IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
In a Scandinavian insane asylum, murderer Salem sneaks out at night to exact his revenge on those who he deems responsible for his predicament.In a Scandinavian insane asylum, murderer Salem sneaks out at night to exact his revenge on those who he deems responsible for his predicament.In a Scandinavian insane asylum, murderer Salem sneaks out at night to exact his revenge on those who he deems responsible for his predicament.
Hanne Borchsenius
- Emmie
- (as Hanne Bork)
Bjørn Watt-Boolsen
- Mr. Torens
- (as Bjorn Watt-Boolsen)
Erik Kühnau
- Police Doctor
- (as Erik Kuhnau)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDespite having several British actors and crew members, this film never got a cinema release in Britain. It had a brief video release in the early 1980s (luridly re-named "Lunatic") but is mainly known in the UK following TV showings and a DVD release (under its proper title) in the 21st century.
- GoofsThe killer, Salem, is eventually, at the end of the film, proven to have been out of the asylum by the parrot in his clothing. However, this and each earlier time he was out could have been easily identified by his boots, which would have been soaked by the snow that he had to trek through.
- Quotes
The Parrot: Salem. Salem, come to supper!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Trailer Trauma Part 4: Television Trauma (2017)
Featured review
Max von Sydow plays Salem, wrongly convicted of a murder and sent to stay in an asylum for the criminally insane. As the movie opens, he has successfully pulled off an escape, and he wreaks vengeance upon his hapless family. However, because he is able to actually return to his cell in time, suspicion falls upon his brother in law, Anton (Per Oscarsson), instead. An inspector played by the always solid Trevor Howard must solve these baffling crimes.
Slasher fans might hear of this one and get their hopes up, due to the violence suggested in certain scenes, but we never see any actual killings. This is more of a straightforward thriller. It overcomes a rather trite story set up to deliver an incredibly engaging yarn; it's what director Laslo Benedek ("The Wild One") and company do with the material that matters. It's filmed on location in Denmark and Sweden, in some mightily forbidding looking country; you can practically feel the cold while you watch. The atmosphere is stark and impressive, helped all the more by an unusual but amazing Henry Mancini score. It's deliberately paced but fascinating, especially when Benedek and screenwriter Guy Elmes (who works from Samuel Roecas' original story) lay out for us the tons of preparations that Salem has to go through in order to pull off each escape from and return to the asylum.
Von Sydow is typically excellent, as is Liv Ullmann as his sister, Oscarsson as the volatile, panicky Anton, Rupert Davies as a savvy but sickly lawyer, Andrew Keir as the asylums' head doctor, and Arthur Hewlett as the genial old Pop. Watching this, it's easy to root for Von Sydow, especially during the finale where he must "beat the clock", and the tension is undeniable. This intoxicating film sure does keep you on your toes at times. And "The Night Visitor" does end on an irresistible, rather humorous note.
It could definitely stand to be better known.
Eight out of 10.
Slasher fans might hear of this one and get their hopes up, due to the violence suggested in certain scenes, but we never see any actual killings. This is more of a straightforward thriller. It overcomes a rather trite story set up to deliver an incredibly engaging yarn; it's what director Laslo Benedek ("The Wild One") and company do with the material that matters. It's filmed on location in Denmark and Sweden, in some mightily forbidding looking country; you can practically feel the cold while you watch. The atmosphere is stark and impressive, helped all the more by an unusual but amazing Henry Mancini score. It's deliberately paced but fascinating, especially when Benedek and screenwriter Guy Elmes (who works from Samuel Roecas' original story) lay out for us the tons of preparations that Salem has to go through in order to pull off each escape from and return to the asylum.
Von Sydow is typically excellent, as is Liv Ullmann as his sister, Oscarsson as the volatile, panicky Anton, Rupert Davies as a savvy but sickly lawyer, Andrew Keir as the asylums' head doctor, and Arthur Hewlett as the genial old Pop. Watching this, it's easy to root for Von Sydow, especially during the finale where he must "beat the clock", and the tension is undeniable. This intoxicating film sure does keep you on your toes at times. And "The Night Visitor" does end on an irresistible, rather humorous note.
It could definitely stand to be better known.
Eight out of 10.
- Hey_Sweden
- Nov 5, 2016
- Permalink
- How long is The Night Visitor?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Lunatic
- Filming locations
- Varberg, Hallands län, Sweden(filmed entirely on location in Sweden)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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