Midnight Fear

One of my favourite films. Not fast-moving or action-packed; just the opposite, which gives it the effect it means to portray - an eerie suspense-thriller, with the atmosphere heightened by Beethoven's soothing-but-sad Moonlight Sonata - a beautiful piece of music, which drew me to the film initially. It has a good story with little sub-stories going on, and a melancholy edge.

David Carradine's performance as a drunk cop adds almost a hint of humour. He plays the part well, and is complemented by very competent performances by the other actors/actresses. The odd mixture of characters adds intrigue, and the remote setting adds a sense of peace and tranquility - soon to be disturbed!

All in all a very watchable movie.

MIDNIGHT FEAR is a virtually forgotten, low budget serial killer movie. It starts out as predictably as you'd expect, with boozy cop David Carradine investigating a particularly vicious murder (the victim was skinned) before turning into something different...and rather unique.

After the first half hour, the narrative becomes a set-piece centred around a remote farmhouse and the suspicious characters who inhabit it. The plot seems fairly straightforward, almost a slasher movie with a few brief snippets of unpleasant gore, but then it throws in a twist straight out of left field which had me reeling. What a surprise! What quality writing!

Yeah, I'm not going to get too carried away here, but MIDNIGHT FEAR is a lovely little surprise for fans of the genre: a tense, tightly-plotted little movie with an intriguing script, good acting, and an extremely downbeat climax. Apart from Carradine, we get fun performances from the likes of Craig Wasson (BODY DOUBLE) - who relishes his bad guy role - and twitchy, crazed Page Fletcher, giving the best acting job as the former asylum inmate. Altogether I found it to be a little gem of a film, so why not see what you think?

When your main actor, David Carradine is hardly in it, and one of your other characters is so annoying you want to kill them yourselves you are in big trouble. Carradine plays Detective Hanley, an alcoholic officer who gets demoted after annoying his bosses with his attitude.

Whilst this is happening a woman has been murdered and the "culprits" arrive at the house where a Jenny (August West) is looking after it for a friend. She's there with David, such an annoying character you're begging for him to leave.

The two "murderers" are Paul and his mute brother John, the more the film passes the more sympathy you have with John.

There are a few surprises along the way but the main feeling is disappointment, it's just a bit boring.

I really enjoyed this dark and brooding psychological whodunnit. A woman is murdered in a most unpleasant way. She has her foot severed at the ankle. She is then skinned alive. When she is finally dead the killer decides now would be the best time for some sex... Yuck! On the scene of the crime is Detective Hanley (Carradine) who, having seen more than his fair share of depravity, chooses alcohol as his work partner of choice. Meanwhile, across on the other side of the town, a couple of men have turned up at a farm looking for a telephone as their car has broken down. At the stables, they find Jenny (West), who is house and horse sitting for her friend while she and her brother go on spring break. There's something not quite right about these brothers, Paul (Wasson) and John (Fletcher)...

It's at this point that the story starts to get good and twisty. The trouble is that the writers and director go a little heavy-handedly about dropping hints as to the twists in the story. I have to admit this was the only off-putting thing in the film for me. Apart from these little bits, the story is strong and well structured. But the best thing about it is the ending, which is brilliant, and probably one of the truest endings on film - as well as the most ironic.

The acting is above average and I found all the characters to be realistic and believable... except for one scene towards the climax of the film. This had John and Jenny playing out a scene. It's Jenny's behaviour, at this point that really angered me. The character that we've seen, up to this point, wouldn't do, act, or say the things she does in this scene. I know that's vague but I don't want to spoil the film for anyone. And besides, this is only a slight annoyance and shouldn't stop anyone from watching this film. But when you get to this scene and you'll know and be ready for it. I think this flick also shows how underrated David Carradine was as an actor. He really does get the alcoholic detective fighting the monkey on his back down pat. It's not Oscar material, but it is good.

And I have to give respect to Bill Crain who was great at using light to create atmosphere and tension... some of it is pretty striking while others are quite subtle. Take the climax around the pool, very artistic. I also loved how he ceased all sound when you were looking out of John's eyes as he was a deaf-mute. This added a different perspective, even if it was just a few seconds at a time. There are some really nice camera shots too. The climax in the bedroom is especially beautiful and sad, as well as being beautifully lit.

Though this isn't the greatest film ever made it does have a lot going for it. It's one film that I wouldn't mind watching again... maybe, even a few times. I would say to all psychological thriller lovers, murder mystery fans, armchair detectives, and whodunnit pundits give this one a go - it's worth it.

This creepy little movie creeps along at a snails pace, to a ridiculous and extremely contrived ending, that won't hold up to even a cursory scan for logic. The plot, such as it is, tries to be clever, but is such a stretch that you will be shaking your head at the stupidity on display. David Carradine is totally wasted as a one dimensional drunken detective character that you've already seen a million times in far better films. With most of the killings off screen, and endless boring small talk, the most interesting aspect of "Midnight Fear" turns out to be a mute, and watching Carradine light his cigarettes. Not recommended, even for David Carradine fans. - MERK