Nightmare Honeymoon (1973) Starring Dack Rambo, Rebecca Diana Smith, John Beck, Jim Boles, Dennis Burkley, Dennis Patrick, Pat Hingle, David Huddleston, Richard 0'Brien...Director Elliot Silverstein, Music by Elmer Bernstein
Released in 1973, this dark film was based on the novel by Lawrence Block and filmed on location entirely in Franklin, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. The premise: A couple, David and Jill (Dack Rambo and Rebecca Diana Smith) run out of their own wedding reception, held in Jill's Southern plantation-style estate. Her father is understandably upset and sends his sons after them. Jill has already defied her father by getting romantically involved with a "Yankee". They are on their way to New Orleans to spend their honeymoon but they encounter two crazed criminals who murder an bayou inn-keeper. Jill and David witness the murder but intend to run away from the evil-doers. The leader of the men (John Beck) rapes Jill and knocks David unconscious. Jill and David escape to New Orleans but the rape incident has traumatized Jill so much that she is unable to continue with the honeymoon. David and Jill eventually get into a heated argument. Before long, Jill's rapist has her in his clutches again. This time David is ready to fight and extract revenge....successfully. This type of movie was one of the many "violent/sex-ploitation/"men's films" that would bombard 70's movie theaters. It was the same in Mexican cinema at the time. I admit I've never read the novel by Lawrence Block (and anyways it's out of print) but most assuredly it's a dark, disturbing novel with a mixture of "crime thriller" and "horror", the kind that was cheap and sold mostly in paperback. This film is highly disturbing, even if it times some issues are raised that ought to be taken seriously. In the post-Civil Rights South, crime continued to thrive. In sleepy towns throughout the town, murders, rapes and other felonies were rampant. But when we look at Jon Beck's psychotic eyes and intensely evil face, we realize he is right in his repeated mantra: "Nobody cares". This is a social commentary on the corruption and lackadaisical attitudes of some small-town authorities. No one would wish this type of honeymoon on their worst enemy
This is the first I've seen of actor Dack Rambo. He has a long credits/resume list on the IMDb. He appeared in several films, was a regular on 70's soap operas. He has a twin brother. Dack didn't hide the fact he was bi-sexual and engaged in unprotected sex, thus he died of AIDS sometime in the early 90's. He was nevertheless a talented, charismatic and handsome actor. This film is not his best work, and most of his films don't look good (bordering on B-budget) but I'm definitely taking an interest in this actor. The film has a soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein and sounds jazzy, dramatic, dark and brooding. But quite frankly, it's a guy's film and it's really not very good. It seems to be shocking for the sake of shock. I can only give it 6 stars. It was on TV late at night and thats' where it belongs.
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