MovieChat Forums > Intruder (1989) Discussion > Blatant False Advertising (Bruce Campbel...

Blatant False Advertising (Bruce Campbell-related)

posted 18 years ago by bloatimes
22 replies | jump to latest

This has already been addressed elsewhere on the board, but for the sake of emphasis, Bruce Campbell is, for all intents and purposes, not in this movie. He has about two lines of dialog at the end that could've been delivered by any random jerko off the street, and you don' even see a close-up of his face. Nonetheless, his name is the first one listed on the very front of the box as if he were the star. Even worse, the back of the box has a picture of him doctored into the movie, in the foreground of the frame, and wearing completely different clothes than he wore in the movie (he plays a nameless cop), clearly in an attempt to make it look like he's a main character, or at least has some substantial screen time. This is all really appalling and unprofessional.

Nevertheless, if you like cheesy slasher movies from the '80s, I totally recommend this. It was pretty great. Sam and Ted Raimi do have slightly more substantial roles, and it's cool to see Evil Dead 2's Danny Hicks in another role. The camera work is also very creative in an Evil Dead sorta way.

Still, I'm outraged, man. Outraged.

[–] khoekstra 18 years ago

Yeah, this is one of the reasons I bought the movie. I kept saying "When is Bruce going to show up?" *laughs* Ooops...

The description of the movie on the back of the box is also horribly inaccurate and misleading in other ways. It claims that the heroine, Jennifer, is played by "Lethal Weapon's Renee Estevez," implying that there's a well known "name actress" in the film. (another reason I thought it looked legit, so I bought it)

As it turns out, there are two problems with that statement:

1. Renee Estevez plays Linda, not Jennifer
2. Renee's credit in Lethal Weapon is "(Uncredited) Underage Hooker."

Also on the back of the box: "An ex-cop is trying to find out who the killer is and what possessed him to start the bloody rampage."

Um...what? Who? When? Where? Yeah... That line of dialog and the picture of Bruce makes it seem like he's the ex-cop. At least that's the conclusion my dumb ass came to. *laughs*

Regardless, an amazingly gory film with some real cringe inducing effects. As the original poster said, if you like 80's slasher films, this is a must see for the gore effects alone.

[–] downandout81 17 years ago

SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!!!

Dispite all that, i still thought the film was entertaining, espsially since i work in a grocery store.

It was cool to see all the things i use everyday, The Bailer, Ban Saw, so on, used in really cool, gory ways.

[–] hollywood21639 17 years ago

The back of the box shows Bruce but the picture is actually from Army of Darkness when he's at S-mart in the beginning of the film. It does suck he is only at the end but at least the movie doesn't suck. It is one of my favorite slasher films. Great gore and the ending is at least different than the standard horror movie.

[–] pallisrs 17 years ago

haha i love blatant false advertising on dvd sleeves......
i remember seeing a "the burning" dvd sleeve which had "starring holly hunter" on it to sell it, she has a screen time of 2 seconds max and is little more than an extra! I also remember here in the UK the slasher film "Ripper" had Kelly Brook as first billing on the DVD sleeve, only to have her killed off in the first 5 minutes....

i also love those horror cheapo dvds in blockbuster which have quotes written on the front like "scariest movie ever!" or "better than the exorcist!" and they don't even display who said it, it's like they can't even be bothered!

you gotta love poundland dvds for their top-notch quality :)

[–] robka 9 years ago

"Jennifer, is played by "Lethal Weapon's Renee Estevez"

And this.

"Renee's credit in Lethal Weapon is "(Uncredited) Underage Hooker."

LOL

I can see why there is so many threads where people asks if the poster star actually in the movie. ;)

This is a big problem with Michael Dudikoff. I think its 20 years since he played a full movie. In maybe all movies after that when he is the main star, he is barely seen in the movies at all.
They just pay him to get his name on the cover, so people will flock onto it.

[–] usmcbatman0311 17 years ago

yes, he might be in it for a few min's but we love the campbell and we love the horror movies. (dont forget sam and ted raimi)
if you want fill up on campbell dont forget Jack of All Trades!

