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17 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Have yourself a good old-fashioned, traditional and nightmarish Cajun wedding night!, 20 January 2008

Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls

I liked this gritty and harsh exploitation/revenge feature, and don't quite understand why it's so unknown and forgotten (and the people who do know it don't even seem to like it). True, the script somewhat moves too slow and quite a few sequences easily could have been cut, but the main premise is fascinating, the two main characters are likable and the pivot scenes are often so full of tension you have any nails left to bite by the time they're finished. David and Jill couldn't be happier on their wedding day. Finally reunited after David spent two years in the hell of Vietnam and they even escaped Jill's family traditional wedding ritual where they "hunt" the newlyweds and hope to ruin their first night together. Whilst hiding in a sleazy Cajun motel, David and Jill witness the execution of a corrupt businessman by hired hit men. The crazed killers knock David KO and viciously rape Jill. After this tragedy they attempt to pick up their lives again, but Jill is an emotional wreck and David has exclusively set his mind on retribution. They embark on a search to find out the rapists identities, which leads them all the way to New Orleans. One of the great things about "Nightmare Honeymoon" – in my humble opinion at least – is that the character drawings are more realistic and identifiable. The reason why the film doesn't contain that much violent action or rancid sleaze is because Elliot Silverstein largely puts the emphasis on the series of emotions the newlyweds go through, together as well as separately. David becomes so increasingly obsessed with the idea of revenge, he's often frightening himself and Jill suddenly questions her marriage, her feelings and even her own femininity. The final confrontation with the deranged rapist Lee (excellent performance by John Beck) is rather overlong but atmospheric and you genuinely pray for the couple to walk out of the showdown alive. The performances are great with very convincing roles for Dack Rambo (awesome name, dude) as David and the cherubic Rebecca Dianna Smith as Jill. Elliot Silverstein's direction is tight and solid. He completed this little 70's gem in between directing his two most famous and much more publicly acclaimed achievements, namely the western drama (and predecessor of "Dances with Wolves") "A Man Called Horse" and horror-favorite "The Car", about a satanically possessed vehicle terrorizing the inhabitants of a small desert town.

7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Nightmare Honeymoon ? Nightmare Movie And Possibly Nightmare Novel, 12 April 2006

Author: FloatingOpera7 from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Nightmare Honeymoon (1973) Starring Dack Rambo, Rebecca Diana Smith, John Beck, Jim Boles, Dennis Burkley, Dennis Patrick, Pat Hingle, David Huddleston, Richard 0'Brien...Director Elliot Silverstein, Music by Elmer Bernstein

Released in 1973, this dark film was based on the novel by Lawrence Block and filmed on location entirely in Franklin, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. The premise: A couple, David and Jill (Dack Rambo and Rebecca Diana Smith) run out of their own wedding reception, held in Jill's Southern plantation-style estate. Her father is understandably upset and sends his sons after them. Jill has already defied her father by getting romantically involved with a "Yankee". They are on their way to New Orleans to spend their honeymoon but they encounter two crazed criminals who murder an bayou inn-keeper. Jill and David witness the murder but intend to run away from the evil-doers. The leader of the men (John Beck) rapes Jill and knocks David unconscious. Jill and David escape to New Orleans but the rape incident has traumatized Jill so much that she is unable to continue with the honeymoon. David and Jill eventually get into a heated argument. Before long, Jill's rapist has her in his clutches again. This time David is ready to fight and extract revenge....successfully. This type of movie was one of the many "violent/sex-ploitation/"men's films" that would bombard 70's movie theaters. It was the same in Mexican cinema at the time. I admit I've never read the novel by Lawrence Block (and anyways it's out of print) but most assuredly it's a dark, disturbing novel with a mixture of "crime thriller" and "horror", the kind that was cheap and sold mostly in paperback. This film is highly disturbing, even if it times some issues are raised that ought to be taken seriously. In the post-Civil Rights South, crime continued to thrive. In sleepy towns throughout the town, murders, rapes and other felonies were rampant. But when we look at Jon Beck's psychotic eyes and intensely evil face, we realize he is right in his repeated mantra: "Nobody cares". This is a social commentary on the corruption and lackadaisical attitudes of some small-town authorities. No one would wish this type of honeymoon on their worst enemy

