Oliver Stone directs Michael Caine in this hybrid horror that combines elements of The Beast with Five Fingers and The Hands of Orlac.
Caine stars as Jon Lansdale, a successful comic book artist who loses his drawing hand in a grisly car accident. Unable to adjust to life without his hand or his career, Caine’s marriage and professional life fall apart.
Frustrated by his employers’ attempt to keep the comic strip alive with inferior artists and by his wife Anne’s (Andrea Marcovicci) lack of interest in their marriage, Jon moves alone out West to teach art at a small college.
There he becomes involved with a sexy student called Stella (Annie McEnroe).
After a series of brutal crimes, Jon becomes obsessed with the belief that his severed hand – which was never found after his accident – is responsible for the murder spree.
Based on the story The Lizard’s Tale by Marc Brandel, the film co-stars singer-actress Andrea Marcovicci, Viveca Lindfors, Bruce McGill and Mara Hobel.
Michael Caine said later in a TV interview that the only reason he did this movie was to earn enough money to put a down payment on a new garage he was having built!
Jonathan Lansdale
Michael Caine
Anne Lansdale
Andrea Marcovicci
Stella Roche
Annie McEnroe
Brian Ferguson
Bruce McGill
Doctress
Viveca Lindfors
Karen Wagner
Rosemary Murphy
Lizzie Lansdale
Mara Hobel
Sheriff
Pat Corley
Bill Richman
Nicholas Hormann
Doctor
Edward Marshall
David Maddow
Charles Fleischer
Therapist
John Stinson
Hammond
Richard Altman
Director
Oliver Stone