Memorable, crazy movie

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Roger Ebert called the film "a scummy little sewer of a movie" and that will either prompt you to stay away or will do the exact polar opposite. I love the cheap 80s Golan/Globus Cannon films and this one is probably their best Bronson vehicle, which is plot-wise boils down to being Dirty Harry versus Ted Bundy. Bronson is a cop who plays by his own rules and is partnered with straight laced Andrew Stevens. Both are on the trail of serial killer Gene Davis, who gets naked before he killing his female victims, but he's not getting naked for kinky reasons. He does it so as not to leave behind any evidence (these were the days before DNA evidence). Given that set-up, you can imaging this is a pretty lurid and kinky of crime picture, which includes one scene where Bronson interrogating Davis pulls out a sex toy confiscated from his apartment and states, "You know what this is for, Warren? It's for JACKING OFF!" Yes, this is that kind of a movie. Bronson's character is so tough he doesn't even know what quiche is:Laurie Kessler: That's some lunch, Dad. Coleslaw and quiche?Leo Kessler: (looking down at his food grimly) I hate quiche.Canteen Cashier: Then why did you get it?Leo Kessler: I thought it was pie!Director J. Lee Thompson delivers nasty villains, righteous heroes, and an ending that blew my mind when I watched this on TV as a kid, though today it's pretty corny (even tough I still dug it). Overall, this isn't in the same league as "Mr. Majestic" or "The Mechanic," but it is better than most of Bronson's 1980s and 90s output.

Few actors have been typecast to the extent Charles Bronson has. He was moviedom's knight in shining (but dented) armor; a pseudo-chivalric gunslinger who killed for sport, and was the personification of noble cause corruption, all under the guise of protecting womanhood. From Paul Kersey (the Death Wish films) and Charlie Congers (Love and Bullets) to Jack Murphy (Murphy's Law), Bronson's squinty-eyed machismo was second only to that of Clint Eastwood.In 10 to Midnight Bronson plays the same ol' vigilante (Leo Kessler), who this time must protect his daughter and her college coed friends from a serial killer. This film, however, does not feature an avalanche of killing and is deeper on plot than any of his later Death Wish films.At best, 10 to Midnight is a guilty pleasure. At worst, it is a cinematic cliché that men never grow tired of.

"10 to Midnight" is my favorite Bronson film - next to "Death Wish". I often think of how this movie scared me when it came out - I was 11 years old at the time. Why did "10 to Midnight" horrify me so much? I was just starting to "look a boys" at 11 years old (coming-of-age era) and thought about being hurt or worse by the person I may date one day.This movie is very thrilling and may frighten women more than men to watch due to the nature of the film. Although the scenario in the movie has been rehashed several times over each of this type has it's on uniqueness about it - and "10 to Midnight" is no exception.If you like crime-thrillers and have not seen this movie - try it one night you may like it! 8/10

Bronson was a joke by the early Eighties and just looked way too old and puffy to be playing police detectives. All the films he made with director J. Lee Thompson were crap but this piece of garbage was by far the sickest and most evil. This horrid film is pure rubbish and should be banned. Gene Davis was incredibly wooden as the murderer, I can't believe he agreed to repeatedly take off all his clothes for such a stupid, worthless film like this. The actress playing Bronson's daughter (shopuld have been his granddaughter) was both ugly and talentless. You know there is something wrong when Andrew Stevens gives the best performance. Too many plot holes and sick scenes.Bronson's character would have been arrested and sent to prison for faking evidence in a major murder trial.0/10.