Review of Dead of Night (1974) by Danny R — 24 Jul 2011

A creepy, effective and genuinely disturbing Canadian low-budget horror cult-classic, well-directed by the late Bob Clark. It concerns young Andy Brooks, intensely played by Richard Backus in a brilliant debut performance, whose simple blank stare at you could make your hair stand on end, he is a American soldier who was thought to have been killed in the of duty in Vietnam, his parents and sister even received a hand-delivered telegram from the Army to that fact, overcome by grief the family tries to go sleep, but later that night strange noises lead the family downstairs to see Andy standing silently in a dark corner of a room.

suddenly despair turns into to joy, the father who is played superly by John Marley, informs his son that the Army had said he had been killed, "that my son was dead," Andy looks at his father and replies "I was!" Taking his answer as a joke they all have a big laugh, the family is just so overjoyed to have him back home, but not for long their joy turns into apprehension as they become aware that Andy is not the same, in fact he is a virtual stranger, who is completely emotionless, and does not eat, hardly talks, and his answers to questions are quick and short, he seems to be totally devoid of all humanity, but things really take a turn for the worse when some locals turn up brutally murdered and missing blood, because of his inhuman condition Andy must have blood in order to survive, for he is a Zombie vampire who cannot control his bloodlust.

Special kudos must go to Lynn Carlin for her heartbreaking performance as Andy's devoted mother, who is in total denial of her son's monstrous state and horrific deeds, she is completely blinded by her love for him.

A vastly underrated film that is atmospheric and gripping. Highly Recommended.