Not even really based on a short story by
Stephen King, The Lawnmower Man was the first
film to explore virtual reality technology and
boasts a dazzling collection of
computer-animated sequences. The story concerns
the slightly-mad scientist Dr. Lawrence Angelo
(Pierce Brosnan), who as part of a secret
government agency called Cybertech has been
experimenting with something termed
"intelligence enhancement.
By using drugs and virtual reality technology,
Angelo has managed to boost the IQ of
experimental chimps. But he also makes them more
aggressive and, bit by bit, they go insane. When
one of his animal subjects goes on a rampage,
Angelo decides to go for a human guinea pig
instead -- Jobe Smith (Jeff Fahey), a slightly
retarded man who cuts his lawn. Not only do
Jobe's intelligence and sex-drive improve thanks
to Angelo's regimen, but he also develops
extrasensory perception. As Jobe's mental and
emotional state keeps increasing, so does his
strength.
As he gains more power, Jobe becomes angrier and
more vindictive until he vows to get even with
all the town's people that patronized him and
treated him badly.
Directed by: Brett
Leonard
Written by: Brett
Leonard & Gimel Everett
Produced by: Gimel
Everett, Steven A. Lane, Peter A. McRae, Robert
Pringle, Edward Simons, Masao Takiyama, Clive
Turner
Original music by:
Dan Wyman
Cast:
Jeff Fahey .... Jobe
Smith
Pierce Brosnan .... Doctor Lawrence Angelo
Jenny Wright .... Marnie Burke
Mark Bringleson .... Sebastian Timms
Geoffrey Lewis .... Terry McKeen
Jeremy Slate .... Father Francis McKeen
Dean Norris .... The Director
Colleen Coffey .... Caroline Angelo
Jim Landis .... Ed Walts
Troy Evans .... Lieutenant Goodwin
Rosalee Mayeux .... Carla Parkette
Austin O'Brien .... Peter Parkette
Michael Gregory .... Security Chief
Joe Hart .... Patrolman Cooley
John Laughlin .... Jake Simpson
Ray Lykins .... Harold Parkette
Michael Valverde .... Day Gate Guard (as Mike
Valverde)
Dale Raoul .... Dolly
Frank Collison .... Night Gate Guard
Jonathan Smart .... Assistant
Stephen Gregory Foster .... Letchworth
Doug Hutchison .... Security Tech
Denney Pierce .... Skinhead Guard
Roger Rook .... Older Guard
Craig Benton .... White Coat
Randall Fontana .... Hotel Waiter
Mara Duronslet .... Young Woman Clerk
Duane Byrne .... Letchworth Buddy
