DEATHDREAM (1972)

[The Burgomaster]

I just received my copy of Blue Underground's new DVD release of DEATHDREAM (aka DEAD OF NIGHT).  The DVD box uses the DEATHDREAM title, but the opening credits use DEAD OF NIGHT.  The alternate DEATHDREAM opening credit is available to watch through the special features menu.

DEATHDREAM comes from many of the same filmmakers (including Bob Clark and Alan Ormsby) who brought us movies like CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS and DERANGED.  It is about a young man who is killed in Vietnam, but returns home to his family in the form of an emotionless, bloodthirsty zombie.  His family thinks that his unusually quiet and introverted "new" personality is the result of being in combat.

This movie is much better than you might expect.  It seems as though a lot of effort went into the script and the cinemagraphy.  Also, the acting is better than what you see in  most 70s drive-in movies.  In fact, John Marley (who ended up with a horse's head in his bed in THE GODFATHER) has a major role as the father.

DEATHDREAM was Tom Savini's first film as a make-up artist (he worked on it with Alan Ormsby).  The DVD includes a short (10 minute) interview with Savini and another short (12 minute) interview with star Richard Backus.

Another welcome DVD release from Blue Underground!



Post Edited (07-03-04 16:09)

[Chopper]

I need to pick this up also, I've always felt Deathdream was an exceptional film for the budget it had.

[StatCat]

I preordered it from ddvd (how did you get it so fast? whoa) Waiting for it, Bob Clark horror flicks are usually good (black Christmas, Children Shouldn't...) so it's probably pretty cool. Real obscure movie before the dvd release I know.

[The Burgomaster]

StatCat:

I preordered mine from Deep Discount DVD and it showed up in my mailbox on Saturday, July 3.