This is the first I've seen of actor Dack Rambo. He has a long credits/resume list on the IMDb. He appeared in several films, was a regular on 70's soap operas. He has a twin brother. Dack didn't hide the fact he was bi-sexual and engaged in unprotected sex, thus he died of AIDS sometime in the early 90's. He was nevertheless a talented, charismatic and handsome actor. This film is not his best work, and most of his films don't look good (bordering on B-budget) but I'm definitely taking an interest in this actor. The film has a soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein and sounds jazzy, dramatic, dark and brooding. But quite frankly, it's a guy's film and it's really not very good. It seems to be shocking for the sake of shock. I can only give it 6 stars. It was on TV late at night and thats' where it belongs.

2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Bad Dream @ 3 AM- Go Back To Sleep!, 14 March 2009
Author: Bolesroor from New York, NY USA

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

A newlywed couple sneaks out of their wedding reception to get a head start on their honeymoon. On their way to the hotel they witness a murder and get held at gunpoint by the two killers, one of whom rapes the wife while the husband is unconscious. The man and wife are unable to return to normal and so set out to seek revenge.

This is a psychological horror film in every sense of the word- no blood and guts here, just pain and shame and emotional scars. The tone turns rapidly from Joy to Impending Dread, and never switches gears again. I love late-night horror films and almost any B-movie made, but this is a surprising disappointment in which all of the right ingredients fail to gel.

Why the opening sequence about the bride's father "hunting" the newlyweds? What was the point of David being a Vietnam vet? Why does Pat Hingle as Paw give a sunset monologue about how deeply he loves his daughter- and then disappear from the film? Extended sequences in which Jill expresses her emotional trauma by howling in anguish and weeping in agony (mascara tends to run) were only aggravating and depressing- nowhere near scary or thrilling. I suspect these scenes were left in only to pad out the film, which still clocks in at a lean 95 mins.

I would love to recommend this movie to you- on any level. I would love to say there's something to see here beside the beautiful Southern locations and towering Gothic willows. "Nightmare Honeymoon" doesn't really work on any level. When you wake up at 3 AM from a deeply disturbing nightmare you get a glass of water... and go back to sleep.

GRADE: C-

A honeymoon to forget., 24 October 2009

Author: lost-in-limbo from the Mad Hatter's tea party.

An early prototype for things to come? I know it was completely different to what I was originally expecting. A rural shocker in something of a survival mode, but in the end it was a stormy drama of horrific elements and sombre tones.

David (who just came back from spending two years in Vietnam) and Jill have just been married, and on that day they flee the reception at her family's plantation to escape from her father's protective leash and his displeasure of her marrying a 'Yankee'. On their way to New Orleans for their honeymoon, they stop off at bayou motel where they witness a murder. While trying to flee, they're discovered by the hit men, as David is knocked out and Jill pleading for his life is raped. They arrive in New Orleans, but the scarring ordeal has really hit Jill hard, and causes an uncomfortable rift between the couple. So David goes about trying to track down the killers.

Rather than being a straight-forward low-budget revenge film magnifying the violence and profanity like plenty of grindhouse exploitation features of this ilk accustomed themselves in the mid to latter end of this decade, director Elliot Silverstein's late-night, southern slice while remaining gristly durable and still lingering on a sadistic front, chooses to rather imply it, letting the dark, moody atmospherics of the character's genuine transformations infuse the uneasy emotions and confronting tension in very slow-measured style that has a worthwhile pay-off.

