Must See Movie...

Instant Favorite.

I wanted to but couldn't!

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

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.

Backwoods hillbilly Satanists murder locals and capture a runaway after dispatching of the two "grocery thieves" she was hitching a ride with. The reason our heroine run away in the first place was because of her alcoholic policeman step-father's trying to molest her. The hillbillies include this portly cackling menace who murders a black priest with a knife and, shortly after, strangles and drowns the man's daughter in her own bathtub. Romero vet, John Amplas(the "vampire" star of Martin)has a creepy role as one of the Satanists who shoots two men in cold blood..one black man point-blank in the forehead. The runaway is Nancy(Melanie Verlin)and her step-father, Bert Johnson, is played by the great Lawrence Tierney. An odd occurrence takes place in this film..Bert, the man who is quite a liar(he tells his wife, in a subtle way of course, that Nancy was trying to seduce him, for petesake), becomes the hero of this flick! He, through fine police work, will find Nancy's recent whereabouts and face-off with the Satanists in a bloody finale.This is a film from author of "Night of the Living Dead" John Russo, who I guess wanted to make his way into the horror genre. I've read that many feel Russo, at the very least, captures the aesthetic of Romero's "Night of the Living Dead." As I watched it again for the second time, it feels more akin to Wes Craven's "Last House on the Left." That feeling of hopelessness for several female sacrifices to Satan and how the villains have no regard for the human lives they destroy(in the backwoods where even the local police are afraid to enter)certainly reminded me of Craven's film. "Midnight" also felt as raw, sick, and exploitive(except for the lack of rape and nudity)as "Last House on the Left." And, also, the acting is about as lacking as Craven's film. In my mind, "Midnight" is about as backwoods and independent a horror picture as can be made. When someone mentions "Backwoods slasher", "Midnight" will probably stem to my mind for now on. One thing I can say positive about this is Russo's choice of location as the setting..the cold dead woods lend to the feeling of dread and there's a garbage-beauty this film has I came away with liking. It's the acting that causes me to ache. That and the CORNY theme song..the type you would find on a record titled, "AM GOLD". Damn thing is that title tune gets stuck in your head..to the point you'll just be chiming away realizing in horror what you humming to.I'm guessing that the reason the acting is less than stellar is because Russo uses local talent, shoots his film in local areas, and shoots as low-income as possible. I guess it could be viewed as a grindhouse flick. It looked like one to me. Most of the violence is blood splatter as large blades slash across throats.

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.