Customer Reviews

Raising Cain

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Okay, bare with me. This movie is kind of confusing. First of all, the horrendous reviews on this page do not do this fine film justice. They must've seen a different film. Brian De Palma directed this stylish thriller With John Lithgow playing twin brothers, who don't know wether or not to help their nutso father(also played by Lithgow)steal children so he can perform experiments on them. It's a dark and disturbing subject matter that might turn off some people. There are a few twists and turns here that keep this movie incredibly interesting. De Palma definitley has a style that's all his own. Odd camera angles, slow motion scenes, etc. Besides the roles mentioned above, Lithgow plays a few more as well. Everybody knows that Lithgow is an incredibly brilliant actor. With this role, he gets to show off his tremendous talent. He steals the show and eats up every scene he's in. A remarkable performance. Lolita Davidovich plays his wife who's having an extramarital affair with character actor Steven Bauer. Frances Sternhagen("Misery") also shows up as a psychologist. The movie is dark and weird. The first half is pretty talky. It sets up the characters and what's going on. If you hang in til the second half, you'll have fuun because things start rolling and everything goes nuts. It's an interesting film where it's tough to really say too much. What you can say doesn't describe the film and what it's really like well enough. If you say everything then you'll definitley be letting some secrets out. De Palma definitley has a Hitchcock thing going. Good for him. Somebody needs to keep that kind of classic filmmaking alive. All in all, this is an odd and intriguing film. You might not think much at first, but it'll hook you and you won't want to turn away. It's a creepy film that is destined to give you the willies. Raising Cain is one of the better psychological thrillers to come around in a while. Do not listen to the negative reviews. They know not what they say.

While many seem to dislike

this film, as an asparing writer/director this film is a work of art to me. Making a smart story to keep you engrossed all the while honoring Hitchcock throughout the film makes it all the better. The acting is great, and no one who has seen this film will soon forget the "hospital scene." From the practically replica scene of "Psycho" where Anthony Hopkins pushes the car into the swamp, to our star in drag this film is almost like a remake of psycho, the way it was meant to be. (let's just pretend that Gus Van Sant's verson of Psycho never came out) Well, great acting, directing, and writing make this film classic.

Hitchcock would be proud.

