Dust Devil

Dust Devil

Ben Mukurob

Joe Niemand

Mark Robinson

Capt. Cornelius Beyman

Saartjie Haarhoff (as Terri Norton)

Cpl. Dutoit

Cpl. Botes

Soldier 1

Soldier 2 (as Phillip Henn)

Marist Monk

Rifle Boy

Camper Driver

Dr. Leidzinger

Farmhand (as Isaac Mavimbella)

Mrs. Beyman

Checkpoint Soldier

Barman

Man in Bar

Tourist Husband

Tourist Wife

Tourist Daughter

Tourist Son

Truck Driver

Transforming Dust Devil in Dream Sequence (uncredited)

Richard Stanley's first cut of the film was 120 minutes long. US distributors Miramax hated it and produced its own 87-minute version without Stanley's permission or cooperation. This cut removed all references to the supernatural and almost completely disposed of the nominal hero's role (played by Zakes Mokae); it was released in the European market, however Stanley has never seen this version. Stanley came to an agreement with the producers over a 95-minute compromise cut. At this point the film's British backers, Palace Pictures, went bust, making it increasingly unlikely that the film would ever see the light of day in a UK cinema. Then after about a year of frantic searching, Stanley discovered that the original negative was being held by PolyGram. He went to the film's original investors, Channel 4 and British Screen Finances, which were naturally keen to see what had happened to their investment. PolyGram was obliged to hand over the negative, which Stanley re-cut to his own specifications, and with his own money.

Originally Stanley had Kerry Fox in mind for the character of Wendy. The film's financiers weren't satisfied with her and the same went for Stanley's second suggestion, Stacey Travis, who starred in Stanley's previous feature, Hardware (1990). The decision to cast Chelsea Field was a last-minute compromise.

Producer JoAnne Sellar got lost in the desert while out scouting for locations.

When Wendy slams on the brakes of her VW Beetle, she doesn't touch the clutch, but the car stops without stalling.

Joe Niemand: There's a whole lot of power in fingers and knots and knuckles and such. If you want to win a war, you gotta have a whole fistful of knuckles!

Dust Devil: There is no good or evil, only spirit and matter. Only movement toward the light - and away from it.

Joe Niemand: The desert knows her name now. He has stolen both her eyes. When she looks into a mirror she will see his spirit, like a shawl, blowing tatters round her shoulders in a haze. And beyond the dim horizon a tapestry unfolding of the avenues of evil. And all of history set ablaze.