IMDb > Ghosts... of the Civil Dead (1988)

Ghosts... of the Civil Dead (1988) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   864 votes »
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Up 25% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Hillcoat
Writers:
Nick Cave (written by)
Gene Conkie (written by)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Ghosts... of the Civil Dead on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 June 1989 (Australia) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Drama See more »
Plot:
Prison gangs clash in a high-tech security jail where there are no rules. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
2 wins & 8 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
First trailer for John Hillcoat's Lawless
 (From Flickeringmyth. 26 April 2012, 8:13 AM, PDT)
Bluegrass Legend Ralph Stanley Records 3 Songs For John Hillcoat's 'The Wettest County'
 (From The Playlist. 25 August 2011, 7:58 AM, PDT)
Nick Cave To Rewrite 'The Crow'?
 (From MTV Splash Page. 27 July 2010, 10:31 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Powerful, bloody and important See more (21 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

David Field ... Wenzil
Mike Bishop ... David Yale
Chris DeRose ... Grezner
Kevin Mackey ... Glover
Dave Mason ... Lilly

Nick Cave ... Maynard
Bogdan Koca ... Waychek
Freddo Dierck ... Robbins
Vincent Gil ... Ruben
M.E. Duncan ... Junkie 1
Nick Seferi ... Junkie 2
Tony Clark ... Simone
Yilmaz Tuhan ... Food King
Ian Mortimer ... Jack
Mick King ... Edwin Neal
Angelo Papadopoulos ... John Bird
Zlatko Kasumovic ... Polly Borland
Mick Manzaris ... Brucey Borland
Robert Scrivano ... Quarnstrom
Gary Francis ... Flecker
Rob Fox ... Hobday
Robin Dene ... Coyne
John Flaus ... Armstrong
Steve Shears ... Painter
Colin Mitchell ... Jackson
George Bidlo ... Riddle
Brett Collins ... Collins
Simon Gratton ... Grudge
Peter Lawless ... Lawless
Louis Trifunovic ... Bairnes (as Lou Trifunovic)
Tony Redford ... Posner
Ed McShortall ... Mayes (as Eddy McShortall)
Peter Black ... Maclaren
Howard Bell ... Mayer
Robert Willis ... Seymour
Paul Galwey ... Charlie
Steve Hardman ... Hardman
Mark Clarke ... Young
Trevor Templeton ... SORT Leader
Michelle Babbitt ... Diane Bite News at 6
Simon During ... Foucault Authority
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rusty Chilcott ... Extra (uncredited)
Mick Harvey ... (uncredited)
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Directed by
John Hillcoat 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Nick Cave  written by
Gene Conkie  written by
Evan English  written by
John Hillcoat  written by
Hugo Race  written by

Produced by
Evan English .... producer
 
Original Music by
Blixa Bargeld 
Nick Cave 
Mick Harvey 
 
Cinematography by
Paul Goldman 
Graeme Wood (director of photography) (as Graham Wood)
 
Film Editing by
Stewart Young 
 
Production Design by
Chris Kennedy 
 
Costume Design by
Karen Everett 
 
Production Management
Denise Patience .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Jones .... first assistant director
Lucy McLaren .... second assistant director
 
Sound Department
Peter Clancy .... sound editor
Bronwyn Murphy .... sound recordist
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Evan English .... additional photographer: second unit
 
Other crew
John Flaus .... script consultant
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Ghosts... of the Civil Dead" - Finland
"Ghosts... of the Civil Dead - avoimien ovien päivä helvetissä" - Finland
"Hölle ohne Helden" - Austria (TV title)
"Willkommen in der Hölle" - West Germany
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
93 min
Country:
Australia
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Finland:K-16 (1996) | Finland:K-18 (1992) | France:-16 | Australia:R | New Zealand:R18 | UK:18
Filming Locations:
Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSee more »
Company:
Correctional ServicesSee more »

Did You Know?

Movie Connections:
Referenced in "At the Movies: 25 Years of Margaret & David (#8.38)" (2011)See more »

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
16 out of 18 people found the following review useful.
Powerful, bloody and important, 13 July 2000
Author: Gerard Newham (keltic@zip.com.au) from Sydney, Australia

The title says it all. When a person is convicted of a crime, he or she becomes, at least temporarily (and, in certain situations and locations, permanently) dead to civil society. The men we see here are mere shadows.

_Ghosts of the Civil Dead_ is as topical now as it was when first released as a study in the ways that fear of crime may be exploited to justify oppression. Only in two or three scenes is overt violence shown, yet the movie manages to maintain a sense of menace for the full duration. As repression within the prison becomes increasingly harsh and the few remnants of civilian life that the prisoners have retained are stripped away, it becomes increasingly obvious that there can be no resolution.

In the current climate of law and order rhetoric, _Ghosts of the Civil Dead_ remains a powerful reminder as to where this rhetoric may lead.

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See more (21 total) »

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