This works because of the carefully laid out script of the gloomy social commentary ("No one cares") and examining the unremitting affects and pain that go to trouble and engulf the newly wedded couple (the husband angrily seeking retribution and the wife being traumatically unbalanced) and secondly because of the seamless performances by a hard boiled Dack Rambo and the ravishing Rebecca Dianna Smith as David and Jill. Also a gleaming John Beck is fantastic as the aggressively unhinged hit-man / rapist and Pat Hingle is always a delight as Jill's protective father. Jay Robinson kicks in with a small, but colourful part. However the story isn't without its flaws namely that of many open ended plot ties. Director Silverstein's efficient direction is boldly compact making perfect use of the vivid locations to stage the conflicting dramas and pressured induced suspense (plenty of nocturnal sequences). Elmer Bernstein's raucously brooding score leaves a mark.

Amiably effective in its shaming psychological make-up.

Ps. Seeing that director Nicolas Roeg was originally tagged to the project, before leaving after only 5 days into the shoot would've made it interesting to see what he could have made of the material.

This actually played in theaters?, 7 June 2009
Author: Wizard-8 from Victoria, BC

I have a strong suspicion that "Nightmare Honeymoon" was originally filmed as a made-for-television movie, but someone (for some reason) thought it would be a good idea to release it to theaters first. The tone of the movie is very tame. There's no nudity, the only bad language is the one utterance of the word "damn", a key violent scene happens completely offscreen, and the (limited amount of) violence in the second half of the movie is not that intense.

Still, I have seen good made-for-TV movies from the 70s, and I possibly could have still enjoyed this despite all the censorship restrictions. But I didn't think that it worked overall. Even at around 93 minutes long, the movie feels significantly padded. If they had trimmed the movie to run 75 or so minutes (like many 70s made-for-TV movies), this would have improved the movie significantly. The other big problem is that after the climax, the concluding moment is very unsatisfying. You don't know where the characters are headed after going through what they did.

I'm not saying that this is a "bad" movie - it has some moments of interest. But the execution was somewhat misguided. Perhaps a remake could fix those problems I wrote about.

"Nightmare" is definitely a cut above! Sturdy performances and thoughtful story., 19 March 2009

Author: slickrock-1 from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

The luridly titled Nightmare Honeymoon is a cut above the typical "made for TV" (type of drama. Newlyweds, Jill and David, take a wrong turn and run into sadistic killers, on their way to their honeymoon in New Orleans.

What might have been just another predictable story of action and violence is instead a more interesting exploration into the couple's grappling with the aftermath of their emotions. Dack Rambo, as David, and Rebecca Dianna Smith, as Jill, give insightful performances dealing with the tensions of the need for protection and revenge.

(Possible spoiler follows.)

After surviving being caught and beaten when they accidentally witness a criminal execution, the couple seem barely surprised when the local sheriff seems hardly interested. Their subsequent decision to proceed on to New Orleans, instead of immediately returning to Jill's nearby, next state home and the love and support of her father and large clan family with roots of over 100 years in the area, seems a bit implausible at first. Then, one must remember the film, released in 1973, was during a time when rape victims often feared the shame and humiliation almost as much as the rapists.

In spite of saying they cannot pretend the rape did not happen, they proceed to New Orleans checking into their honeymoon suite. The visual beauty and sumptuousness of the honeymoon suite (David says, "I didn't know there were still places like this.,) can barely be taken in, let alone enjoyed, given the shock of their experience.

Realizing they cannot go forward with their lives, and choosing not to go back to involve her father, the recently returned Vietnam Veteran, David, decides that he is going to find the killers.

Production values are definitely a cut above. The scenes in New Orleans bring nostalgia for the "Grand Lady."

The film is filled with a great cast of well seasoned character actors and the strong experience of the cast is evident. I'm not sure why the credits list the female lead of Rebecca Dianna Smith last, under "other cast"! Especially given her accurate, thoughtful performance.

I don't want to miss a single detail!, 14 March 2009

Author: sol1218 from brooklyn NY

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

***SPOILERS*** Actor John Beck's performance, as psycho killer and rapist Lee, is by far the best reason to see " Nightmare Honnymoon". Without Beck being in the movie and doing his "thing" the film would come across as just your average run of the mill TV Movie crime thriller.