This is a psychological thriller that couldn't have came at a better time than it did, but unfornately it almost got ignored at the theaters. What a travesty! All that was coming out in those days were mindless, generic thrillers like "Sleeping With Julia Roberts", "The Hand That Rocks Rebecca De Mornay", and/or "Single White Stupid Movie". I still remember telling a friend right after seeing "The Bonfire of the Vanities" that (even though I love all of the different genres of film that DePalma has made I think his thrillers are where he excels best), it was time for DePalma to return to the horror genre. And, it's as if he heard me, because this little treasure opened just a little over a year later.
Here it was to save the day! DePalma's most demented, deceptive, deranged piece of work in years. A psychological thriller that weaves back and forth, moving in and out, and in between dreams, thoughts, fantasies, flights of fancy, characters that don't exist outside of the mind, a love story, a kidnapping story, a "mad doctor" scenerario, murders, multiple personalities, framing the innocent for murder, a character that is either a "personality" or back from the dead, and reality.
Loaded with doses of extremely dark humor, this is a relatively simple story, just told in a difficult way (the basic rule of any great director), with not only references to Hitchcock (I especially loved the nod to "Frenzy"), but DePalma even riffed himself just to spite critics who had always bashed him for riffing Hitchcock and others. There is one scene in particular that is straight out of "Dressed To Kill", as well as a few other references to that film. This is a very dark journey inside the mind of a very distured individual who was made that way by experimentation as a child. Yes, John Lithgow plays Carter, Cain, Josh, and Margo Nix, as well as "their" father Dr. Nix, who is supposed to be dead; so is he too just another personality of Carter's? And he plays all five roles so brilliantly, that you believe everyone of them. The way writer, director DePalma fleshes out and brings all the characters together is something to be praised for decades!
Lolita Davidovich is great as Jenny Nix, Carter's confused, frustrated wife who has a few flights of fancy herself, again allowing the film to take us inside the minds of the characters in this film in such a stylish way that will stay in your mind for a long period after viewing. Steven Bauer is really good as Jenny's former lover, Jack, who lost his wife to cancer while Jenny was his wife's nurse, when they both fell in love with each other. But, Jenny married Carter, and now in her confused state of mind over her husband's behavior, up pops her ex to ignite a new passion in her; and Cain literally splits in two, three, four different ways. Look for Gregg Henry in a great performance as one of the detectives, Mel Harris as Jenny's friend, Gabrielle Cartaris as a doomed babysitter, and Frances Sternhagen in what could probably be the best role she's ever done, Dr. Waldheim, a psychiatrist who's surviving cancer, wearing a wig that she declares "I look like a transvestite in this!". A wig that is befitting for a real "Drag Queen" (the only other time Lithgow did this was in "The World According To Garp", a GREAT film, which this is openly paying homage to). Thus, leading the viewer to, what reviewer Adam Craig has stated: The BEST ending in DePalma's film cannon, if not the best over any other film in this genre! After viewing this, and I watch "Body Double", I now almost wished that DePalma would have scrapped the ending credits scene, and just faded to black after the final scene at the resevoir; but, I now have come to reappreciate that ending. This is definetly a film that could compare to Rob Reiner's "Misery" or Kubrick's "The Shining" as far as having a character that delivers lines so deviously sinister, yet hilarious in the same breath. This is definetly a thinking person's horrorshow! It dares to go where few films before it have dared to go...inside the Human mind and the horrors that lay dormant there, just waiting to awaken and come to life and be a character all their own. And, the coolest riddle of all to those that have seen it and loved it (which I know a LOT of people that LOVE this film, plus there are a lot of great 4 or 5 star reviews on here from some very insightful reviewers): If Margo is the protector of the children, then is her presence to be be feared or comforting in a crucial scene?
Anyways, if you like films that play out like a cat and mouse game, then this is for you. It is not a very difficult film to follow, but like chess, it has continuos twists and turns, so just let yourself go for the ride and you'll love every minute of it! Something that's Deceptive, Deranged, Demented, Delirious, Devious, Delicious DePalma at his Disturbing best! Thank you.

When it comes to bad movies of the '90's, "Raising Cain" is one of those pictures that get's blasted with bad reviews by just about everyone.

However, I think most people tend to misunderstand the effect this picture is supposed to have on the audience.

Critics have said that this picture is "campy", it's "bizarre" and that it "makes no sense". Well, actually, that's the point. This picture has such an outlandishly twisted storyline, that there's no way you can figure out what happens next. One of the worst things to be found in a movie intent on scaring the heck out of an audience is to be predictable. There is nothing predictable in this movie.

Writer / director De Palma is a student of Hitchcock. And what Hitchcock did to scare people was to have the audience mistrust him. De Palma, like Hitchcock, also understands the importance of having the audience anticipate the worst: in the film, when a coroner in about to pull back the sheet on the body of a drowned woman, the audience is already wincing, knowing the sheet is goind to be pulled back super-fast on the body's dead screaming face to the acompaniment of loud music.

Yes, this picture is campy and over the top, but in it's way, it works. Brian De Palma understands these little fears the audience feels. You gotta give De Palma credit for unveiling a fear that has been plaguing humankind since "The World According to Garp": JOHN LITHGOW LOOKS SCARY IN DRAG!

I saw this when it first came out and thought it was fantastic. All the twists and turns keep you on edge. We brought it to our "girls weekend" where we watch several creepy movies..there were some critics, but all agreed for the movie of it's time it was great suspense and creepy. And we just love Mr. Lithgow!!!

