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F/X

  • 1986
  • R
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
24K
YOUR RATING
Bryan Brown in F/X (1986)
A movie special effects man is hired to fake a real-life mob killing for a witness protection plan, but finds his own life in danger.
Play trailer2:33
2 Videos
81 Photos
Conspiracy ThrillerActionThriller

A movie special effects man is hired to fake a real-life mob killing for a witness protection plan, but finds his own life in danger.A movie special effects man is hired to fake a real-life mob killing for a witness protection plan, but finds his own life in danger.A movie special effects man is hired to fake a real-life mob killing for a witness protection plan, but finds his own life in danger.

  • Director
    • Robert Mandel
  • Writers
    • Robert T. Megginson
    • Gregory Fleeman
  • Stars
    • Bryan Brown
    • Brian Dennehy
    • Diane Venora
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    24K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Mandel
    • Writers
      • Robert T. Megginson
      • Gregory Fleeman
    • Stars
      • Bryan Brown
      • Brian Dennehy
      • Diane Venora
    • 81User reviews
    • 59Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:33
    Official Trailer
    Fx: You Were Followed!
    Clip 3:00
    Fx: You Were Followed!
    Fx: You Were Followed!
    Clip 3:00
    Fx: You Were Followed!

    Photos81

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    Top cast43

    Edit
    Bryan Brown
    Bryan Brown
    • Roland Tyler
    Brian Dennehy
    Brian Dennehy
    • Leo McCarthy
    Diane Venora
    Diane Venora
    • Ellen
    Cliff De Young
    Cliff De Young
    • Lipton
    Mason Adams
    Mason Adams
    • Colonel Mason
    Jerry Orbach
    Jerry Orbach
    • Nicholas DeFranco
    Joe Grifasi
    Joe Grifasi
    • Mickey
    Martha Gehman
    Martha Gehman
    • Andy
    Roscoe Orman
    Roscoe Orman
    • Captain Wallenger
    Trey Wilson
    Trey Wilson
    • Lt. Murdoch
    Tom Noonan
    Tom Noonan
    • Varrick
    Paul D'Amato
    Paul D'Amato
    • Gallagher
    Jossie DeGuzman
    • Marisa Velez
    • (as Jossie deGuzman)
    Jean De Baer
    • Whitemore
    M'el Dowd
    • Miss Lehman (Joyce)
    • (as M'eL Dowd)
    Tim Gallin
    • Adams
    Patrick Stack
    Patrick Stack
    • Sgt. Littauer
    John Doumanian
    • The Director
    • Director
      • Robert Mandel
    • Writers
      • Robert T. Megginson
      • Gregory Fleeman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews81

    6.724.2K
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    Featured reviews

    7Maziun

    Great and original movie

    "F/X" is a underrated little movie from the 80's , that I believe deserves some kind of recognition. It manages to entertain with drama, humor, and thrills. It's a lot of fun. I wouldn't call it an action movie. I agree there is some action here , but personally I think this movie is more of a thriller.

    The idea for the story is very original - a special effects expert gets involved with a police and mafia . "F/X" is a great love letter for all those special effects guys (and girls) that were some kind of magicians in the past , when computers weren't involved in creating the movie magic.

    "F/X" feels like "Home alone" for adults. The whole movie is basically Rollie Tyler using his skills and toys against his enemies. Bryan Brown ("Cocktail") is great as Rollie , the main hero .He's got a down to earth, normal guy attitude that makes us like him. There is also another Brian - Brian Dennehy ("Rambo : First blood ") as the smooth-talking detective, Leo McCarthy. He's a good supporting character , the only one that suspects what is going on.

    The special effects are good. It's not strange , since this movie is a tribute to the movie wizards that help us make our dreams come true (at least on the screen). Action scenes are done well . The acting is good. There are nice twists and good ideas are along the way . There's a great song at the ending credits of the movie - Imagination " Just an illusion".

    "F/X" inspired a television show of the same name starring Cameron Daddo and also a nice sequel. It's a good , fun movie. It shows that originality means much . I miss the 80's movies with their originality...

