Deathdream

Who else thinks the guy on the cover looks like Chekov from Star Trek? "You've made me plot a course for Starbase Nine and then changed your mind once too often, Captain!"

Apparently, the film was only released in the American south, which may explain why I've never heard of it. Anything that didn't hit the north (meaning New York) was never likely to see the UK light of day. The plot sounded hilarious. Guy comes home dead - strangles the dog so his mum packs him off to a drive-in movie with an old date. With mixed results. As it turned out the film is like one of those bad taste parody sketches. Frequently daft and directorially undistinguished, I rather admire the uncompromising last ten minutes.

The problem is if you are going to rip off 'The Monkey's Paw', it helps if you actually have the paw, or a similar McGuffin. Can be a tin whistle. How about a fluffy toy bunny? Magic spoon (wooden) or even mysterious lawn mower. But mum just muttering to herself just does not cut it. As a recent war in the Middle East will no doubt confirm, just wanting Johnny home, well, let's just say the door bell ain't gonna ring without that McGuffin. I know, how about a hedgehog? Sinister stuffed hedgehog from Bahrain. Well, they might have them. Remember producers: unless you produce the monkey, we won't give a monkey's.

Extras: Astonishingly, the only thing Tom Savani took away from the Vietnam war is the free anatomy lessons. This guiless disinterest in the political is probably why America is still blowing people apart around the globe without bothering to read road signs. At a guess I'd say there are still quite a few Andy's to come.

Director Bob Clark will always hold a special place in every horror film fan's heart thanks to "Black Christmas," a terror filled slasher/suspense flick that puts the viewer on the edge of his or her seat. The movie's downbeat tone, sterile yet highly effective cinematography, fleshed out characters, and numerous twists and turns add up to one heck of a rollercoaster ride. Those horrific phone calls alone are worth the price of admission. Clark could have rested on his laurels with "Black Christmas," no problem, but he pushed forward with an eclectic mix of films that find most fans of his horror films shaking their heads in wonderment. Clark made the phenomenally entertaining "A Christmas Story," the Jean Sheperd adaptation that stands as one of the last successful Christmas films released by Hollywood. He also made an engaging Sherlock Holmes picture, "Murder by Decree," starring the venerable Christopher Plummer as the master sleuth. I could go on and on, citing the infamous "Porky's" and "Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things" as further evidence of this director's versatility. All good things eventually pass, however, and now we see Clark helming dreck like "Baby Geniuses" and its vomit inducing sequel.

We can't forget about "Deathdream," a picture that came out around the same time as "Black Christmas." It's a minor Bob Clark entry but an unforgettable experience. The film opens with Andy Brooks (Richard Backus) receiving what looks to be a fatal wound in Vietnam. Is Andy dead? It doesn't look like it since we see him hitching a ride with a trucker over here in the States shortly thereafter. He's trying to go back to see his family--father Charles (John Marley sans horse head), mother Christine (Lynn Carlin) and sister Cathy (Anya Ormsby)--in an apparent effort to fulfill his loving mother's request to "come back home." But something is dreadfully wrong with Andy Brooks, something the truck driver who picks him up discovers much to his everlasting detriment. Andy's kin are so happy to have him back, especially considering the military had already informed them that he perished in the war, that they don't notice anything wrong with the boy at first. Sure, he's uncommunicative, pale, and has a tendency to sit in a rocking chair for hours in his darkened room, but war does strange things to a man. It's a plausible excuse that masks for a time the bizarre behavior that now characterizes Andy Brooks's thoughts and deeds.

By the time Andy kills the family dog with his bare hands, Charles knows something is seriously wrong. His wife refuses to believe anything negative about her son: her boy came home safe and sound and that's that. Andy's sister Cathy recognizes the warning signs just as her father does, but the fact that her brother has always been her parents' favorite child seriously hampers her ability to do anything about the situation. She does enlist the aid of her boyfriend to bring Andy's girlfriend over to the house, however, hoping that the girl's presence will lift her brother out of his funk. Before that horrific reunion plays out in gory detail, Charles Brooks decides to bring in Doc Allman (Henderson Forsythe) in an effort to discover what's wrong. People can hide a lot of things from their loved ones, very personal things both mental and physical, but it's a whole different story when dealing with a physician who has taken care of you from birth. Doc Allman discovers what's ailing Andy, but he soon wishes he hadn't. By the time the authorities learn what happened to the poor doctor, Andy is heading over to the drive-in with his girlfriend, his sister, and her boyfriend. Alas, our morose soldier is about to have a meltdown in a literal and figurative sense that will claim several lives before the movie screeches to its heartbreaking denouement. "Deathdream" is a wrenching film.

