10 to Midnight (1983)

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

J. Lee Thompson (story)
William Roberts (writer)

Release Date:

11 March 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Back in town... with a vengeance!

Plot:

A serial killer gets his kicks by knifing his victims while naked. A veteran cop, Leo Kessler believes...

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Revenge | Female Frontal Nudity | Bare Breasts | Nudity

Cast

Charles Bronson	...	Leo Kessler
Lisa Eilbacher	...	Laurie Kessler
Andrew Stevens	...	Paul McAnn
Gene Davis	...	Warren Stacy
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Dave Dante
Wilford Brimley	...	Captain Malone
Robert F. Lyons	...	Nathan Zager (as Robert Lyons)
Bert Williams	...	Mr. Johnson
Iva Lane	...	Bunny
Ola Ray	...	Ola
Kelly Preston	...	Doreen (as Kelly Palzis)
Cosie Costa	...	Dudley
Paul McCallum	...	Lab Technician
Jeana Tomasina	...	Karen
June Gilbert	...	Betty

Also Known As:

Bloody Sunday (USA) (original script title)
Ten to Midnight (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (f) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2004) (self applied) | USA:R (Certificate #26973) | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1983) | Norway:18

Filming Locations:

2000 S Pisani Place, Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

(At 1:33:07) Warren Stacy picks up the police radio and it says, "Code 6 Florence and Normandie". Nine years later, the Los Angeles Riots (AKA the Rodney King Riots) Would break out starting at that Intersection.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Laurie slides under the bed to hide from Warren, the soles of her feet point into the camera and are clearly bare; but when Warren flips the bed up to reveal her she suddenly has pump slippers on, which remain for the rest of the film.

Quotes:

Leo Kessler: [referring to a masturbatory device found in Warren's apartment] You know what this is for, Warren? It's for JERKING OFF!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Repo Man (1984)

Special credit for Gene Davis

Special credit for Gene Davis 10 to midnight is obviously one of the best maniac-killer movies presented by legendary Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. Lieutenant Leo Kessler (Charles Bronson) and detective McAnn (Andrew Stevens) are investigating a murder of sexual character. It's done professionally: no evidence, no witnesses, and 100 percent alibi. The killer is skilled enough to get naked before cutting the girl he feels jealous for. First there are no links but as the Warren (Gene Davis) has to kill once again to get fully cleaned, Kessler knows for sure who's doing all this after the second killing. But there's problem, they still have no evidence. But what worries Kessler most of all is that the first victim was making friends with his own daughter and the killer is already interested in her. Kessler decides to put the Warren behind bars whatever it costs, because he knows the guy's unstoppable: the thing is the "poor" guy is vengeful for he's always been refused by women. So Kessler fabricates the evidence by getting some blood of the first victim on the jacket Warren was supposed to be wearing that day, that evening when the girl was killed. Unfortunately his plan doesn't work because McAnn is too young to agree solve the case that way. Lawyers win the court and Warren straight after that continues troubling Kessler's daughter with his threatening phone calls. What do you think Mr. Bronson will do now? Rather smart movie with impressing characters, alerting plot and simply excellent score. Very pleasant atmosphere, lot of memorable. Gore account is average for 80's. For instance, in the part Bronson's reading victim's diary to the suspect, Warren nervous reaction doesn't have much to do with cops in his apartment, he gets mad learning how many boyfriends the girl had. The girl that kept him far. Especially I want to point Gene Davis has really got deep into his character's head. A mentally demented guy with no friends, no parents, no women sympathy. Hiss acting really has something to remind Brad Davis from "Midnight express", that's why I give special credit for his play. Highly recommended! 10 out of 10.