10 to Midnight (1983)

A LAPD detective is on the trail of a very handsome young man who had been seducing and slashing many young women to death.

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writer:

William Roberts

Stars:

Charles Bronson, Lisa Eilbacher, Andrew Stevens

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Keough	...	Karen (as Jeana Tomasina)
June Gilbert	...	Betty

Storyline

In Los Angeles, the rookie Detective Paul McAnn teams up with the veteran Detective Leo Kessler to investigate the murder of Betty Johnson and her boyfriend that were stabbed by a naked serial-killer in a park. Detective Kessler recognizes the victim, who lived in the same neighborhood many years ago and childhood friend of his daughter Laurie Kessler. The killer Warren Stacy goes to the funeral and overhears Betty's father telling Detective Kessler that his daughter had a diary. Warren breaks in Betty's apartment and stabs and kills her roommate Karen Smalley trying to find the diary. But Karen had already delivered the journal to Detective Kessler. Leo Kessler is sure that Warren is the serial-killer and her plants a false evidence in his apartment. However, Warren's defense lawyer presses Detective McAnn accusing him of perjury and Warren is released. Now the Warren is stalking Laurie to revenge against her father.

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Plot Keywords:

detective | serial killer | diary | stalking | revenge | 

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Taglines:

Back in town... with a vengeance!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

10 a la media noche

Filming Locations:

2925 South Bentley Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,520,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon Group, City Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Trade Paper 'Variety' said of this movie: "J. Lee Thompson's direction, borrowing from [Alfred] Hitchcock's editing in Psycho, creates the full horror of blades thrusting into naked bellies without the viewer ever actually seeing it happen".

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Goofs

Blood on Warren's naked body keeps appearing and disappearing and appearing in different parts at climax of the film.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in Speck (2002)

User Reviews

Plays Like An X-Rated Episode of Barney Miller

I don't think Bronson ever made another movie like this one. Some of the language in this movie is sick, yet it seems so real. As usual Bronson is his old DEATH WISH self as he tracks down serial murderer Gene Davis. The script by William Roberts is decent, but the casting of Davis as the psycho seems odd to me. The reason they give for him killing women is that he's always being rejected by chicks, yet when you look at him, he's not ugly, stupid or retarded. There is no way in the world this guy would have trouble getting chicks. I could see an ugly guy in the role who couldn't score because he didn't have any looks, but Davis does, and this puts a big hole in Roberts' script. The cat and mouse game between Bronson and Davis is exciting, because Chuck knows from the beginning who is slicing and dicing those hot girls. And speaking of hot, Lisa Eilbacher is a fox.

Score, 8 out of 10 Stars