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CrimeDramaThriller

Summer of Sam

- No one is safe from Son of Sam.

During the summer of 1977, a killer known as the Son of Sam keeps all of New York City on edge with a series of brutal murders.

Release Date : 1999-06-28

Language :EnglishItalian

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : 40 Acres and a Mule FilmworksTouchstone Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

John Leguizamo

Character Name : Vinny

Original Name : John Leguizamo

Gender : Male

Adrien Brody

Character Name : Ritchie

Original Name : Adrien Brody

Gender : Male

Mira Sorvino

Character Name : Dionna

Original Name : Mira Sorvino

Gender : Female

Jennifer Esposito

Character Name : Ruby

Original Name : Jennifer Esposito

Gender : Female

Michael Rispoli

Character Name : Joey T

Original Name : Michael Rispoli

Gender : Male

Saverio Guerra

Character Name : Woodstock

Original Name : Saverio Guerra

Gender : Male

Brian Tarantina

Character Name : Bobby Del Fiore

Original Name : Brian Tarantina

Gender : Male

Al Palagonia

Character Name : Anthony

Original Name : Al Palagonia

Gender : Male

Ken Garito

Character Name : Brian

Original Name : Ken Garito

Gender : Male

Bebe Neuwirth

Character Name : Gloria

Original Name : Bebe Neuwirth

Gender : Female

Patti LuPone

Character Name : Helen

Original Name : Patti LuPone

Gender : Female

Mike Starr

Character Name : Eddie

Original Name : Mike Starr

Gender : Male

Anthony LaPaglia

Character Name : Detective Lou Petrocelli

Original Name : Anthony LaPaglia

Gender : Male

Roger Guenveur Smith

Character Name : Detective Curt Atwater

Original Name : Roger Guenveur Smith

Gender : Male

Ben Gazzara

Character Name : Luigi

Original Name : Ben Gazzara

Gender : Male

Joe Lisi

Character Name : Tony Olives

Original Name : Joe Lisi

Gender : Male

James Reno

Character Name : Crony

Original Name : James Reno

Gender : Male

Arthur J. Nascarella

Character Name : Mario

Original Name : Arthur J. Nascarella

Gender : Male

John Savage

Character Name : Simon

Original Name : John Savage

Gender : Male

Jimmy Breslin

Character Name : Jimmy Breslin

Original Name : Jimmy Breslin

Gender : Male

Michael Badalucco

Character Name : Son of Sam

Original Name : Michael Badalucco

Gender : Male

Spike Lee

Character Name : John Jeffries

Original Name : Spike Lee

Gender : Male

Lucia Grillo

Character Name : Chiara

Original Name : Lucia Grillo

Gender : Male

Nelson Vasquez

Character Name : Officer Cruz

Original Name : Nelson Vasquez

Gender : Male

Darielle Gilad

Character Name : Debbie Cadabra

Original Name : Darielle Gilad

Gender : Male

Michael Harper

Character Name : Raygun

Original Name : Michael Harper

Gender : Male

Jessica Galbreath

Character Name : Fire

Original Name : Jessica Galbreath

Gender : Male

Evan Cohen

Character Name : Bite

Original Name : Evan Cohen

Gender : Male

George Tabb

Character Name : Spider

Original Name : George Tabb

Gender : Male

Michael Imperioli

Character Name : Midnite

Original Name : Michael Imperioli

Gender : Male

Victor Colicchio

Character Name : Chickie

Original Name : Victor Colicchio

Gender : Male

Peter Maloney

Character Name : Detective Timothy Dowd

Original Name : Peter Maloney

Gender : Male

Christopher Wynkoop

Character Name : Sam Carr

Original Name : Christopher Wynkoop

Gender : Male

John Turturro

Character Name : Harvey the Black Dog (voice)

Original Name : John Turturro

Gender : Male

Ernie Anastos

Character Name : Anchorman

Original Name : Ernie Anastos

Gender : Male

Jim Jensen

Character Name : Anchorman

Original Name : Jim Jensen

Gender : Male

Melba Tolliver

Character Name : Anchorwoman

Original Name : Melba Tolliver

Gender : Male

Phil Rizzuto

Character Name : Yankee Broadcaster (voice)

