The story loosely follows a wildlife preservationist whose family comes to visit him and is attacked in their home by the animals. Most of the film has the cast running and hiding in fear as they narrowly escape the all too real danger. Dozens of scenes show full grown lions chasing the actors, pawing at their faces and even wrestling them to the ground.

A scene from ‘Roar,’ with actor John Marshall surrounded by lions. (Credit: Drafthouse Films/Olive Films via AP)

While the exact number of on-set injuries remains a point of contention, the Roar shoot was an OSHA nightmare. Many wounds were well-documented in press coverage at the time and also in Hedren’s 1985 book The Cats of Shambala, referring to her Shambala Preserve north of Los Angeles, where Roar was filmed.

Marshall, who wrote, directed and starred in the film, suffered so many bites, including a few that made the final cut, that he was eventually stricken with gangrene. And Dutch cinematographer Jan de Bont, in his first U.S. shoot, required 120 stitches after being scalped by a lion.

It was a very traumatic bite. But I went back two days later,” he said.

Melanie Griffith, front, and Tippi Hedren in a scene from ‘Roar.’