Nightbeast (1982)

Director:

Don Dohler

Writer:

Don Dohler (writer)

Release Date:

November 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The Sci-Fi Thriller Made in Baltimore!

Plot:

Baltimore filmaker Don Dohler does an update on his 1979 film "The Alien Factor" this time only a single...

Plot Keywords:

Small Town | Alien | Camping | Murder | Monster

Cast

Tom Griffith	...	Sheriff Cinder
Jamie Zemarel	...	Jamie
Karin Kardian	...	Lisa Kent
George Stover	...	Steven Price
Don Leifert	...	Drago
Anne Frith	...	Ruth Sherman
Eleanor Herman	...	Mary Jane
Richard Dyszel	...	Mayor Bert Wicker
Greg Dohler	...	Greg
Kim Dohler	...	Kim
Monica Neff	...	Suzie
Glenn Barnes	...	Glenn
Rose Wolfe	...	Glenn's Girl
Jerry Schuerholz	...	Hunter
Hank Stuhmer	...	Hunter

Also Known As:

Night Beast (USA) (alternative spelling)
Terror from the Unknown (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Amazing Film Productions

Movie Connections:

Follows The Alien Factor (1978)

Mayberry vs The Predator?

Nightbeast, although never able to rise above it's limited budget, still manages to leave a sweet taste in your mouth.

Reeling from a collision with a meteor, a spaceship crashes in the forest of a small town. The alien (which strangely resembles the 'Predator') comes stumbling out, angry and lost. He goes on a killing spree which includes some campers. The sheriff decides to ask the locals to help him go after the creature. The towns-people, mostly farmers, hunters and loggers, reluctantly agree. A violent, gory battle quickly ensues.

As I was watching Nightbeast I kept thinking to myself 'this is Mayberry vs The Predator'. Even the sheriff, reminded of Andy Griffith. I hated to admit it but I kind of enjoyed this film. There are some great moments, for example, there is a scene where an elderly hunter, who manages to shoot a weapon out of the creatures hand, falls to his knees and begins to weep. Plus, the creature is often shown fleetingly, like an apparition, and it is apparent that Dohler was hinting at something here but I couldn't figure it out.

Sadly, Nightbeast suffers from it's all too small budget. The special effects appear amateurish and the gore scenes look fake. The film also has problems with the plot, there are too many sub-plots. There is like three separate stories going on all at once and you are constantly jumping back and forth amongst them. Also, there is a rather weird sex scene between the sheriff and his deputy, that seems totally out of place here, as if it was inserted afterwards.

Outside of all these minuses, there is something I liked about Nightbeast. Maybe it is because of all the minuses that I keep coming back for more, the same reason I keep coming back for Plan Nine From Outer Space.