Deathdream (1974)
AKA: Dead of Night
Directed by: Bob Clark
Starring: Richard Backus (Andy), John Marley (Dad), Lynn Carlin (Mom), Anya Ormsby (Cathy), Henderson Forsythe (Doc), Jane Daly (Joanne)
Country: USA; Effed Up American Films
Language: English (Optional Eng Subs)
Runtime: 01:28:25
Genres: Family, Vampires, Military, Killing of an animal
Plot – Spoilers:
During the Vietnam war, an American, Andy, is shot dead, but his mother obsessively holding him to his promise that he’d return home forces him to come back to her. Fortunately as some sort of a vampire who needs to shoot blood from his victims to look and feel alright. Andy’s obvious strangeness after he returns home is papered over by everyone because they take cues from Mom, who’s blindly obsessed with her son and doesn’t give a shit about the wellbeing of her husband or daughter (who anyway in her view, was always closer to Dad). Deaths ensue.
Deathdream probably inspired Fred Vogel’s Sella Turcica and was originally released as Dead of Night. There are several of the typical ’70s character asides that are often so charming, but sadly not explored enough here. Like a cop who fiddles around with a freshly murdered body and then rubs his nose or a stuttering man whose wife often cuts him short and speaks for him.
A fun, campy, 70ish movie.
There are so many cool 70’s cult movies out there. This is one of them.
I’m a little surprised that “Flesh for Frankenstein” and “Blood for Dracula” isn’t uploaded here yet.
They are effed up for sure and they have Udo Kier in the leading roles. Has to be his top performances. 🙂
The first thing you’ll notice is that the horse’s head guy (John Marley) from “The Godfather” (1972) is the dad. He even looks like he is wearing the same pajamas when Andy comes home. The second thing some may notice is that mom (Lynn Carlin) was the one who gave us that epic performance in “The Morning After” (1974) when she played the exasperated wife of an abusive alcoholic expertly played by Dick Van Dyke. A lot of the actor/actresses look like people that were in episodes of “Columbo,” “The Night Stalker,” “The Rockford Files” or maybe “The Love Boat.” The character in “Sella Turcica” (2010) looks like it was a direct rip off of that creeped out freak Andy. “Deathdream” (1974) is a good, fun watch and I really like it. 4 stars. If you don’t like my reviews you don’t have to read them but you will anyway.
by the same guy who did black xmas – both worth watching
admin should check out | killing God | movie, an amazing classic ,, and maybe | An american hippie in isreal | a good watch