Dead of Night (1972)

A young man killed in Vietnam inexplicably returns home as a zombie.

Director:

Bob Clark

Writer:

Alan Ormsby

Stars:

John Marley, Lynn Carlin, Richard Backus

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Marley	...	Charles Brooks
Lynn Carlin	...	Christine Brooks
Richard Backus	...	Andy Brooks
Henderson Forsythe	...	Dr. Philip Allman
Anya Ormsby	...	Cathy Brooks
Jane Daly	...	Joanne
Michael Mazes	...	Bob
Arthur Anderson	...	Postman
Arthur Bradley	...	George, Army Captain
David Gawlikowski	...	Truck Driver
Virginia Cortez	...	Rosalie, diner waitress
Bud Hoey	...	Ed, diner cook
Robert R. Cannon	...	Drunk in diner
Raymond Michel	...	Policeman in Diner
Jeff Becker	...	Young Boy

Storyline

A young Soldier is killed in the line of duty in Vietnam. That same night, the soldier returns home, brought back by his Mother's wishes that he "Don't Die"! Upon his Return, Andy sits in his room, refusing to see his friends or family, venturing out only at night. The Vampiric horror is secondary to the terror that comes from the disintegration of a typical American family.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam | soldier | zombie | suicide | off screen suicide | 

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Taglines:

Something unspeakable has come home.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Canada UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deathdream

Filming Locations:

41 Drive-in, Brooksville, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$235,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Impact Films, Quadrant Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 98 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Savini's first film as a make-up artist.

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Connections

References George! (1972)

User Reviews

Superb horror

This is a horror film that expands the boundaries of the genre.

Put simply, it is a film about a dead man walking, but this dead man "died" in Vietnam before he returned home and his unexpected arrival opens many wounds within his family and amongst old flames and acquaintances.

Director Bob Clark is not satisfied depicting returned vet "Andy" as a zombie. Although he does crave human flesh and speaks infrequently, part of the film's charm is the reaction of people to the dead man's less-than-chipper mood.

Shots of Andy rocking like an autistic child are priceless, as is a "conversation" Andy has with the mailman who laments the returned boys "we should have lost". The family pet is not exactly Andy's best friend anymore, either.

John Marley as Charles Brooks, Andy's dad, is really great here. Although he tries hard to accept the new Andy, we really experience his gradual realization and disappointment that Andy is not the same Andy anymore.

Jim Backus is brilliant as the undead vet. He uses his voice to convey Andy's apparent indifference to life back home and adopts a strange, somnambulistic gait.

Technically adequate for a low budgeter, the film's richness of character and situation never shifts our attention to any production deficits.

One of the best horror films ever.

Truly creepy and, ultimately, very sad.