Original Name : Phil Rizzuto

Gender : Male

Reggie Jackson

Character Name : Reggie Jackson

Original Name : Reggie Jackson

Gender : Male

Danielle Burgio

Character Name : Girl in Parked Car

Original Name : Danielle Burgio

Gender : Female

Lisa France

Character Name : Girl in Parked Car

Original Name : Lisa France

Gender : Female

Peter Epstein

Character Name : Chuckie

Original Name : Peter Epstein

Gender : Male

Jill Stokesberry

Character Name : Rose

Original Name : Jill Stokesberry

Gender : Female

Joseph Lyle Taylor

Character Name : Ron

Original Name : Joseph Lyle Taylor

Gender : Male

Kim Director

Character Name : Dee

Original Name : Kim Director

Gender : Female

Bill Raymond

Character Name : Father Cadilli

Original Name : Bill Raymond

Gender : Male

Mildred Clinton

Character Name : Italian Woman at Murder Site

Original Name : Mildred Clinton

Gender : Female

Emelise Aleandri

Character Name : Italian Woman at Murder Site

Original Name : Emelise Aleandri

Gender : Male

Michael Sorvino

Character Name : Bowler at Diner

Original Name : Michael Sorvino

Gender : Male

Phil Campanella

Character Name : 2nd Bowler at Diner

Original Name : Phil Campanella

Gender : Male

William H. Burns

Character Name : Officer

Original Name : William H. Burns

Gender : Male

Ernest Mingione

Character Name : Officer

Original Name : Ernest Mingione

Gender : Male

Frank Fortunato

Character Name : Doorman

Original Name : Frank Fortunato

Gender : Male

Danny Zappin

Character Name : Simon's Male Friend

Original Name : Danny Zappin

Gender : Male

Murielle Arden

Character Name : Simon's Female Friend

Original Name : Murielle Arden

Gender : Male

Christina Klobe

Character Name : Simon's Female Friend

Original Name : Christina Klobe

Gender : Male

Charlotte Colavin

Character Name : Neighbor

Original Name : Charlotte Colavin

Gender : Female

Clayton J. Barber

Character Name : Punk

Original Name : Clayton J. Barber

Gender : Male

Joie Lee

Character Name : Bed Stuy Woman Interviewed

Original Name : Joie Lee

Gender : Female

Rome Neal

Character Name : Bed Stuy Man Interviewed

Original Name : Rome Neal

Gender : Male

Mark Breland

Character Name : Bed Stuy Man Interviewed

Original Name : Mark Breland

Gender : Male

Susan Batson

Character Name : Bed Stuy Woman Interviewed

Original Name : Susan Batson

Gender : Female

Evander Holyfield

Character Name : Man in Riot

Original Name : Evander Holyfield

Gender : Male

Toneda Laiwan

Character Name : Dot (Atwater's Girlfriend)

