Of Unknown Origin (1983)
WB DVD (region 1)
d. George P. Cosmatos; pr. Pierre David, Claude Heroux; scr. Brian Taggert; novel. Chauncey G. Parker III; ph. Rene Verzier; m. Kenneth Wannberg; ed. Roberto Silvi; cast. Peter Weller, Jennifer Dale, Lawrence Dane, Kenneth Walsh, Shannon Tweed, Maury Chaykin (89 mins)
This Canadian production is something of a surprising oddment, especially coming from a director whose then-minimal reputation has since been sullied rather than enhanced by the extra-ordinary box-office success of the subsequent Rambo: First Blood Part 2. Sadly, Of Unknown Origin has been all but forgotten despite being a genuine rarity, for what is truly extraordinary about this unusual thriller is its striking contribution to, and place within, what can perhaps best be described as the Cinema of the Absurd. There is nothing in director George P. Cosmatos’ accomplished but rather journeyman filmography that matches this complex tonal achievement. What is perhaps even more remarkable is that this is done within what is perhaps the most disreputable of horror / thriller subgenres – the rat movie. Since the freak success of Willard in the late 1970s, there emerged briefly in the early 1980s a number of rat-themed films – Ben (the Willard sequel), Deadly Eyes (aka Rats) and Of Unknown Origin – belatedly revived in the recent remake of Willard. Cosmatos’ film is easily the best in this company and is a fascinating and even experimental look at how tone can transcend genre. As the Cinema of the Absurd has, unlike its theatrical counterpart, yet to develop into, or be recognized as, a fully fledged cinematic movement, it is the re-discovery of gems like this film that will chronicle its evolution.
Going from the surface plotline alone, Of Unknown Origin seems like a fairly formulaic and unpromising thriller. Peter Weller plays a successful, married businessman who has just been assigned an important job. His wife and child are away for a few days and he makes plans to devote himself to the work needed to secure his job. Soon, he discovers that his prized home, a brownstone restored to pristine condition by his own labor, has been invaded by a most unwelcome intruder – a large rat. At first Weller seems unbothered and almost leisurely sets traps for the critter. However, when one of the traps emerges almost eaten, he bemusedly begins to realize that the task may be greater than he at first suspected. Soon he starts researching rats, his obsession with these rodents deepening at the expense of his work. The rat, meanwhile, apparently has an agenda of its own and is slowly eating its way into deeper trouble, much to Weller’s chagrin. Gradually, Weller finds that his house is slowly deteriorating as he attempts to kill this giant rodent. Eventually, he goes to the boiler room and discovers baby rats. The angry mother rat attacks him when he disposes of the babies and he thereafter redoubles his efforts. Fleeing to the rest of the house, he is determined to kill this intruder. Work now a distant second fiddle, he starts to gather himself for a showdown which may demolish the pristine house he so prizes. read more