Why a 1996 horror film about a cursed lawyer struggled to find its footing
In short: Based on a Stephen King novel written under a pseudonym, Thinner tells the story of an obese lawyer cursed to waste away after a hit-and-run. Despite high hopes from producers and impressive prosthetic effects, the film faced years of studio delays and ultimately landed with a thud among critics.
The production of Thinner, directed by Tom Holland and released in 1996, was a long, arduous journey. Producer Richard P. Rubinstein acquired the rights in 1988, but the project languished in development hell at Warner Bros. Pictures for years. Studio executives were reportedly hesitant to greenlight the film, citing concerns over budget, the feasibility of the required makeup effects, and fears that the protagonist's rapid weight loss would be perceived as insensitive given the ongoing AIDS epidemic. These delays were so significant that the core creative team, including King, Holland, and Rubinstein, worked on The Langoliers while waiting for the project to move to Paramount Pictures.
Central to the film's identity were the complex makeup effects created by Greg Cannom. To transform actor Robert John Burke into the obese Billy Halleck, the team constructed elaborate fatsuits and latex facial pieces, even rigging silicone breast implants for a shower scene. These efforts were arguably the film's most successful element, earning a Saturn Award for Best Makeup. However, critics remained largely unimpressed by the final product. With a 19% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers frequently described the film as bland, poorly paced, and lacking in moral depth, despite the potential for a compelling examination of a lawyer avoiding responsibility.
The narrative follows Halleck, an upper-class lawyer who uses his connections to escape justice after killing a Romani woman. When the victim's father, Tadzu Lempke, curses him, Halleck begins to lose weight uncontrollably. The film descends into a dark, vengeful spiral as Halleck enlists a mob boss to terrorize the Romani camp, eventually leading to a grim conclusion involving a cursed pie. While some reviewers, such as Lawrence Van Gelder, praised the acting and production values, others like Nathan Rabin criticized the fatsuit as unconvincing and the tone as broadly comic, ultimately viewing the adaptation as a pedestrian translation of King's work.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Thinner (film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-thinner-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