Original Name : Toneda Laiwan

Gender : Male

Janet Paparazzo

Character Name : Young Woman Shot by Son Of Sam

Original Name : Janet Paparazzo

Gender : Female

Jodi Michelle Pynn

Character Name : Young Woman Shot by Son Of Sam

Original Name : Jodi Michelle Pynn

Gender : Female

Jennifer Badger

Character Name : Woman Victim

Original Name : Jennifer Badger

Gender : Female

Jeff DeRocker

Character Name : Man in Car

Original Name : Jeff DeRocker

Gender : Male

Nick Oddo

Character Name : Husband

Original Name : Nick Oddo

Gender : Male

Damian Achilles

Character Name : Wounded Man

Original Name : Damian Achilles

Gender : Male

Joanne Lamstein

Character Name : Woman in Car

Original Name : Joanne Lamstein

Gender : Female

Gabriel Barre

Character Name : Johnny Nasso

Original Name : Gabriel Barre

Gender : Male

Tara McNamee

Character Name : Woman Victim

Original Name : Tara McNamee

Gender : Male

John Michael Brown

Character Name : "L.E.S. Stitches" Band Singer

Original Name : John Michael Brown

Gender : Male

Damian Branica

Character Name : "L.E.S. Stitches" Band Bassist

Original Name : Damian Branica

Gender : Male

Lorne Behrman

Character Name : "L.E.S. Stitches" Band Guitarist

Original Name : Lorne Behrman

Gender : Male

Curtis Gove

Character Name : "L.E.S. Stitches" Band Guitarist

Original Name : Curtis Gove

Gender : Male

James Baggs

Character Name : "L.E.S. Stitches" Drummer

Original Name : James Baggs

Gender : Male

Rozie Bacchi

Character Name : Brian's Girlfriend

Original Name : Rozie Bacchi

Gender : Female

Grace DeSena

Character Name : Joe T's Girlfriend

Original Name : Grace DeSena

Gender : Female

Zoe Bournelis

Character Name : Anthony's Girlfriend

Original Name : Zoe Bournelis

Gender : Female

Ashleigh Closs

Character Name : Princess

Original Name : Ashleigh Closs

Gender : Male

Frank Cadillac

Character Name : Patty a.k.a. Man with Weird Eyes

Original Name : Frank Cadillac

Gender : Male

Daniel J. Courtenay

Character Name : Guitar Store Owner

Original Name : Daniel J. Courtenay

Gender : Male

Michael Prozzo

Character Name : Rocco

Original Name : Michael Prozzo

Gender : Male

Kathryn Hud

Character Name : Rocco's Girlfriend

Original Name : Kathryn Hud

Gender : Male

Antonio Torres

Character Name : Man Pulled from Car

Original Name : Antonio Torres

Gender : Male

Pamela Wehner

Character Name : Lady at Block Party

Original Name : Pamela Wehner

Gender : Male

Dionna Colicchio

Character Name : Girl at Block Party

Original Name : Dionna Colicchio

Gender : Male

Victoria Galasso

Character Name : Girl at Block Party

Original Name : Victoria Galasso

Gender : Male

Danielle Tutelian

Character Name : Girl at Block Party

Original Name : Danielle Tutelian

Gender : Male

John Martucci

Character Name : Haircutter

Original Name : John Martucci

Gender : Male

Mario Macaluso

Character Name : Italian Chef

Original Name : Mario Macaluso

Gender : Male

Andrew Lasky

Character Name : Officer Cruz Partner

Original Name : Andrew Lasky

Gender : Male

Richard Paul

Character Name : Detective with Decoy Dummy

Original Name : Richard Paul

Gender : Male

Ray Carlson

Character Name : Crime Scene Cop

Original Name : Ray Carlson

Gender : Male

Alexander J. Vega

Character Name : Bouncer

Original Name : Alexander J. Vega

Gender : Male

Steven Croft

Character Name : Limo Driver

Original Name : Steven Croft

Gender : Male

Mary Jo Todaro

Character Name : Lady in Window

Original Name : Mary Jo Todaro

Gender : Male

Jacqueline Margolis

Character Name : Lady in Window

Original Name : Jacqueline Margolis

Gender : Male

Iris Braydon

Character Name : Lady in Car Window

Original Name : Iris Braydon

Gender : Female

Valerie Mazzonelli

Character Name : Lady with Dog

Original Name : Valerie Mazzonelli

Gender : Male

Hal Sherman

Character Name : Arresting Detective

Original Name : Hal Sherman

Gender : Male

Nicholas Brown

Character Name : Young Petrocelli

Original Name : Nicholas Brown

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

There's a homicidal maniac wandering around the neighbourhood. You don't want to do anything about it? Summer of Sam is directed by Spike Lee and Lee co-writes the screenplay with Victor Colicchio and Michael Imperioli. It stars John Leguizamo, Adrien Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Rispoli, Saverio Guerra, Brian Tarantina, Al Palagonia, Ken Garito, Bebe Neuwirth and Michael Badalucco. Music is by Terence Blanchard and cinematography by Ellen Duras. It was met with some indifference upon release, for many film fans went into it expecting another "Se7en" type serial killer thriller. What we get is Spike Lee doing a clinical character piece of how the residents in a South Bronx neighbourhood react to having a serial killer in their midst. It's 1977 and it's the time of the "Son of Sam" murders in New York City, mistrust and vile character traits start to come to the fore... Lets face it, Spike Lee is often about as subtle as a sledgehammer over the head, but when it comes to characterisations - particularly when it comes to New York - he's one of the best around. He positively revels in dropping a group of unsound characters into a pressure cooker atmosphere and let them play out their respective human fallibilities. Who else could run a concurrent strand of a serial killer with a serial adulterer and produce such edgy and sly rewards?. The musical backdrop to the plotting gives us the move from disco into the punk explosion, with the juxtaposition between good friends - Leguizamo's disco dancing philanderer and Brody's (excellent) punk rocker turning gay tricks to pay for his musical aspirations - proving to be more pivotal than "Son of Sam" (Badalucco off the chain) himself. All while the "hood" lowlifes gather themselves as an army to seek out the serial killer themselves, which unfortunately means anyone remotely not in their circle of friends is a suspect!. It's no Lee masterpiece, for it's a touch too long and could have been trimmed by 15 minutes of pointless sexual exposition, while it sometimes feels like Lee is stuck between blaxploitation verve and mainstream appeasing ticket selling. Yet it's a bold piece of film making, with some genuinely jaw dropping sequences within. Prepare for a film that's big on characters during the reign of a serial killer and you might just appreciate Summer of Sam much more. 8/10