Dead of Night – 1974
aka Deathdream
Director
Bob Clark

Writer
Alan Ormsby

Cast John Marley, Lynn Carlin , Richard Backus

Review by Wayne Malin

Interesting but overrated,

Andy (Richard Backus) is reported killed in Vietnam to his parents (John Marley, Lynn Carlin). His mother refuses to believe he’s dead and prays for him to come back. He does–but he’s not the same. He’s unemotional and has a craving for blood…

Good movie but not the cult classic it’s called. It’s also not exactly a horror film–it’s about a family being torn apart about something that happened to their son over in Vietnam. The film isn’t really political as some people say. The script is good and the acting superb–Marley and Carlin are right on target and Backus is incredible–he shows no emotion but you see his rage through his eyes–some shots really scared the hell out of me!

It’s a quiet, somber film. There’s next to no blood and gore–in fact, the film originally had a PG rating! (The R it has now is ridiculous). The low budget shows (even in Blue Underground’s DVD) and I found the film a little too slow. But it does work on you–and there are some VERY unsettling moments that sort of creep up on you. The ending packs a punch.

It’s good–but no classic. I give it a 7.