As the horror genre gave way from creatures to masked murderers
stalking their prey theaters were inundated with various interpretations of
this style of killer. By 1990 camp counselors were not being attacked as often,
dreams were being invaded less often and the giallo was for the most part
considered old hat. But a few films were still being made that would play in
grindhouses and fill the shelves of the video stores that remained. Among them
was NIGHT KILLER.
At a rehearsal for a group of dancers a masked stranger murders
one of the girls involved, shoving a pointy fingered gloved hand through her
abdomen. When her instructor goes to check on her she too is attacked. These
are just the first victims of this odd killer.
Another potential victim is Melanie Beck (Tara Buckman), working
at home after she sends her daughter to school. Beck survives the attack on the
physical end but not the psychological. A single mother whose husband hasn’t
been seen since their divorce, her daughter goes with friends to be taken care
of while she recuperates.
Instead she gets more depressed and wanders alone to the beach
where she attempts to kill herself with pills. She’s saved by a man whose been
stalking her named Axel (Peter Hooten) who takes her to his hotel room. While
watching you’re not quite sure whether she’s stepped out of the frying pan and
into the fire or if he could be her last hope. Could this stalker be the
killer?
More murders take place and the list of suspects is present for
almost everyone but Beck. Thrown into massive shock by the attack she can’t
recall anything that took place. With no suspect, no description and no clues
the police don’t have much to go on. But Axel pushes Beck in an attempt to
force her to remember. Will she do so? Will she be able to identify the killer
or will he return to finish the job?
While the movie is entertaining in the right places and stupid in
others if you don’t see what’s coming before the end then you’ve not seen many
movies like this. Still, it does provide some decent acting, some terrible
acting and is well crafted when it comes to the making of the film. The mask
and glove may remind you of someone else (cough cough FREDDY cough cough), they
don’t do that character justice but still come off okay.
My biggest thought while watching the film was what ever became of
Peter Hooten? This was the first person to portray Dr. Strange in a TV movie,
made ORCA with Richard Harris and Bo Derek and was in the original INGLORIOUS
BASTARDS. He seems to have disappeared though.
Severin has brought the film back and as with many of their
releases has strived to make it look as presentable as possible, doing their
usual excellent job with a version scanned in 4k from the original negative.
Few extras are on hand but most likely due to the lack of items made when the
film was released. What we do have is The Virginia Claw Massacre an interview with director Claudio Fargasso,
Mindf**k an interview with screenwriter Rossella
Drudi and the trailer for the film.
Horror fans will want to add this to their growing collections
already fueled by previous films Severin has released. Movie fans will want to
give it a watch since it does a decent job of offering a solid horror film.
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