Night Visitor (1989)

Director:

Rupert Hitzig

Writer:

Randal Viscovich (written by)

Release Date:

12 May 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

Demons. Hookers. Ritual killings. Billy has a very vivid imagination. But what is real and what isn't? Only Billy and his teacher know.

Plot:

A student known for telling stories witnesses a murder, the latest in a series of satanic killings of hookers. |

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Satanic Ritual | Teen | Peeping Tom | Retired Policeman

Cast

Kathleen Bailey	...	Dolan
Jovanni Brascia	...	Tony
Brooke Bundy	...	Mrs. Colton
Ann Dane	...	Theresa
Scott Fults	...	Sam Loomis
Allen Garfield	...	Zachary Willard
Henry Gibson	...	Jake
Elliott Gould	...	Ronald 'Ron' Devereaux
Bruce Kimmel	...	Townsend
Nancy McLendon	...	Reporter
Michael J. Pollard	...	Stanley Willard
Michael Jason Rosen	...	Bernstein (as Michael Rosen)
Richard Roundtree	...	Captain Crane
Derek Rydall	...	Billy Colton
Alain Silver	...	Thornhill (as Alain Joel Silver)

Also Known As:

Never Cry Devil

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Premiere Pictures Corporation

Soundtrack:

CALYPSO ROMANCE THEME

It's not a good idea to call your teacher a Satanist.

It's the solid performances from some recognisable faces that lift this all too typical boy-who-cried-wolf theme in this inconsistent low-budget satanic thriller. What strike me the most was how the storyline is so close to Tom Holland's terrific vampire film 'Fright Night (1985)', but it comparison it does lack the charm and thrills of that film. Vampires no more, but Satanists are the flavour. The hysterically unusual pairing of a wearily scorning Allan Garfield and playfully loony Michael J Pollard was a hammy blast as the two Satanist brothers. Derek Rydall and Teresa Vander Woude make for appealing teen leads that get caught up in the devilish mess. Richard Roundtree's no-bull performance is lean, but potent as the detective on the case and Elliott Gould is amusing as a retired detective who comes out of retirement to help out the teenagers. In support roles the ravishing Shannon Tweed and eventual porn-star Teri Wiegel added some sexual energy. Henry Gibson also pops up. Director Rupert Hitzig hones in a workable display and keeps it on the move, even if his jump tactics inadequately fail. Anyhow the predictably implausible and contrived screenplay seems to be playing it for camp laughs, than actual chills. Just wait for the chainsaw and shotgun clash! It's like it's made up of a bunch of comical errors and eccentric passages, but one or two sequences install some welcoming suspense. But really, the humour does overplay it. And what was the idea of that corn-riddled, over extended ending accompanied with a howling song. It was awful! The whip-lashed musical score drums up the repetitive chanting ala 'The Omen' style, but it doesn't come near Goldsmith's classic piece.