The Prowler (1981)

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

"The Prowler" has all the 80s slasher narrative clichés. There's the lackluster love interest, there are the mindless teenagers, the horny exhibitionist girls, and the contrived killings which exist only to showcase the use of a particular weapon. It might for this reason seem like a film to pass over as yet one more negligible film in the pile of giant refuse that is the slasher film catalog. And I wouldn't blame you for feeling that way. All that "The Prowler" has going for it, all that is distinguishable, by most reviewers' estimations, is its ultra-realistic gore effects by the legendary Tom Savini. In fact, Quentin Tarantino himself theorizes that someone had to have gotten a blowjob in order for this film to get released. He's not far off. One can easily imagine not only the producers but the director and the crew themselves utterly shocked by the realism of the carnage. Had the acting and script been worthy of them, the effects might have propelled "The Prowler" into notoriety as one of the more legitimately frightening films in the slasher film catalog. Even the cinematography itself is surprisingly good and goes a long way at evoking the right mood. The technical aspects are therefore covered. However, in the areas where it matters most, "The Prowler" is ultimately a let-down. The characters are wooden and act in one-dimensional ways. The actors themselves seem eager not to play their characters but to await the box office returns. For this reason, it stands out merely as a curiosity and a testament to Tom Savini's abilities, far ahead of their time as they were.

The prowler to me might be the second best slasher film of the early 80s with The Burning #1 either way all the gore effects r done by the best man in the business Mr. Savini.. Tom Savini for president!!! Why can't they make slasher movies like this anymore instead of using all that CGI crap that ruins the movie.. They need to go back to the making it look real like Savini does in all of his movies.. The Prowler might not have as many kills in it then the Friday the 13ths but it's 100 times better in the Gore dept. then any Friday the 13th ever made!! For anybody who hasn't seen this movie I difently recommend it then You'll find out its a way better slasher movie then Friday the 13th..

This 1981 horror film stars Vicky Dawson, Christopher Goutman and Farley Granger. This begins in the 1940's during World War II where a young woman, Rosemary has just written an upsetting letter to her lover ending their relationship. Soon, she and her date are killed by him at a graduation dance. Thirty years later, the same killer wears a war outfit while hunting a group of college friends at a graduation dance. Dawson plays Pam MacDonald, Goutman plays her boyfriend, Mark London who is a Deputy Sheriff and Granger (Strangers on a Train) plays Sheriff, George Fraser. This isn't bad and Tom Savini's make-up effects are great as usual. If you like horror/slasher films, you should view this one.

What can be said that already hasn't been said about "The Prowler"? Highly praised and widely regarded as one of the better slasher films of the 1980's, this movie has everything a fan of the genre could crave, and more. Focusing more on suspense and tense, dark atmosphere than "scares", "The Prowler" almost has the feel of a giallo at times, but never strays from the tried and true American slasher formula. The kills are especially gory, creative and outstanding, which is no surprise since Tom Savini is behind the effects in them. The team of Joseph Zito and Savini would of course soon after work together on Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter, in my opinion the best in the series.Although often rightfully compared plot wise to "My Bloody Valentine" (another magnificent slasher), this film provides a lot more backstory and "flavor" to the killer. Little humor is present in this one, as the stalking of the victims and the uncovering of the mysterious killer are the main focus. This is not for fans of over the top cheese or "torture porn" garbage, this is for someone who can appreciate suspense and story.I can not stress enough the dark atmosphere that "The Prowler" creates. To me, this movie embodies "stalk and slash", in a way that is without pretension and without any try hard tactics. This is horror at it's finest. In my book this one is a must see, the pool scene alone will make any slasher junkie want to burst out in applause.