''Chiller'' (also known as ''Wes Craven's Chiller'') is a 1985 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made fo ...

horror film directed by

Wes Craven Wesley Earl Craven (August 2, 1939 – August 30, 2015) was an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and editor. Craven has commonly been recognized as one of the greatest masters of the horror genre due to the cultural imp ...

and written by J.D. Feigelson. It follows corporate executive Miles Creighton (

Michael Beck John Michael Beck Taylor (born February 4, 1949), commonly known as Michael Beck, is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Swan in '' The Warriors'' (1979) and Sonny Malone in '' Xanadu'' (1980). Early life Beck was born in Memphis, T ...

), who dies and is cryonically preserved in the hopes that he can be revived. Ten years later, the procedure is a success, and Miles returns, but without his soul. The film premiered on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

on May 22, 1985.

Plot

Miles Creighton is cryonically preserved. When his storage tank malfunctions and begins to thaw, Miles is rushed to a hospital. His mother, who has missed her son terribly during his 10-year incapacitation, arranges for surgeons there to perform a procedure that was not possible when Miles was originally frozen. The operation is a success and Miles revives. Miles returns to the company which his father (now deceased) had started. He ruthlessly strips down anything that the company does not require to be profitable, and fires the man responsible for keeping the company running in Miles' absence. A series of mysterious deaths occur and circumstantial evidence implicates Miles. His mother, of course, does not want to believe her beloved son is a heartless killer. It is only when Father Penny arrives at the hospital in critical condition that she is convinced her son is evil. Penny tells her that Miles was responsible, and she rushes home to save her step daughter and have Miles arrested. The events that follow pit Miles against his mother, and she ends up locking him in a walk-in freezer. The police arrive and discover that Miles, though apparently frozen, is still alive. His mother comes to the rescue by shooting her son in the chest with a policeman's revolver. At the hospital later, it is implied Miles survived but it is unclear if he will survive the surgery as the techniques to save his life 'aren't quite there yet'. The final scene is set at the cryogenics facility, where another alarm goes off as another storage tank malfunctions and begins to thaw. This is followed, by several more storage tanks malfunctioning.

Cast

as Miles Creighton *

Beatrice Straight Beatrice Whitney Straight (August 2, 1914 – April 7, 2001) was an American theatre, film and television actress and a member of the prominent Whitney family. She was an Academy Award and Tony Award winner as well as an Emmy Award nominee. ...

as Marion Creighton *

Laura Johnson Laura Johnson is an American actress. She is best known for playing Terry Hartford in the CBS primetime soap opera ''Falcon Crest'' from 1983 to 1986. Career Johnson made her film debut in the 1977 drama film ''Opening Night'' directed by John ...

as Leigh Kenyon *

Dick O'Neill Richard Francis O'Neill (August 29, 1928 – November 17, 1998) was an American stage, film and television character actor best known for playing Irish cops, fathers, judges and army generals. He began his acting career as an original company ...

as Clarence Beeson * Alan Fudge as Dr. Stricklin *

Craig Richard Nelson Craig Richard Nelson (born September 17, 1947) is an American actor in theater, film and television. Life and career Nelson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He studie ...

as Dr. Collier *

Paul Sorvino Paul Anthony Sorvino (, ; April 13, 1939 – July 25, 2022) was an American actor. He often portrayed authority figures on both the criminal and the law enforcement sides of the law. Sorvino was particularly known for his roles as Lucchese cri ...

as Reverend Penny *

Jill Schoelen Jill Marie Schoelen (born March 21, 1963) is an American former actress. She is best known for ''Chiller'' (1985), '' The Stepfather'' (1987), '' Cutting Class'' (1989), ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (1989), '' Popcorn'' (1991), '' Rich Girl'' (1 ...

as Stacey Creighton * Anne Seymour as Mrs. Bunch *

Russ Marin Russ Marin (May 1, 1934 – March 6, 2005) was an American film and television actor active from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. Career Among the many shows he guest starred include ''Mannix'', ''Bonanza'', ''The Secrets of Isis'', ''Wonde ...

as Dr. Sample *

Jerry Lacy Gerald LeRoy Lacy (born March 27, 1936) is an American soap opera actor best known for playing the roles of Tony Peterson, Reverend Trask, Reverend Gregory Trask, Mr. Trask, and Lamar Trask on the TV serial ''Dark Shadows''. He has also appear ...

as Jerry Burley * Edward Blackoff as 2nd Technician * Kenneth White as Technician #1 * Ned Wertimer as Mr. Hanna * Wendy Goldman as Secretary *

Joseph Whipp Joseph Whipp (born July 12, 1941) is an American actor who has starred in many films and starred on television. He is known for playing police officers in films and on television. Career Whipp taught drama at Carlmont High School in the 1970 ...

as Detective * Brian Libby as Orderly * Karen Huie as Nurse #1 * Melanie F. Williams as Nurse #2 * Perla Walter as Night Nurse * Starletta DuPois as Nurse * Mimi Craven as Nurse Cooper * Bill Dearth as Officer #1 * Roger Hampton as Officer #2 * Clare Torao as Newscaster (as Clare Nono) * William Forward as Anesthesiologist

References

External links

* * {{Wes Craven 1985 films 1985 horror films 1985 television films American horror television films Cryonics in fiction Films directed by Wes Craven American science fiction television films American science fiction horror films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films