1 / 8
ERA
Did you know
27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Shades
"A frantic film within a film."
1999 1h 36m EN
😐
6.0
MID
★6.0TMDB · 8
Drama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
In this film within a film, a Belgian serial killer escapes prison and finds that a filmmaker is making a movie about his life. A maverick director, a merciless producer, an insubordinate star, and a conviced serial killer all try to survive the deadliest place on Earth: a movie set.
“A frantic film within a film.”
Cast
Mickey Rourke
Paul S. Sullivan
Gene Bervoets
Max Vogel
Andrew Howard
Dylan Cole
Mireille Leveque
Michelle Miller
Jan Decleir
Freddy Lebecq
Mike Verdrengh
Harry Koning
Hilde Van Mieghem
Cathy
Tom van Bauwel
Mark Vandenbroeck
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Erik Van Looy
- Writers
- Paul Breuls, Erik Van Looy
- Languages
- Dutch, English
- Countries
- Belgium
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Dutch, English.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Erik Van Looy, shot by Danny Hiele. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Philippe Ravoet shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Mickey Rourke and Gene Bervoets and Andrew Howard carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "A frantic film within a film.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0139606 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Erik Van Looy directs. Danny Hiele behind the camera. Philippe Ravoet cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Belgium. Dialogue in Dutch, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 127 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Dutch, English.
- 3Directed by Erik Van Looy, shot by Danny Hiele. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Editor Philippe Ravoet shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Mickey Rourke and Gene Bervoets and Andrew Howard carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "A frantic film within a film.".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0139606 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Only 8 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Danny Hiele
- Editing
- Philippe Ravoet
- Production design
- Ludo Volders
- Costume design
- Tine Claeys
- Makeup / hair
- Eddy van den Abbeele
- Runtime
- 96 min · 1h 36m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- IMDB
- Shades (1999)
Also by
Erik Van Looy
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Multicom Entertainment Group
US
Key crew
- ProducerGuy Lee Thys
- ProducerPaul Breuls
- Makeup ArtistEddy van den Abbeele
- Executive ProducerGregory Cascante
- NovelGuy Lee Thys
- CastingSara De Vries-Vinck
- Costume DesignTine Claeys
- Sound EditorPeter Flamman
- CastingKris Vinck
- Production DesignLudo Volders
- SoundLeo Franssen
- Production DesignJohan van Essche
- SoundSophie Determeyer
- Co-ProducerCatherine Vandeleene
- EditorPhilippe Ravoet
- Sound EditorWart Wamsteker
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1999-10-19
Also known as
International titles
- SombrasCL
