The Hand (1981)

14% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
27% of users liked it
(1,723 ratings)

Oliver Stone's first directorial effort for a major studio (and his second horror film after the 1974 Seizure) came shortly after the phenomenal success of Midnight Express, which was based on Stone's Oscar-winning screenplay. The director turned to Mark Brandel's obscure thriller "The Lizard's… More Oliver Stone's first directorial effort for a major studio (and his second horror film after the 1974 Seizure) came shortly after the phenomenal success of Midnight Express, which was based on Stone's Oscar-winning screenplay. The director turned to Mark Brandel's obscure thriller "The Lizard's Tail" as source material for what is essentially a silly psychosexual variant on low-budget horror films like The Crawling Hand. The title appendage belongs (for a while, anyway) to smug, conceited artist Joe Lansdale (Michael Caine), who owes his success to a popular comic strip featuring a macho, Conan-type hero. After Lansdale's drawing hand is sheared off in a grisly car accident, his career, dignity, self-control and even his sanity soon begin to abandon him as well. His tenuous relationship with his wife Anne (Andrea Marcovicci) falls apart as she takes steps to improve her own self-worth -- something she had never had the strength to do before the accident. Bitter and paranoid, Joe begins to lash out in anger at everyone around him ... and becomes convinced that his severed hand has come back, wandering in fields and dark alleys and squeezing the life out of everyone it comes in contact with. The question of whether the hand is real or merely a manifestation of Lansdale's rage is never answered, even in the film's "shock" coda. At any rate, it's impossible to take the film seriously -- the crawling-hand effects are laughably shoddy for a major studio production, reflecting none of the skills of effects wizard Carlo Rambaldi, and Caine's sweaty, pop-eyed histrionics are too goofy to be convincing. On the plus side, James Horner's score is remarkably chilling, contributing a great deal to a few effective suspense scenes -- but it belongs in a better film than this. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Oliver Stone
Written By: Oliver Stone
Genres: Drama, Horror

In Theaters: Apr 24, 1981 Wide
On DVD: Sep 25, 2007

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Mr. Stone's screenplay is tightly written, precise and consistent in its methods, and seemingly perfectly realized in the performances of the very good cast headed by Mr. Caine.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Inescapably cheesy.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Stupid horror film that's even more pointless in its anger than Stone's 'serious' work.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

An awesome horror movie starring Michael Caine, who's not usually in horror movies, but he is a great actor and he's great in this movie. The story may seem silly or predictable, but it can surprise you. I really liked this movie.
Lafe F

Dated, dull, silly and not scary. No gore is shown when Michael Caine's hand is severed. A silly concept. The story takes a few turns, which almost saves it.
Dr Blood

Michael Caine does a great job... let's give him a big hand... ooops!
Danny R

A fascinating horror film of usual psychological intelligent that is really a unique character study, about a gifted cartoonist who's life comes apart when his hand is severed in a freak car accident, he slowly and painfully tries to adjust but his self-centered wife, played by… More
A fascinating horror film of usual psychological intelligent that is really a unique character study, about a gifted cartoonist who's life comes apart when his hand is severed in a freak car accident, he slowly and painfully tries to adjust but his self-centered wife, played by Andrea Marcovicci in superlative performance, has been having a affair with her yoga instructor and wants to leave him and take away his young daughter pushing him over the edge, his disembodied hand seems to come to life on its own and begins committing atrocious murders, killing anyone who angers him. Sir Michael Caine's vivid central performance is a rare treat in terror, portraying his character's ever growing mania perfectly leaving the viewer wondering if what's going on, is all in Caine's character's mind or that it is indeed real. Astute direction by Oliver Stone who also wrote the sharp screenplay. Stone has a amusing unbilled cameo as a ill-fated tramp who is killed by the hand. A well-made and entertaining chiller. Highly Recommended.
Brian R

Oliver Stone's "The Hand" is his second attempt at the horror genre after his 1974 independent picture "Seizure" and sadly "The Hand" doesn't really take off but feels more slow and well unscary. I don't think this is Stone's fault… More
Oliver Stone's "The Hand" is his second attempt at the horror genre after his 1974 independent picture "Seizure" and sadly "The Hand" doesn't really take off but feels more slow and well unscary. I don't think this is Stone's fault since this was his first picture for a major studio (who wouldn't be scared directing for the first time for the majors? I would.) Stone had a lot of quarreling going on set, Producers wanted to see more of the Hand, CGI effects were still somewhat basic and still under development, a lot of the cast declined for the main roles (until Caine stepped up), and I think the screenplay was still in dire need of tuning. Imo "The Hand" is alright but it could have been a little better. I don't think it's a terrible film as a lot of people say (Alexander is more terrible then this) but I feel Stone was afraid to go all out and worked with the wrong film crew. Stone wouldn't direct another picture for another five years but that's alright, Stone was just getting warmed up and would later go one of America's best filmmakers of the eighties. P.S. - Stone's commentary on "The Hand" is excellent. I felt I got a good understanding with the ups and downs of this film and his early career as a filmmaker.
Leo L

Great movie! This is among one of my favorite horror films of all times. A severed hand possessed by dark forces. Interesting, even for Michael Caine.