Apparently, Bob Clark had a heckuva time finding a steady distributor for his movie. This thing came out under so many different titles that it's no wonder most people never saw it, or don't remember it if they did. The problem in getting this film out, elaborated on in the extras but apparent while watching the movie, deals with the subject matter: "Deathdream" is a film about the horrors of Vietnam and that war's impact on a typical family, and it came out while the war was still an extremely touchy subject with the American public. People just didn't want to see a horror movie about the conflict a mere year or so after the government yanked combat troops out of South Vietnam. That's unfortunate because "Deathdream" is an amazing film in spite of its relatively low budget. The performances from Backus and Marley are top notch, and Lynn Carlin will tug at your heartstrings as a mother who will go to great lengths to protect her damaged son. That final scene involving the local police, Andy, and Christine Brooks will stay with you long after the credits roll, and not because it's particularly gory. There is bloodshed and lots of shocks, though; enough that it's surprising the film received a 'PG' rating.

Someone at Blue Underground really loves this film as evidenced by the plethora of meaty extras. A commentary track with Clark and one with writer Alan Ormsby, a trailer, an extended opening sequence and alternate ending, an enlightening interview with special effect's guru Tom Savini, and a talk with Richard Backus provide more than enough information on all aspects of the film's creation and distribution difficulties. "Deathdream" may well rank as one of the best films you've never heard about, and you'll want to see it if you're jonesing for offbeat '70s horror flicks.

Yes, as you have already figured out this is a pretty campy, cheesy movie, but it is a very good represenative of how things were going for us at that time. I have am added fondness, as this was filmed just a block from my home. It disrupted the entire neighborhood for several months and the uproar when "outsiders" found out it was a horror movie was so funny. Some of us were background "extras" and had quite a blast. The house has finally gone up for sale after the last of the original family has gotten on in years and the younger generation doesn't want something so large, so if you're interested, and have a spare $419,000.00 you might want to look this one up. Coldwell Banker has the listing in Brooksville, Florida.

I'm sure you've already read some reviews on this movie's plot so let me just cut to what I really wanted to say.
After reading so many good reviews on this movie, from Amazon and else where, I deceided to give it a shot. When I was reading all these pretty decent reviews almost every one said that this movie has virtually no gore. When I sat down to watch this, I started to think that this no gore effect would let me down, I mean it has a PG rating. Anyway I was surprised at how entertaining this movie is.
No, it's not gory at all (with the exception of one scene with very cheesy blood). But anyways this movie really doesn't need it. It really keeps you interested and I think that is one of the most important things to look for in a film. Also, the plot is pretty good as well.
Also, the movie achieves three or four "surprise" scares that make you jump.
The acting is decent as too. About your average for a horror. The ending isn't really anything surprising, but still good.
So, a pretty interesting little movie. Check it out if you're into good horror/exploitation.

The reputation of this semi-legendary, rarely seen(until now) horror film suggests that it's much better than it actually is. Don't get me wrong: this isn't a bad movie. John Marley and Richard Backus both give strong performances and the script is scathingly critical of the Vietnam War, but "Deathdream" moves at a snail's pace. I found myself yawning about halfway through, and when things finally started to pick up it was just too late to redeem the film(for me, anyway). You expect this kind of pacing from 1930s and '40s films--not from something made in 1974.
The last fifteen or twenty minutes of "Deathdream" are compelling; the movie ends with a much-needed bang. What disappointed me the most, I suppose, was that I was expecting a lot of creepy atmosphere from this film, and it just didn't deliver on that count. Bottom line: interesting, but not great. Kudos to Alan Ormsby and Tom Savini for Backus's wonderful zombie makeup.