[–] thrashmaniac87 17 years ago

Same thing with Return to Horror High, they put George Cloonyes name on the cover and make it sound like he's the main star when he's actually the first one to die.

[–] roybatty-1 17 years ago

Also true of the notoriously frequently-retitled "The Swap" which "stars" Robert DeNiro. The copy I bought (back when I was all wide-eyed and noncynical) was called LINE OF FIRE and had a still from GOODFELLAS on the front! "Starring Robert deNiro" turned out to be "see a 19 year old DeNiro with a molester mustache get killed in the first reel!"

[–] bababear 16 years ago

After SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER was such a big hit, THE DEVIL'S RAIN got re-released with ad's like 'See John Travolta in a rain of terror!"

Travolta was in the movie. As a featured extra with so much makeup on that his mother couldn't have recognized him.

[–] blakeman422 16 years ago

Holly hunter gets top billing on many DVD copies of The Burning(1981) yet she is only at best a glorified extra with about two lines of dialogue. Oddly enough they could have given it to Jason Alexander (Steinfield) without it looking too deceptive because he does have a decent amount of screen time. Same goes to Fisher Stevens although most wouldn't give a rats ass about him since he and Michelle Pfeiffer broke up. :D

[–] sepsism 15 years ago

This is the only gripe I have about this film. Blatantly f#cked up.

That said, I knew of his brief cameo role before watching so it didn't in any way detract from my enjoyment of one f#cking kickass slasher.

UNCOMPROMISING UNDERGROUND FILTH

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Viva_Chiba 14 years ago

Is there a DVD version that doesn't have this stupid false advertising ?
I saw many images of many DVD editions from many countries....ALL of them featured the same mocking marketing strategy.

[–] Mr_Blonde3 13 years ago

I got the VHS for a dollar not only for Campbell (Though I admit I thought he was a bigger role) But also for Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi, Dan Hicks, and Eugene Robert Glazer. I'm glad I got it and have watched the tape numerous times, then found out what I was missing when I got the Unrated DVD at a flea market for a few bucks. Great flick. Nice to see Evil Dead's @sshole Jake in another featured role.

The other time I've been "Cheated" was when I bought Primal Instinct, "Starring Michael Madsen". Not only did the movie suck, but Madsen was in the film for maybe 10 minutes.

The movie is so bad that Madsen lists it as "Films I'm reportedly in, but am not". Uhh....He's in i.t, and I pity the poor man.

[–] spazzztic 13 years ago

Once a film is made, the Marketing Department takes over. These people often times don't even bother to watch the film, they just look for the best way to SELL it. In most of these cases, it's not the filmmakers' fault. Once a movie is sold to distributors, it's really out of their hands.

[–] FinnDivine 13 years ago

Hey, it's an exploitation movie. Deal with being exploited.

--
'Touch a button. Things happen. A scientist becomes a beast'
- The Beast of Yucca Flats

[–] Dear_Oderus_Urungus 12 years ago

Actually, Jason Alexander is in The Burning for a lengthy amount of time. He can be considered one of the main supporting characters in the movie. Every time I show the movie to one of my friends, they say "hey, George Costanza is in this movie!" Also, a lot of people who aren't seasoned movie fans know who Joe Spinell is because he's one of the most prolific character actors of all time, so most people who watch Maniac are going to say "hey, I know that guy!"

What's shocking about Intruder's blatant false advertising is that Bruce Campbell isn't as widely recognized as names like Kevin Bacon and Johnny Depp and yet you don't see Paramount Pictures or New Line Cinema pimping their movie out and saying "starring [insert actor's name here]!" I knew before the opening credits even rolled though that the DVD lied to me because if the movie takes place over the span of one night, how the hell is a police investigation going to be undertaken? Gee whiz, imagine if Pieces said "starring Bluto from Popeye" on it's front cover.

To the world you may just be somebody, but to somebody you may just be the world.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Woodyanders 11 years ago

DVD covers for movies that play up the participation of a big name in a small role is alas all too common. There are a lot of posters for 70's low-budget films that use a similar tactic. It's just a shameless ploy to get more people to watch the movie and unfortunately isn't going away anytime soon.

I'm a totally bitchin' bio writer from Mars!