A teenage girl runs away from home because police officer/stepfather puts the moves on her. Hitchhiking to California, she's picked up by two guys who are also traveling cross-country. ...
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Title: Midnight (1982)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Melanie Verlin | ... |
Nancy Johnson
(as Melanie Verliin)
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| Lawrence Tierney | ... |
Bert Johnson
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John Hall | ... |
Tom
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Charles Jackson | ... |
Hank
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Doris Hackney | ... |
Harriet Johnson
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Bob Johnson | ... |
Reverend Carrington
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Lachele Carl | ... |
Sandra Carrington
(as LaChele Carl)
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David Marchick | ... |
Cyrus
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Greg Besnak | ... |
Luke
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John Amplas | ... |
Abraham
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Robin Walsh | ... |
Cynthia
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Jackie Nicoll | ... |
Mama
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Amy Brinton | ... |
Girl in Trap
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Debra Smith | ... |
Young Cynthia
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Daniel Costello | ... |
Young Abraham
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
A teenage girl runs away from home because police officer/stepfather puts the moves on her. Hitchhiking to California, she's picked up by two guys who are also traveling cross-country. Along the way, they decide to camp out in the woods and run across a family of Satanists who keep their dead mother in the attic. Written by Humberto Amador
Taglines:
When the dead drink the blood of the living See more »Genres:
HorrorParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
31 December 1982 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
John Russo's Midnight See more »Box Office
Budget:
$900,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
This is actually a pretty good low budget horror film. It does bear the marks of a regional production (filmed in Pennsylvania), complete with the (mostly) amateurish acting that fans come to expect in such a thing. It does indeed start slow, so people may have a hard time sticking with it, but it's worth it in the end. The story is a familiar one, but is well realized by writer / director John A. Russo (an associate of George A. Romero who'd co-written the classic "Night of the Living Dead"), who adapted his own novel. Tom Savini supplies some typically well done splatter, but certainly the best aspect to the presentation are the very rural settings that give "Midnight" some potent atmosphere.
Melanie Verlin - in the first of only two movie roles - stars as Nancy, who has to live with a policeman stepfather (legendary tough guy and wildman Lawrence Tierney) who's a lecherous alcoholic. After he harasses her, she runs away from home, hooking up with seemingly nice young guys Tom (John Hall) and Hank (Charles Jackson). After they get her involved with their (mild) life of crime, she ends up in the backwoods where she's soon abducted by backward Satan worshipping lunatics. This lovely bunch of people force their victims into too-small cages in preparation for sacrifices to their dark lord.
One thing from this movie that people will likely remember the most is that staggeringly silly theme song that's heard a few times. Otherwise, this is pretty fun to watch. It's always a hoot to see Tierney in action, especially when his less-than-honourable character becomes an unlikely heroic figure. There's some delicious creepiness going on throughout, and Catholicism is a big theme. Nancy isn't an innocent type, but falls back on prayer when things look their bleakest. Verlin is reasonably appealing, but the standouts are obviously the antagonists: David Marchick as portly and bearded Cyrus, Greg Besnak as bald headed Luke, and John Amplas, star of Romero's "Martin", as Abraham. The electronic music score is priceless stuff.
The climactic action has its fair share of tension, but ultimately "Midnight" ends a little too abruptly. But until then it proves to be decent entertainment.
Seven out of 10.