X

“Murder by illusion.”

Action
Thriller

A movies special effects man is hired by a government agency to help stage the assassination of a well known gangster. When the agency double cross him, he uses his special effects to trap the gangster and the corrupt agents.

6.6(505 votes)

Popularity2

Videos

Original Trailer

Cast & Crew

Bryan Brown

Bryan Brown

Roland 'Rollie' Tyler

Brian Dennehy

Brian Dennehy

Lt. Leo McCarthy

Diane Venora

Diane Venora

Ellen

Cliff DeYoung

Cliff DeYoung

Lipton

Mason Adams

Mason Adams

Col. Mason

Jerry Orbach

Jerry Orbach

Nicholas DeFranco

Joe Grifasi

Joe Grifasi

Mickey

Martha Gehman

Martha Gehman

Andy

Trey Wilson

Trey Wilson

Lt. Murdoch

Roscoe Orman

Roscoe Orman

Captain Wallenger

Tom Noonan

Tom Noonan

Varrick

Paul D'Amato

Paul D'Amato

Gallagher

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JPV852

Written on 1/30/2022

Seen this one a few times over the years, not great and Bryan Brown is a bit limited with the dramatic stuff but still an all around entertaining suspense-thriller. **3.5/5**

CinemaSerf

Written on 12/7/2024

Have you ever seen the classic that is "I Dismember Momma"? It's a belter - all down to the amazing creative skills of visual effects man "Rollie" (Bryan Brown). At least, the US Government think so and so they engage him to help out faking some evidence of murder for a man they are subsequently going to put into witness protection. Meantime, New York's finest "McCarthy" (Brian Dennehy) is investigating that very crime, but he can't quite get to grips with why his federal colleagues are being less than helpful. As the story develops, it becomes quite clear that none of this is on the level and there is blackmail, extortion and real-life murder on the cards and pretty swiftly our faker is having to use all his skills and wits to keep himself alive as he hasn't a clue whom to trust. The audience knows a little more about who is pulling the strings than he does, but that doesn't really matter as the whole thing sort of splutters from the far-fetched to the downright silly, especially towards the end when his handler "Col. Mason" (Mason Adams) shows his true colours. Brown fitted the bill in "Breaker Morant" (1980) but otherwise I never quite knew why, aside from his looks, Brown made it on the big screen at all. He has a glint in his eye, but his acting is about as papier-mâché as many of his props and he delivers the pedestrian dialogue just as statically. It's a fantasy adventure in all but name - just add a few bullets, a fake moustache or two and lots of rain. Maybe next time don't opt for witness protection, just go sit in the Colosseum - it'd be safer, and certainly more fun to watch.

Media

Original Trailer

Original Trailer

Hiding In Plain Sight

Hiding In Plain Sight

Face Casting Scene

Face Casting Scene

The FBI Recruits A Special Effects Artist

The FBI Recruits A Special Effects Artist

Official Trailer

Official Trailer

TV Trailer

TV Trailer