The movie itself has newlywed couple David & Jill Webb, Dack Rambo & Rebecca Dianna Smith,witness a contract murder by Lee and his partner Sandy, Roy Jenson, of the manager of the motel that their staying at Mr. Carroll, David Huddleston. Being spotted by Lee & Sandy both David & Jill are held hostage by them with Jill, while David is knocked unconscious, being raped. It's later when David finds out what happened to Jill he goes out of his way to track down the two killers to exact revenge for what they did to his wife.

It's when David finds out who contracted the two killer to murder Mr. Carroll his business partner Ruskin, Jay Robinson, he realizes that they aren't professional hit-men flown in from out out of town but local hoodlum who aren't all that professional at all. This explains the bizarre actions of Lee, and to a lesser extent Sandy, that leads David right to their doorstep at the New Orleans Royal Hotel!

In him trying to finish what he started Lee goes completely wacko in not only trying to again rape Jill but force her husband David to watch the outrage! The eye popping and sneering Lee gets so caught up with his actions, in him trying to stretch them out, that he gives both David and Jill, whom he's holding hostage, all the time that they needed to finally finish him off.

John Beck who usually plays a good guy in the films he's in was never better as the crazed and hyperventilating Lee the hit-man. Even Lee's partner Sandy seemed very uncomfortable being around in him nervously looking, for what seemed like, any excuse to exit the movie. In the end, after Sandy was dispatched by David, Lee was left on his own to face not only a vengeful David, a hand to hand combat Vietnam veteran, but his wife Jill who in the end turned the tables, or her choppers, on him!

0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Pretty tame rape and revenge flick., 17 February 2011

Author: HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby, Poland

"Nightmare Honeymoon" tells the story of the honeymooning couple who decide to consummate their marriage in the woods.Unfortunately the couple witnesses a murder and when they try to run two rural killers knock the husband unconscious and rape the wife.After dealing with his wife's trauma the husband finally decides to find and kill rapists..."Nightmare Honeyoon" is pretty tame in comparison to Silverstein's "A Man Called Horse".The rape scene is off-screen and there is only a little bit of violence.The script lacks punch and tension too.Admittedly the climax is pretty tense and there is an aura of heart-breaking despair,so I wasn't completely disappointed.7 rapists out of 10.

7 out of 17 people found the following review useful:
Watch a Rerun of A TEAM it's more interesting., 21 July 2001
Author: richard winters (rwint) from Chicago, Illinois

A young groom goes on a vengeance after he witnesses a killing and then has his wife raped, by some rural thugs, on his wedding night. Pretty much loses all relevancy when he tracks down the killers by remembering the names said during the killing and then using the TELEPHONE BOOK!!! To use a exact quote by it's super hunk star Dack "It's a magic detective book filled with the names of murderers and innocent victims. All the names, all the addresses." Has anyone ever heard of UNLISTED number. Oh well somebody better go tell the police and F.B.I. this so they can quit wasting so much money on their sophisticated networking and computer systems. Actress Smith has one of those 'put on' southern accents that almost immediately becomes annoying and after she is 'violated' has a look of constipation for the rest of the time. So mind numbingly standard that it makes a episode of THE A TEAM look creative. As memorable as spending ninety minutes cleaning between your bathroom tiles.

3 out of 15 people found the following review useful:
Where can I obtain a DVD of Nightmare Honeymoon?, 10 August 2005

Author: artf-1 from United States

Does anyone know where I may obtain a DVD of Nightmare Honeymoon? I am curious about one of the possible locations used for this movie. In 1972 I was planning a new golf course residential community and the owner of the land allowed a production company to shoot some scenes under the moss-draped oaks. The site was close to the Tchefuncte River near Mandeville, Louisiana. A decrepit mansion on the property was the perfect eerie location for a horror movie. This large home built in the 1930s is now beautifully restored, however. The director of the film I saw in production was badly injured when the boom chair collapsed onto him. Production was halted for a while and then another director showed up to continue the filming. Nightmare Honeymoon may not be the movie I watched being filmed but the title rings a bell. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

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