Midnight (1982)

Very well executed

People are voting emotionally.

Load of rubbish!!

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

A teenage girl runs away from home, and with good reason. Her overweight, alcoholic policeman step dad tried to rape her, and he's played by Noir legend Lawrence Tierney, ten years shy from his revamp in Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS.She hitches a ride with two dudes in a van that eventually veers off on a back road – and like any low-budget horror film, this is a very bad mistake for the characters, but heaven to the viewer.Eventually our heroine faces a psychotic hillbilly clan ala Texas CHAINSAW MASSACRE. Plenty of violent, gory murders served up by makeup guru Tom Savini creates an eerily hellish daytime nightmare – ultimately peaking with a satanic ritual at, you got it, midnight.Despite the anemic budget; and with the exception of Tierney and horror icon John Amplas (along with his psycho siblings), there are a few meager performances, but no matter: Here's an exploitation that entertains from the bloody beginning to the bloody end.For More Reviews: http://cultfilmfreakreviews.blogspot.com/

Midnight was released in 1982, but it's every bit a seventies style backwoods exploitation flick; and while the movie does feature a whole host of problems; it makes for extremely fun viewing and the way that the plot moves ensures that the film never becomes boring. I'm a big fan of films like this because you can never really tell what's coming; and while the plot of this film doesn't make logical progressions, it certainly does manage to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The central plot focuses on a young girl named Nancy Johnson. Nancy has a 'bad experience' with her stepfather - one that involves him groping her and her resisting his advances. She decides to flee her family home and hits the road where, after coming across one driver who wants to book a motel with her, she comes across two young lads in a van. They give her lift and convince her to travel with them to Florida; but after a run in with the law, the trio find themselves out in the woods, where it just so happens that some murders have been committed...The film is directed by John A. Russo; the man behind a handful of trashy exploitation flicks, as well as a writing credit for classic horror Night of the Living Dead. His writing and direction on this film is not brilliant; but he does manage to pack a lot of different story elements into the film and he has succeeded in making it entertaining; and you cant ask for much more than that from an eighties exploitation flick. It's clear that the director didn't have much of a budget to work with; and the film does look very cheap, although this is repaid by a grubby and fetid atmosphere which really does the film a lot of favours. Midnight is thoroughly unpleasant throughout (the soundtrack being the only exception!) and there's not one innocent character in it, which adds to the unpleasantness. The cast is nothing to write home about; although cult cinema fans will no doubt recognise Lawrence Tierney as the amorous step dad. Overall, this film falls somewhat short of being a must see; but it makes for a good watch and is a hell of a lot better than it's reputation suggests! Recommended.

How they got Lawrence Tierney (well-known 1950s film noir thug and later Quentin Tarentino's main man in RESERVOIR DOGS) to play a central role in this little sickie is a wonder. Fans of 70s/80s horror cheese (and students of Ed Gein cinema) are advised that this is one of the good ones: The claustrophobic atmosphere, shockingly cruel and sudden amounts of shock and not-quite-gore, and low budget yet creative mise en scene put this one up there with the LAST HOUSE and Texas CHAINSAW. While I'm plugging indie shockers of this type, I ought to mention DERANGED. MIDNIGHT and DERANGED would make a great double bill. You'd really need a shower afterwards.

A teenage girl runs away from home after her drunken cop step dad tries to take advantage of her. She hooks up with two average Joes who are on their way to Florida in a van. They pass through a backwards hick community, rob a grocery store, hide out along a two-track, and find themselves up against a family of Satan worshippers, who have been killing off some of the townspeople. A pretty good horror film, brimming with creepy atmosphere and some unexpected shocks. The acting is sometimes a little over-done, but it doesn't ruin anything. The tight pace keeps things moving along fine and a few unexpected twists keeps things interesting. The setting gives the film a dreary, doomed feeling, which goes fine with the storyline. The last 20 minutes are pretty grisly. This is another film House Of 1000 Corpses obviously pays homage to, with that Easter-loving, devil-worshipping, trap them and kill them theme. Over-looked and forgotten, but definitely worth a look if you love the drive-in horrors of yesteryear. Three Stars.