Night Warning (1983)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

William Asher

Writers:

Stephen F. Breimer (writer)
Boon Collins (writer)

Release Date:

February 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

She was lonely. He was all she had. No-one would take him from her - and live...

Plot:

An orphaned teenager finds himself being dominated by his aunt who's hell-bent on keeping him with her...at all costs.

Plot Keywords:

Aunt | Death | Psychosis | Stabbing | Closeted Gay

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Jimmy McNichol	...	Billy Lynch
Susan Tyrrell	...	Cheryl Roberts (Aunt Cheryl)
Bo Svenson	...	Detective Joe Carlson
Marcia Lewis	...	Margie
Julia Duffy	...	Julia
Britt Leach	...	Sgt. Cook
Steve Eastin	...	Coach Tom Landers
Caskey Swaim	...	Phil Brody
Cooper Neal	...	Frank
Bill Paxton	...	Eddie (as William Paxton)
Kay Kimler	...	Anna Lynch
Gary Baxley	...	Bill Lynch, Sr.
Vickie Oleson	...	Lady Police Officer
Clemente Anchondo	...	Jail Arrestee
Alex Baker	...	Police Officer Westcott

Also Known As:

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker
Momma's Boy
Nightmare Maker
The Evil Protege (UK)
Thrilled to Death (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | Norway:18 | UK:R | USA:R | Iceland:(Banned) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Trivia:

The film's French title, 'À la limite du cauchemar', translates to 'On the Verge of the Nightmare'.

Quotes:

Detective Joe Carlson: Phil Brody, remember him? The man who got wasted here? Well he was a fag, and it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a fag to be raping your aunt, unless you're one. Are you a fag?
Billy Lynch: No!
Detective Joe Carlson: I'm gonna ask you again, and keep in mind it pisses me off when people lie to me. Are you a fag?
Billy Lynch: You're crazy!

Soundtrack:

Little Boy Bill

A shocking and powerful 'lost' film.

The strongest of horror films always seems to be those whose victims are sympathetic and whose villains are mercilessly frightening. Night Warning is a testament to just that!

Young man becomes the unhealthy obsession of his aunt, who raised him, which leads him into a web of madness and murder!

Night Warning is a relatively unknown film, which is a shame because it is a truly effective and fairly original thriller. The story is very intriguing, full of mystery, suspense, and some solid shocks. A big part of the originality factor of this film is the fact that the story dares to explore subjects very rarely touched upon by most genre pictures, such as incest, homosexuality, and the question of what morally right really is. It is a complex and emotionally strong tale, that's gripping in a way that few thrillers ever are.

The excellent cast is another strong feature of this movie. Bo Svenson is solid as a homophobic police detective. A young Jimmy McNichol is touching as an attractive teen desperately trying to have a normal life. The greatest of all though is Susan Tyrrell as one of the most demented villains you'll ever see! Also among the cast is a young Bill Paxton in one of his earliest roles.

Night Warning is a terrific shocker that seems to have been lost over time, but for those seeking a truly jarring genre picture it is well worth finding a copy of!

**** out of ****