Midnight (1982)

Director:

John A. Russo

Writers:

John A. Russo (novel)
John A. Russo (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 December 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

A Startling & Shocking Adventure - As Three College Students Take a Strange Detour to the Land of the LIVING DEAD!

Plot:

A teenage girl runs away from home because police officer/stepfather puts the moves on her. Hitchhiking to California...

Plot Keywords:

Satanist | Dead Mother | Pennsylvania | Three Brothers | Insane Mother

Cast

Melanie Verlin	...	Nancy Johnson (as Melanie Verliin)
Lawrence Tierney	...	Bert Johnson
John Hall	...	Tom
Charles Jackson	...	Hank
Doris Hackney	...	Harriet Johnson
Bob Johnson	...	Reverend Carrington
Lachele Carl	...	Sandra Carrington (as LaChele Carl)
David Marchick	...	Cyrus
Greg Besnak	...	Luke
John Amplas	...	Abraham
Robin Walsh	...	Cynthia
Jackie Nicoll	...	Mama
Amy Brinton	...	Girl in Trap
Debra Smith	...	Young Cynthia
Daniel Costello	...	Young Abraham
Chris Riblett	...	Young Luke
Billy Green	...	Young Cyrus
Ellie Wyler	...	Gwen Davis
Maura Minteer	...	Sharon
Doug Mertz	...	Billy
Bud Mellot	...	Sheriff
Lucian White	...	Man in Car
Dan Kamerer	...	Gas Station Attendant
David McCollough	...	Man at Station
Jim Grippo	...	Slain Deputy
Louis J. Grippo	...	Slain Deputy (as Lou Grippo)
Glenn Shannon	...	Man at Grocery Store
Connie Gori	...	Woman at Grocery Store
Raymond Russo	...	Deputy at Saloon
Ann Kambes	...	Woman at Saloon
Kenneth Croyle	...	Man at Saloon
John Blaho	...	Man at Saloon
Armand Martin	...	Man at Saloon
Tom Milas	...	Man at Saloon
Frank Pryzbylski	...	Man at Saloon
Eugene Ratkiewicz	...	Man at Saloon
John Rice	...	Man at Saloon
Jack Ruffing	...	Man at Saloon

Directed by
John A. Russo		(as John Russo)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John A. Russo		novel (as John Russo)
John A. Russo		screenplay (as John Russo)

Produced by
Dan Q. Kennis	....	executive producer (as Daniel Q. Kennis)
Donald Redinger	....	producer (as Donald M. Redinger)
Samuel M. Sherman	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Paul McCollough

Film Editing by
Paul McCollough

Makeup Department
Alan Fisher	....	assistant makeup artist

Sound Department
Eric Baca	....	sound
Michael Mazzei	....	sound engineer
Aaron Nathanson	....	re-recording engineer

Special Effects by
Greg Besnak	....	special effects: closing sequence
Raymond Laine	....	special effects: closing sequence
John A. Russo	....	special effects: closing sequence (as John Russo)
Tom Savini	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
S. William Hinzman	....	additional still photographer (as Bill Hinzman)
Paul McCollough	....	still photographer
John Rice	....	assistant cinematographer

Casting Department
Raymond Laine	....	casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Don Difonso	....	costumes (as Don DiFonso)

Other crew
Marcia Machtiger	....	additional stills
Marcia Machtiger	....	production assistant
Lisa McClelland	....	production assistant
Paul McCollough	....	electronic realization
Mary Lou Russo	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Congregational

Distributors

• Independent International Pictures (I-I) (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Vidmark Entertainment (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Alpha Films (1982) (UK) (theatrical)
• Arrow Film Distributors (2011) (UK) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Pony Video (1987) (Japan) (VHS)
• TDK Core (1987) (Japan) (VHS)
• Video Instant Picture Company (VIPCO) (1993) (UK) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"John Russo's Midnight" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | Norway:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Butler County, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Congregational

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! Part 2 (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Midnight Again

Backwoods fun

This is one of those movies you don't hear about as much as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" or "The Hills Have Eyes", and that's too bad, because I found this regrettably unknown little horror film from John Russo to be quite entertaining and seriously creepy. Yes, it's very, very low budget - the sound, camerawork, and acting/dialogue are all very sloppy and unpolished, but bear with it. The film takes a little while to start up, but once it does, if you're a true horror fan it will definitely hold your attention. The film's low budget at times makes it seem so realistic that I felt a creepy feeling, it's hard to describe. Even with his limited funds, you can definitely tell that John Russo was trying to make a good, creepy, hardcore horror movie, and he definitely succeeded. The plot basically centers around a girl named Nancy who runs away frome home, hitching a ride with two guys. The trio gets themselves into trouble after robbing a grocery store and find themselves hiding out in the sticks, where the locals have warned them against staying because of several murders that have been committed there lately. What follows is how the teens run afoul of a psychotic family of blood-drinking Satanists who worship their mother's corpse and kidnap and murder young girls to use their blood for a black mass. Again, bear with the somewhat slow first half - what you get in the second half of the movie is well worth the wait. It's well worth the rental or purchase if this type of gory horror is your cup of tea. By the way, the Savini makeups are good, though they do seem to be trimmed somewhat - what a surprise - but the film is still rather gory. It has its share of stabbings, slittings and gunshot wounds to keep the regular gorehound satisfied. All in all, if you're into the "backwoods horror" scene, check out "Midnight", a regular "backwoods massacre"!