I saw this movie back when it came out.
Kind of like a cross between The Crying Game and Psycho.
Brilliant acting, a fast paced and interesting script.
Good directing.
The ending was...........um, creepy.
I think the leading guy used to be on Third Rock From the Sun.
LOL
I get a big kick out of seeing the kind of work he used to do.
Why did he ever go into tv?
He's way too talented for regular old tv.
All in all I think Raising Cain was one of the better psycho thrillers, but most people seem not to have seen it.
Pity, I highly recommend this overlooked gem.

Lithgow's performance is the reason to own this film. Classic. I also reccommend purchasing "Riccochet" to see Lithgow spit out some of the best one-liners in movie history. Yes, movie history! This guy is/was awesome as a bad guy.

RAISING CAIN

(USA - 1992)

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Theatrical soundtrack: Dolby Stereo SR

A disturbed psychologist (John Lithgow) begins to demonstrate symptoms of apparent multiple personalities after his adulterous wife (Lolita Davidovich) stumbles on his plans to kidnap a number of children and recreate the horrific experiments of his equally deranged father...

Following the excesses of his Vietnam blockbuster CASUALTIES OF WAR (1989) - unfairly overshadowed by the simultaneous theatrical release of Oliver Stone's BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY (1989) - and the commercial misfire of THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES (1990), director Brian De Palma opted for a brief return to the kind of small-scale movies which had established his reputation in the 1970's. RAISING CAIN is an intimate, character-driven thriller which allows the director to indulge his penchant for visual dexterity on a grand scale.

A masterpiece of camerawork (Stephen H. Burum) and editing (Paul Hirsch, Bonnie Koehler, Robert Dalva), De Palma's own script takes a potentially distasteful subject (the emotional abuse of children) and neatly circumvents audience discomfort by telling his convoluted story via a seies of increasingly skilful set-pieces, each of which contains either a visual twist, a jump-through-the-roof shock, or a nerve-shredding escalation of narrative suspense. Lithgow anchors proceedings in a number of roles, each distinct from one another and brilliantly executed, and Davidovich is every bit his equal as the tormented wife who falls prey to his twisted psychology, while veteran stage actress Frances Sternhagen almost steals the show as a terminally ill psychologist who unlocks the secret of Lithgow's personality disorder, with devastating consequences.

The film also co-stars Steven Bauer (SCARFACE) and Mel Harris (TV's "thirtysomething"), both excellent. Watch out for the inevitable Hitchcock/Argento references, and brace yourself for the breathtaking slow-motion climax, orchestrated to perfection by a director who's clearly in love with his chosen medium. Be warned, however - RAISING CAIN is NOT for the faint-hearted!

When a Child Psychologist (John Lithgow in a Over the Top Performance), who was a Spilt Personality, he also Kidapped Children to study under the control of his abused father (Also Lithgow). Then, it`s gets complicated-When his Wife (Lolita Davidovich) caught him and finds out his secert, While he did kidapped his daughter but his wife is Unfaithful, while is she falling in love with her old flame (Steven Bauer).

Written and Directed by Brain De Palma (Sisters, Phantom of the Paradise, Carrie) is not for the Faint-Hearted. A true Mixed-Bag at Best but Those who enjoy Lithgow Bizarre Performance will have a great time with this Oddball Thriller. Grade:A-.

I have just launched a 'campaign' to defend my favorite filmmaker, Brian De Palma (which I still need to finish sometime soon), starting with the awesome "The Black Dahlia". I started reviewing films of his that are practically either hated (for god alone knows what reason) or just flat out ignored by the general movie going populace.

This is a psychological thriller that couldn't have came at a better time than it did, but unfortunately it almost got ignored at the theaters. What a travesty! All that was coming out in those days were mindless, generic thrillers like "Sleeping With Julia Roberts", "The Hand That Rocks Rebecca De Mornay", and/or "Single White Stupid Movie". I still remember telling a friend right after seeing "The Bonfire of the Vanities" that (even though I love all of the different genres of film that De Palma has made I think his thrillers are where he excels best), it was time for De Palma to return to the horror genre. And, it's as if he heard me, because this little treasure opened just a little over a year later.
Here it was to save the day! De Palma's most demented, deceptive, deranged piece of work in years. A psychological thriller that weaves back and forth, moving in and out, and in between dreams, thoughts, fantasies, flights of fancy, characters that don't exist outside of the mind, a love story, a kidnapping story, a "mad doctor" scenerario, murders, multiple personalities, framing the innocent for murder, a character that is either a "personality" or back from the dead, and reality.

