Special Effects (1984): cast, story & where to watch
1984 · Film · ★ 4.9
Released in 1984, Special Effects is a thriller, drama and horror film directed by Larry Cohen, running about 106 minutes. “Andrea is just dying to get in the movies… She’s about to get her wish.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. After murdering a young would-be actress, megalomaniacal movie director Chris Neville sets about making a feature based on the murder, casting the dead woman's clueless husband as the patsy, and finding a dead ringer to play the part of the dead actress.
Who’s in it. Special Effects stars Zoë Lund as Andrea Wilcox / Elaine Bernstein, Eric Bogosian as Chris Neville, Brad Rijn as Keefe Waterman and Kevin O'Connor as Det. Lt. Philip Delroy, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.9/10, Special Effects has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo and MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel and rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Special Effects page.
If you liked it. Fans of Special Effects tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Special Effects (1984)?
- In US, Special Effects is available to stream on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo, and rent or buy from Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Special Effects worth watching?
- Special Effects holds an audience score of 4.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama and horror. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Special Effects?
- Special Effects stars Zoë Lund, Eric Bogosian, Brad Rijn, Kevin O'Connor and Bill Oland.
- When was Special Effects released?
- Special Effects was released in 1984, with a runtime of about 106 minutes.