Expert: 7devonapes - 8/22/2011

Question
QUESTION: I'm sorry, I don't have much to go on, not even key words--just a few scattered memories from childhood, but I'd like to find and view this film (could have ben a U.S. TV movie, too):

A young guy is released from a mental institution. He seems to be starting fires with his mind. I think he is traveling, maybe to see his mother or grandmother. Some kind of weird relationship there. I think he ends up setting fire to her home--there is a big fire at the end. Atmosphere is just plain creepy. Any ideas?

ANSWER: Hi Delby,

Apologies for the delay. I think the movie you are looking for is one from 1990 called "Spontaneous Combustion", starring the great character actor Brad Dourif (Child's Play series, Cuckoo's Nest, Blue Velvet etc.). Original Texas Chainsaw Massacre ('74) director / writer Tobe Hooper directs. A plot summary for 'SC' follows: "A young man finds out that his parents had been used in an atomic-weapons experiment shortly before he was born, and that the results have had some unexpected effects on him." - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098375/.

Trailer, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErCNXI_I7Dw

The DVD is available from Amazon.com, here: http://www.amazon.com/Spontaneous-Combustion-Brad-Dourif/dp/B00006JDRY

- I personally don't recall too much about this one, other than Dourif giving another quality (if OTT) performance as always. Rare to see this actor in a genuine 'lead', too.

Cheers!
Ryan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Alas, that's not it, though not your fault--I really am just grasping at the wispiest memories. I am sure, however, that I first saw the film I'm remembering in the 70s. As I continue to think about it, I am also thinking that the main character may never have left the mental institution--that the escape, the drive, the chase were all in his mind, but then somehow the fire in the mother's nursing home was real--a mental projection of his from the mental hospital. I'll keep looking.

However, this was worth it just for the info you did provide.Interestingly, I had just described the main character of the film I'm seeking as a "Brad Dourif type." I love Brad Dourif, who seems to specialize in films or TV that I love, and then gives stunning performances in them. I will definitely track down a copy of Spontaneous Combustion, which I wasn't aware of. Thanks for that!

--Delby

Answer
Hi Delby,

Damn... thought for sure "Spontaneous Combustion" would be it. Sorry to hear it's not. Reading your additional recollection of this film I'm now curious myself to learn what the title actually is, so will indeed keep looking for you (us). Gotta say, the whole mental institution / institution escape / nursing home fire bizzo sure sounds familiar. There is a good chance it could indeed be a made-for-TV movie (as you thought). Again, will keep looking for it and let you know if I have any success.

As for that Dourif flick, yeah, it's certainly worth checking out if you can pick up the DVD cheap. Another couple older Dourif films worth catching, if not yet seen, are 1989's "Sonny Boy" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100661/) and 1985's "Istanbul" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089355/). Unfortunately, both films are pretty hard to track down, and most probably neither not seen a DVD release as such. Anyway, good to hear from a fellow Dourif fan, and, again, if something pops up about that mental ward flick I'll be sure to send you a message. :)

All the best,
Ryan