Loaded with doses of extremely dark humor, this is a relatively simple story, just told in a difficult way (the basic rule of any great director), with not only references to Hitchcock (I especially loved the nod to "Frenzy"), but De Palma even riffed himself just to spite critics who had always bashed him for riffing Hitchcock and others. There is one scene in particular that is straight out of "Dressed To Kill", as well as a few other references to that film. This is a very dark journey inside the mind of a very distured individual who was made that way by experimentation as a child. Yes, John Lithgow plays Carter, Cain, Josh, and Margo Nix, as well as "their" father Dr. Nix, who is supposed to be dead; so is he too just another personality of Carter's? And he plays all five roles so brilliantly, that you believe everyone of them. The way writer, director De Palma fleshes out and brings all the characters together is something to be praised for decades!

Excellent casting by Brian De Palma to pick John Lithgow as the evil Dr. Carter Nix. I really think most people view John Lithgow as a comedic actor only and they'd be so wrong to think that. John Lithgow is a natural at playing sinister and evil roles and he could have had a long career as a movie villain. I'm still in shock all these years later that Lithgow's performance was all but ignored by Award giving/Fashion show drones. He was literally all over the place in this film!

Lolita Davidovich is great as Jenny Nix, Carter's confused, frustrated wife who has a few flights of fancy herself, again allowing the film to take us inside the minds of the characters in this film in such a stylish way that will stay in your mind for a long period after viewing. Steven Bauer is really good as Jenny's former lover, Jack, who lost his wife to cancer while Jenny was his wife's nurse, when they both fell in love with each other. But, Jenny married Carter, and now in her confused state of mind over her husband's behavior, up pops her ex to ignite a new passion in her; and Cain literally splits in two, three, four different ways.

Look for Gregg Henry in a great performance as one of the detectives, Mel Harris as Jenny's friend, Gabrielle Cartaris as a doomed babysitter, and Frances Sternhagen in what could probably be the best role she's ever done, Dr. Waldheim, a psychiatrist who's surviving cancer, wearing a wig that she declares "I look like a transvestite in this!". A wig that is befitting for a real "Drag Queen" (the only other time Lithgow did this was in "The World According To Garp", a GREAT film, which this is openly paying homage to). Thus, leading the viewer to, what reviewer Adam Craig has stated: The BEST ending in De Palma's film cannon, if not the best over any other film in this genre! After viewing this, and I watch "Body Double", I now almost wished that De Palma would have scrapped the ending credits scene, and just faded to black after the final scene at the reservoir; but, I now have come to reappreciate that ending.

This is a film that could compare to Rob Reiner's "Misery" or Kubrick's "The Shining" as far as having a character that delivers lines so deviously sinister, yet hilarious in the same breath. This is definitely a thinking person's horrorshow! It dares to go where few films before it have dared to go...inside the Human mind and the horrors that lay dormant there, just waiting to awaken and come to life and be a character all their own. And, the coolest riddle of all to those that have seen it and loved it (which I know a LOT of people that LOVE this film, plus there are a lot of great 4 or 5 star reviews on here from some very insightful reviewers): If Margo is the protector of the children, then is her presence to be be feared or comforting in a crucial scene?

Anyways, if you like films that play out like a cat and mouse game, then this is for you. It is not a very difficult film to follow, but like chess, it has continuous twists and turns, so just let yourself go for the ride and you'll love every minute of it! Something that's Deceptive, Deranged, Demented, Delirious, Devious, Delicious De Palma at his Disturbing best! Thank you. :>)