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Raising Cain

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Raising Cain

R

1992

1h 35m

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A highly regarded child psychologist, Dr. Carter Nix (John Lithgow) has shown signs of being unstable, but he completely snaps when he discovers that his wife, Jenny (Lolita Davidovich), is having an affair. Nix's mental breakdown leads to the emergence of various other personalities, including a ruthless thug and a scared little boy. Nix's descent into madness involves murder, revenge and even the abduction of his own daughter, resulting in a suspenseful web of intrigue.

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Critics Consensus

Raising Cain doesn't rank with Brian De Palma's best work, but John Lithgow's spellbinding split-personality performance makes this thriller hard to dismiss.

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Mark Salisbury

Empire Magazine

De Palma blurs the line between fantasy and reality with gleeful affrontery, creating a dazzling tapestry of visual cheats and narrative trickery which propels his scarcely credible characters and ludicrous plot through to its nervy conclusion.

Oct 8, 2018

Full Review

Peter Sobczynski

RogerEbert.com

"Raising Cain" is one for the books-a thrilling, funny, exciting and creepy exercise in suspense and humor from a master filmmaker firing on all cylinders.

Oct 8, 2018

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Movies don't get much more De Palma than 'Raising Cain,' and in its new and improved form, it can finally get the praise it deserves.

Aug 6, 2017

Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Splice Today

The incoherence of the script is a liberation, as the characters wander around like lightly-stunned mannequins in some dream ballet.

Apr 22, 2025

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

One of De Palma’s baroque exercises in Hitchcockian suspense...

Aug 23, 2024

Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Sensual and dizzying, Raising Cain probably could only have been brought off by Brian DePalma. This is fiery, disreputable commercial filmmaking that satirizes a lot of serious issues, and it does so gleefully.

May 9, 2023

Full Review

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Olivia J

Sensual and dizzying, Raising Cain probably could only have been brought off by Brian DePalma. This is fiery, disreputable commercial filmmaking that satirizes a lot of serious issues, and it does so gleefully.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

Full Review

Piya S

Underrated film with great performances

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/17/25

Full Review

Yossam I

Lythgow truly shines in this dark eerie role

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/02/25

Full Review

Dana B

Lithgow performance is outstanding in this

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/04/25

Full Review

Alec B

Plays out like a trashy airport paperback but that isn't a bad thing. The new cut of the movie, where you see De Palma's original idea, plays out in a way more entertaining fashion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

matthias s

"Raising Cain" is a rollercoaster of a film that leaves you torn between applause and frustration. As a classic Brian De Palma creation, the camerawork is nothing short of excellent. John Lithgow's performance is always a delight, showcasing his remarkable versatility. But here's the twist – I wish it were darker and eerier. Instead, it often stumbles into confusion, leaving you to connect the dots in a perplexing maze. The soundtrack, while fantastic, isn't enough to rescue it from predictability and clichés. At times, it feels like a parody of itself, losing the grip on its potential for genuine suspense. In the end, "Raising Cain" is a likeable mess, where moments of brilliance clash with moments of perplexity. You may enjoy it if you're in the mood for a quirky ride, but be prepared for a story that veers off into strange territory, leaving you both entertained and perplexed.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

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Brian De Palma

Director

John Lithgow

Carter

Lolita Davidovich

Jenny

Steven Bauer

Jack Dante

Frances Sternhagen

Dr. Lynn Waldheim

Gregg Henry

Lt. Terri

Raising Cain: Official Clip - The Baby Thief

2:29

Raising Cain: Official Clip - A Dream of Death

2:19

Raising Cain: Official Clip - Framed for Murder

1:18

Raising Cain: Official Clip - Margo the Nanny

2:06

Raising Cain: Official Clip - Josh the Child

2:55

Raising Cain: Official Clip - Caught by His Wife

1:55

Raising Cain: Official Clip - Daddy's Here

1:49

Raising Cain: Official Clip - Drowned in a Lake

2:03

Raising Cain: Official Clip - Confronting Carter

2:23

Raising Cain: Official Clip - Kidnapping Children

2:53

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Synopsis

A highly regarded child psychologist, Dr. Carter Nix (John Lithgow) has shown signs of being unstable, but he completely snaps when he discovers that his wife, Jenny (Lolita Davidovich), is having an affair. Nix's mental breakdown leads to the emergence of various other personalities, including a ruthless thug and a scared little boy. Nix's descent into madness involves murder, revenge and even the abduction of his own daughter, resulting in a suspenseful web of intrigue.

Director: Brian De Palma
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd
Screenwriter: Brian De Palma
Production Co: Pacific Western
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.5M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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