Affliction (1997)

6.9R110 minDirector: Paul Schrader

1997 film by Paul Schrader

Affliction is a 1997 American neo-noir crime drama directed and written by Paul Schrader. Based on the 1989 novel by Russell Banks, the film stars Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek, James Coburn, and Willem Dafoe.

Affliction had its world premiere at the 54th Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 1997, and was released in the United States on December 30, 1998, by Lions Gate Films. The film received positive reviews from critics, who mostly lauded the performances of Nolte and Coburn. At the 71st Academy Awards, Nolte was nominated for Best Actor and Coburn won for Best Supporting Actor. It earned six nominations at the 14th Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Affliction about?
Affliction (1997) — Boston University professor Whitehouse tells of the events leading up to the disappearance of his older Wade. The police officer who investigates is deeply troubled, and the murder case drains his mental acuity to the point of a total mental collapse.
Is Affliction based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Affliction scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.