Deathdream (1974)

A young soldier killed in Vietnam inexplicably shows up to his family home one night.

Director:

Bob Clark

Writer:

Alan Ormsby (screenplay)

Stars:

John Marley, Lynn Carlin, Richard Backus

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Marley	...	Charles Brooks
Lynn Carlin	...	Christine Brooks
Richard Backus	...	'Andy' / Andy Brooks
Henderson Forsythe	...	Doc Allman
Anya Ormsby	...	Cathy Brooks
Jane Daly	...	Joanne
Michael Mazes	...	Bob
Arthur Anderson	...	Postman
Arthur Bradley	...	Army Captain
David Gawlikowski	...	Truck Driver
Virginia Cortez	...	Rosalie
Bud Hoey	...	Ed
Robert R. Cannon	...	Drunk (as Robert Cannon)
Raymond Michel	...	Policeman in Diner
Jeff Becker	...	Young Boy

Storyline

A young Soldier is killed in the line of duty in Vietnam. That same night, the soldier returns home, brought back by his Mother's wishes that he "Don't Die"! Upon his Return, Andy sits in his room, refusing to see his friends or family, venturing out only at night. The Vampiric horror is secondary to the terror that comes from the disintegration of a typical American family.

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Plot Keywords:

undead | hitchhiker | psychotronic film | grindhouse film | cult film | 

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Taglines:

It wrings the victims out and then hangs them out to die

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The story is a variation on "The Monkey's Paw," a short story by W.W. Jacobs.

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Goofs

The number on the truck cab that picks up Andy changes from M80709 to M80706.

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Quotes

'Andy': I died for you, Doc. Why shouldn't you return the favor?

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Alternate Versions

The version released under the title, The Night Andy Came Home contains an additional snippet of dialogue during the final scene in the cemetery. After Andy buries himself and dies, his mother, kneeling over the grave, can be heard saying, "Andy's home. Some boys never come home." In the later Gorgon Video release under the title Deathdream, this dialogue has been intentionally muted so as not to reference the previous title.

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Connections

Spoofed in Dead End (1985)

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Soundtracks

Camptown Races
(uncredited)
By Stephen Foster
Whistled by Arthur Anderson

User Reviews

Creepy and Depressing

When the twenty-one year-old soldier Andrew "Andy" Brooks (Richard Backus) is murdered in Vietnam, his mother Christine (Lynn Carlin) is summoning him asking him to come back home. Andy is the pride and joy of Christine that has eyes only for him. When the Brooks family is having dinner, they receive an Army´s letter telling that Andy died in the war. However a couple of days later, Andy arrives at home late night surprising his father Charles (John Marley), his sister Cathy (Anya Ormsby) and Christine. In the same night, a truck driver that is giving a rider to a hitchhiker is murdered in his truck. Soon Charles suspects that Andy is the killer and he has a conversation with his friend Doctor Allman (Henderson Forsythe) that agrees with him. Does Andy really come back home?

"Dead of Night" is a creepy and depressing horror movie directed by Bob Clark. The story is sad, with family, friends and girlfriend missing a twenty-one year-old missing in Vietnam. His return as an undead killer is depressing and bringing tragedy for those who loves him. Richard Backus is creepy in the role of Andy. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Sonho de Morte" ("Deathdream")

Details

Country:

Canada UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 August 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deathdream

Filming Locations:

41 Drive-in, Brooksville, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$235,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dead Walk Company, Impact Films, Quadrant Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 98 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1