    I give it 7/10.
    MichaelM24

    a fun little movie

    F/X is a movie I had been hearing about for years, so I finally buckled down and rented it, and I was pretty surprised. It's a good, suspenseful movie with nice effects, a decent story, and some good performances (except for the girl who plays the effects assistant, though she's not on-screen a lot). Bryan Brown plays Roland Tyler, a freelance special effects artist who seeks revenge after some shady Justice Department guys set him up to be the fall guy in a staged execution they had hired him to pull off. Brian Dennehy doesn't enter the film until nearly forty minutes into the picture, but once he does, he's as good as always, even if his character just sort of moves from place to place and effortlessly picks up clues along the way. I would have liked to seen the two stars have more scenes together, but they never even meet up until the final scene of the movie. Cliff DeYoung does his usual weasel villain, though he mysteriously vanishes from the film without explanation, and Jerry Orbach is good in a supporting role as the mobster whose execution is staged. The effects used by Tyler aren't as spectacular as I had thought they would be (disguises to avoid police, smoke bombs, fake blood, etc.), but they're used effectively. F/X is an entertaining little movie with a fair amount of suspense and some good action. Oh, and what I wouldn't give to have that home security system Tyler has inside his front door. The sequel's not bad either.
    7andrewklocek

    Great Movie, Couldn't believe I had never seen it

    I had this movie on my Instant Queue for a long time and never watched it for some reason. Anyway I just got done watching it and loved it! It was way better than I expected. I saw it had a 6.5 before I watched it so I thought it would be good, but it was really good to my surprise. The idea was original and exciting. If you haven't seen it the story is a Special Effects guy is asked by the government to help fake a former Mob members death so the Mob stops going after him. It turns out that wasn't the whole story and Roland(The main character) is in for a wild ride. It keeps you thinking and it actually has a good bit of action.

    If you have not seen it go watch it, I promise you will like it.
    7fletch5

    A slick film

    "F/X" beats most Hollywood action films. It stands out with a slick basic idea developed to a proper script that offers twists and surprises all the way to the end, but luckily not as much as "Mission: Impossible" did.

    Bryan Brown is just the right man for the part of Rollie. He and Brian Dennehy make a great pair, although they don't appear together until the end of the film.

    Refreshingly original and highly recommendable.
    8blanche-2

    Special effects in New York City

    A movie special effects man is running for his life in "F/X," a 1986 film starring Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Jerry Orbach, and Mason Adams. Strangely enough, the movie also features two actresses from my alma mater, Diana Venora and Josie de Guzman.

    Rollie Tyler (Brown) takes on a rush job for the government - they want it to look as if their primo informant (Orbach) has been murdered to take the danger out of getting him to the courtroom and protecting him afterward. But like Rollie's work, things aren't what they seem, and Rollie finds himself on the run.

    Despite its name, F/X isn't a big movie, and the special effects are things you can see on any television show. What makes it unique is the way Rollie uses his wits and skill to elude those after him. One of the most exciting scenes occurs as Rollie, in his F/X van, careens through the streets of New York, using every trick he knows to get away from the police. Not your average car chase.

    Australian actor Bryan Brown, who achieved fame and a beautiful wife from the miniseries "The Thorn Birds" is terrific as the desperate Rollie. Brian Dennehy plays a rogue cop - he's funny and effective, and the late Jerry Orbach, whose career spanned stage, films, and television, is the perfect mob informant.

    F/X inspired a television show of the same name starring Cameron Daddo and also a sequel. For a little movie, it did quite well, managing to entertain with drama, humor, and thrills. It's a lot of fun.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Conspiracy Thriller
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Special effects man John Stears claimed that he had been offered money by government agencies to simulate various things as depicted in the film.
    • Goofs
      The uniforms worn by the New York State Police at Mason's mansion and the morgue are their dress blouses and are only worn for special ceremonies such as funerals, parades and awards and are never worn on patrol.
    • Quotes

      Rollie Tyler: [Mason grabs the Uzi Rollie has just set down] In this hand is the ammo for the gun. And this is Krazy Glue. A thousand and one uses. Now, a thousand and two.

      [shoves him out the front door]

    • Crazy credits
      Just at the start of the end credits, the camera flashes briefly through out-take type shots of the eight principal players (Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Diane Venora, Cliff De Young, Mason Adams, Jerry Orbach, Martha Gehman, and Joe Grifasi). Each actor smiles out-of-character at the camera as though in appreciation to the audience of their performances.
    • Alternate versions
      The Australian VHS and television version open with a different title logo. Instead of the domestic gray title card, it has the words F/X, in red on a black background. The letters then glow bright and fade out.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Clan of the Cave Bear/The Delta Force/Wildcats/F/X (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      JUST AN ILLUSION
      Performed by Imagination

      Courtesy of Red Bus Records

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    FAQ23

    • How long is F/X?Powered by Alexa
    • What was the Justice Department's plan regarding Nick DeFranco?
    • Why was Ellen Keith killed? She couldn't have been mistaken for Rollie Tyler
    • Mason adams assured Rollie Tyler that the restaurant would be "filled with our people". Wouldn't that increase the chance of a leak?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 7, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • FX Efectos especiales
    • Filming locations
      • Geneva, Canton de Genève, Switzerland
    • Production companies
      • Orion Pictures
      • Dodi Fayed - Jack Wiener
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,603,715
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,240,695
      • Feb 9, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $20,603,715
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 49m(109 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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