The Runestone
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''The Runestone'' is a 1991 American
adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...
horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...
written and directed by
Willard Carroll Willard F. Carroll (born November 12, 1955, in Easton, Maryland) is an American producer, writer, director, and animator. Career He was an executive producer for the animated films ''The Brave Little Toaster'' (1987), '' The Brave Little Toaste ...
in his feature directorial debut. The film is an updating of the Ragnarok legend, with
Fenrir Fenrir (Old Norse 'fen-dweller')Orchard (1997:42). or Fenrisúlfr (Old Norse "Fenrir's wolf", often translated "Fenris-wolf"),Simek (2007:81). also referred to as Hróðvitnir (Old Norse "fame-wolf")Simek (2007:160). and Vánagandr (Old Nors ...
being found in a
runestone A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic alphabet, runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition of erecting runestones as a memorial to dead men began in the 4th centur ...
in Pennsylvania unearthed by archaeologists. The film is based upon the novel by Mark E. Rogers, which was published in a small press limited edition pamphlet.


Plot

Deep in a coal mine in Pennsylvania, a strange stone is found with Norse runes. The stone is transported to New York City, where archaeologists investigate the mystery. Death and destruction follow, as one of the archeologists becomes possessed, and begins killing everyone around him. Sam Stewart and wife Marla (
Joan Severance Joan Marie Severance (born December 23, 1958) is an American actress and former fashion model. Early life Severance was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Martha and John C. Severance. Her father was an IBM systems manager who had to move ...
) find it has some connection to their friend Martin. A young boy named Jacob ( Chris Young) is haunted by terrifying nightmares of what is to come, and his uncle ( William Hickey) explains these dreams through stories from Norse legend, which says that the only one who can destroy Fenrir is
Týr (; Old Norse: , ) is a god in Germanic mythology and member of the . In Norse mythology, which provides most of the surviving narratives about gods among the Germanic peoples, sacrifices his right hand to the monstrous wolf , who bites it off ...
, the Norse god of single combat, victory and heroic glory, who is prophesied to return to fight the creature. In the nick of time, the mystical Clockmaker (
Alexander Godunov Alexander Borisovich Godunov (Russian: ; November 28, 1949 – May 1995) was a Russian-American ballet dancer and film actor. A member of the Bolshoi Ballet, he became the troupe's Premier danseur. In 1979, he defected to the United States. Whi ...
), who actually is Týr, begins fighting Fenrir. The film cast includes
Peter Riegert Peter Riegert ( ;) (born April 11, 1947) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Donald "Boon" Schoenstein in ''Animal House'' (1978), oil company executive "Mac" MacIntyre in '' Local Hero'' (1983), pickle store owner Sam Posner ...
as a Pez popping, cussing policeman, and features a cameo by Rick Marzan as a police officer named Strange.


Cast

*
Peter Riegert Peter Riegert ( ;) (born April 11, 1947) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Donald "Boon" Schoenstein in ''Animal House'' (1978), oil company executive "Mac" MacIntyre in '' Local Hero'' (1983), pickle store owner Sam Posner ...
as Capt. Gregory Fanducci *
Joan Severance Joan Marie Severance (born December 23, 1958) is an American actress and former fashion model. Early life Severance was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Martha and John C. Severance. Her father was an IBM systems manager who had to move ...
as Marla Stewart * William Hickey as Lars Hagstrom * Tim Ryan as Sam Stewart * Mitchell Laurance as Martin Almquist *
Lawrence Tierney Lawrence James Tierney (March 15, 1919 – February 26, 2002) was an American film and television actor who is best known for his many screen portrayals of mobsters and "tough guys" in a career that spanned over fifty years. His roles mirrored ...
as Chief Richardson * Dawan Scott as Fenrir * Chris Young as Jacob *
Alexander Godunov Alexander Borisovich Godunov (Russian: ; November 28, 1949 – May 1995) was a Russian-American ballet dancer and film actor. A member of the Bolshoi Ballet, he became the troupe's Premier danseur. In 1979, he defected to the United States. Whi ...
as Sigvaldson, The Clockmaker * Donald Hotton as Ask Franag *
Arthur Malet Arthur Malet (24 September 1927 – 18 May 2013) was an English actor. He was known for his films '' Mary Poppins'' (1964), ''Halloween'' (1978), '' The Secret of NIMH'' (1982), and ''Hook'' (1991). His last film role was '' The Secret of NIM ...
as Stoddard * Rick Marzan as Strange * John Hobson as Security Guard


Release

The film was released on
VHS VHS (Video Home System) is a discontinued standard for consumer-level analog video recording on tape cassettes, introduced in 1976 by JVC. It was the dominant home video format throughout the tape media period of the 1980s and 1990s. Ma ...
and
laserdisc LaserDisc (LD) is a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. It was developed by Philips, Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer, and the movie studio MCA Inc., MCA. The format was initially marketed in the United State ...
in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
by
Live Home Video Artisan Entertainment (formerly known as U.S.A. Home Video, International Video Entertainment (IVE) and LIVE Entertainment) was an American film studio and home video company. It was considered one of the largest mini-major film studios until i ...
in 1991. In Germany the film was released as ''Anthony III'', without having any connection to '' The Kindred'', which has been released as ''Anthony''. In the late 2010s it was released on DVD.


Soundtrack

In March 2010,
Perseverance Records Perseverance Records is a record label which releases film scores on CD and online. Releases are usually accompanied by extensive booklets. Extras, such as audio interviews with composers, are also sometimes included. Discography * *''No Pass ...
released the soundtrack album with music by David Newman. The score was reminiscent of the 1950s B-movie scores composed by
Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flutist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Awards, ...
such as ''
Creature from the Black Lagoon ''Creature from the Black Lagoon'' is a 1954 American black-and-white 3D monster horror film produced by William Alland and directed by Jack Arnold, from a screenplay by Harry Essex and Arthur Ross and a story by Maurice Zimm. It stars ...
'' and ''
Tarantula Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although ...
''.


References


External links

* * 1991 films 1990s adventure films Films directed by Willard Carroll Films based on Norse mythology Films set in Pennsylvania 1991 horror films Films scored by David Newman (composer) Hyperion Pictures films Films with screenplays by Willard Carroll Adventure horror films 1990s English-language films English-language horror films English-language adventure films {{1990s-adventure-film-stub