Director – Tom Holland (Child’s Play, Fright Night)
Starring – Robert John Burke (Robocop 3, Dust Devil), Joe Mantegna (Airheads, The Twilight Zone), and Lucinda Jenney (3 From Hell, The Late Shift)
Release Date – 1996
Rating – 3.5/5
Blu Release – 3.5/5
I’ve been fortunate enough to review several Stephen King adaptations over the years thanks to my friends at the various boutique labels re-releasing these films on blu and UHD. I’ve seriously enjoyed several of his film adaptations, including the one he directed, but I haven’t seen them all. One film I never got around to seeing is Thinner. I had bought the film years ago on DVD but never had the desire to watch it.
However, I had to finally check it out when Scream Factory released the film on blu. They sent it my way for review which I’m grateful for, but I just didn’t think I would enjoy it. The synopsis on the back of the DVD made it sound like it was going to be predictable and unintelligent to watch. However, I was very wrong, and I want to thank Scream Factory for sending it over.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a lawyer who is struggling with his weight. His wife and doctor are constantly bringing up his weight and forcing him to diet, which has not been so successful at this point. One night after celebrating winning a big case they accidentally strike a woman with his car killing her instantly. The accident lands him on trial where he uses his ties with the judge and chief of police to get out of it. After the trial he is approached by the elderly father of the woman he killed where he touches his face while whispering “thinner.” That evening he notices he is losing weight and suspects his new diet is working but as the days go on, he realizes he was cursed by the man and so was the judge and chief of police. **Spoiler Alert**
I never thought a film like Thinner would interest me but here I am writing a review after watching it twice. It’s not my favorite King adaptation but it is a fantastic film that combines horror, crime, and drama into something that works. Some genre fans may not appreciate it, but fans of all genres will truly enjoy it.
The acting in this one is great. Robert John Burke is fantastic as the overweight lawyer who finds himself quickly wasting away. His performance has a wide range of emotion, and he absolutely nails it. The supporting cast is just as fantastic. We have amazing performances from Kari Wuhrer, Joe Mantegna, Lucinda Jenney, Daniel von Bargen, and many more.
The story for this one is a bit predictable but I really enjoyed the ride. The blending of crime, drama, and horror works very well with the story centered around gypsy curses and corrupt lawyers, judges, and cops. While it does slow down dramatically during the middle portion of the film, it is still able to pick back up and deliver a very strong ending that perfectly wraps up everything with a little twist that you see coming but doesn’t take away from the effectiveness.
Finally, the film has a lot of make-up effects and prosthetics but it’s not a bloody or gory flick. While I hate the fat make-up used on Burke, I loved the make-up used on the judge and the chief. They both looked absolutely amazing and worked. Sadly, Burke’s make-up is laughable at best and does bring about a bit of unintentional humor. Overall, Thinner is a fantastic King adaptation that may not bring the chills you would expect but still finds a way to entertain. This release from Scream Factory looks great and deserves to be in any collector’s collection.
Special Features:
NEW Audio Commentary With Producer Mitchell Galin And Actor Joe Mantegna
NEW Audio Commentary With Film Critic/Historian Lee Gambin And Novelist Aaron Dries
NEW “Weight Of The World” – An Interview With Director Tom Holland
NEW “Thick And Thin” – An Interview With Actor Lucinda Jenney
NEW “The Incredible Shrinking Man” With Special Make-Up Effects Artist Vincent Guastini
Audio Commentary With Tom Holland And Joe Mantegna
Vintage Featurette: “The Magic Of Special Effects Make-Up”
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spot
Still Gallery
