Summary
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.
Cast
John Leguizamo
Vinny
Adrien Brody
Ritchie
Mira Sorvino
Dionna
Jennifer Esposito
Ruby
Michael Rispoli
Joey T
Saverio Guerra
Woodstock
Brian Tarantina
Bobby Del Fiore
Al Palagonia
Anthony
Ken Garito
Brian
Bebe Neuwirth
Gloria
Patti LuPone
Helen
Mike Starr
Eddie
Anthony LaPaglia
Detective Lou Petrocelli
Roger Guenveur Smith
Detective Curt Atwater
Ben Gazzara
Luigi
Joe Lisi
Tony Olives
James Reno
Crony
Arthur J. Nascarella
Mario
John Savage
Simon
Jimmy Breslin
Jimmy Breslin
Michael Badalucco
Son of Sam
Spike Lee
John Jeffries
Lucia Grillo
Chiara
Nelson Vasquez
Officer Cruz
Darielle Gilad
Debbie Cadabra
Michael Harper
Raygun
Jessica Galbreath
Fire
Evan Cohen
Bite
George Tabb
Spider
Michael Imperioli
Midnite
Victor Colicchio
Chickie
Peter Maloney
Detective Timothy Dowd
Christopher Wynkoop
Sam Carr
John Turturro
Harvey the Black Dog (voice)
Ernie Anastos
Anchorman
Jim Jensen
Anchorman
Melba Tolliver
Anchorwoman
Phil Rizzuto
Yankee Broadcaster (voice)
Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Danielle Burgio
Girl in Parked Car
Lisa France
Girl in Parked Car
Peter Epstein
Chuckie
Jill Stokesberry
Rose
Joseph Lyle Taylor
Ron
Kim Director
Dee
Bill Raymond
Father Cadilli
Mildred Clinton
Italian Woman at Murder Site
Emelise Aleandri
Italian Woman at Murder Site
Michael Sorvino
Bowler at Diner
Phil Campanella
2nd Bowler at Diner
William H. Burns
Officer
Ernest Mingione
Officer
Frank Fortunato
Doorman
Danny Zappin
Simon's Male Friend
Murielle Arden
Simon's Female Friend
Christina Klobe
Simon's Female Friend
Charlotte Colavin
Neighbor
Clayton J. Barber
Punk
Joie Lee
Bed Stuy Woman Interviewed
Rome Neal
Bed Stuy Man Interviewed
Mark Breland
Bed Stuy Man Interviewed
Susan Batson
Bed Stuy Woman Interviewed
Evander Holyfield
Man in Riot
Toneda Laiwan
Dot (Atwater's Girlfriend)
Janet Paparazzo
Young Woman Shot by Son Of Sam
Jodi Michelle Pynn
Young Woman Shot by Son Of Sam
Jennifer Badger
Woman Victim
Jeff DeRocker
Man in Car
Nick Oddo
Husband
Damian Achilles
Wounded Man
Joanne Lamstein
Woman in Car
Gabriel Barre
Johnny Nasso
Tara McNamee
Woman Victim
John Michael Brown
"L.E.S. Stitches" Band Singer
Damian Branica
"L.E.S. Stitches" Band Bassist
Lorne Behrman
"L.E.S. Stitches" Band Guitarist
Curtis Gove
"L.E.S. Stitches" Band Guitarist
James Baggs
"L.E.S. Stitches" Drummer
Rozie Bacchi
Brian's Girlfriend
Grace DeSena
Joe T's Girlfriend
Zoe Bournelis
Anthony's Girlfriend
Ashleigh Closs
Princess
Frank Cadillac
Patty a.k.a. Man with Weird Eyes
Daniel J. Courtenay
Guitar Store Owner
Michael Prozzo
Rocco
Kathryn Hud
Rocco's Girlfriend
Antonio Torres
Man Pulled from Car
Pamela Wehner
Lady at Block Party
Dionna Colicchio
Girl at Block Party
Victoria Galasso
Girl at Block Party
Danielle Tutelian
Girl at Block Party
John Martucci
Haircutter
Mario Macaluso
Italian Chef
Andrew Lasky
Officer Cruz Partner
Richard Paul
Detective with Decoy Dummy
Ray Carlson
Crime Scene Cop
Alexander J. Vega
Bouncer
Steven Croft
Limo Driver
Mary Jo Todaro
Lady in Window
Jacqueline Margolis
Lady in Window
Iris Braydon
Lady in Car Window
Valerie Mazzonelli
Lady with Dog
Hal Sherman
Arresting Detective
Nicholas Brown
Young Petrocelli
Crew
Director, Writer
Spike Lee
Writer
Victor Colicchio
Writer
Michael Imperioli
Reviews
John Chard
March 28, 2020
8
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
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$22,000,000.00
Revenue:
$19,288,130.00
