Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981) User Reviews

Susan Tyrrell Rules The Planet

[eminges · 7/10 · 28 January 2002]

I'd heard about Night Warning, I was fortunate enough to see it at a weird-film society showing, and I finally found it sitting in a bin in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

There's one problem with the film, and we might as well deal with it up front. Director William Asher tries hard, but he's got a TV sensibility trying to cope with one of the nastiest scripts ever written and two of the wickedest performances ever turned in by SAG members. In the hands of a master, this thing'd still be playing at midnight showings all over the Western Hemisphere.

That aside, Susan Tyrrell's performance alone is worth the price of admission. Bo Svenson's performance alone is worth the price of admission. Julia Duffy's charming, unwrapped little mams together are worth the price of admission. Even Jimmy McNichol doesn't embarrass himself - no, he doesn't, watch it again, he's supposed to be a goofy, horny teenager in suburban/rural Arizona, not a sensitive coffee-house habitue, for godsake.

Let's go back to Susan Tyrrell. She puts on a clinic for actresses who want to know what "over the top" consitutes. When she flips out - lordie. All I'll say is that at approximately 1:15 into the movie, when she reacts to Julia Duffy breaking out a window, she makes a move with her head that's the single scariest thing I've ever seen an actor do on film, ever, anywhere, period. (And I've seen Jim Carrey trying to be sincere, thank you.)

And Bo Svenson is evil on skates. The script doesn't give him that much to work with, but he rolls right over that little obstacle. WHY does he rant, "I want those deviants off the streets!" Who knows, who cares? There's a story out on the Net that he was a royal pain on the set, and I could easily believe that this was a case of him getting to say things he's always wanted to say in public, and get paid for it.

Find this gem at any price. Know it. Live it.

Way better than it should be ..........

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 20 April 2011]

If ever a horror movie could be accused of throwing in everything but the proverbial "kitchen sink", "Night Warning" is that movie. With homosexual bashing, a nod to "Psycho", and a furious mother - son fixation, this film doesn't quit till all the cliché's are covered. The opening has a rather impressive car crash, that sets a somewhat intricate story in motion. Susan Tyrrell is in full deranged mode, and Bo Svenson is despicable as the investigating lieutenant. His entire investigation is built on "air castles' with homosexual overtones. Eventually the wheels of sanity come off, and Tyrrell gives a memorable performance that by itself carries the film into above average territory. - MERK

Recommended for fans of off-beat cinema

[AlsExGal · 6/10 · 31 December 2022]

Unbalanced maiden aunt Cheryl (Susan Tyrrell) has cared for her nephew Billy (Jimmy McNichol) since the boy was three and his parents died in a car accident. Now that Billy is turning 18 and looking to move away for college, Cheryl is acting increasingly bizarre, leading to violence.

I was expecting another routine early 80's slasher flick but instead this is an unusual, although not entirely successful, psycho-drama with some hack and'slash flourishes near the end. Tyrrell is as unhinged as usual, and your enjoyment may be tempered by your tolerance for her over-the-top histrionics. I recall McNichol being a teen heartthrob back in the late 70's, but not much else. He's a terrible actor, at least in this, and I'm not too surprised he quickly faded into obscurity. Julia Duffy, later a co-star on Newhart, was nearly 30 when this was filmed, yet believably plays the 20-year-old McNichol's high school sweetheart. I really enjoyed seeing the late lamented Bill Paxton in one of his earliest roles (credited as "William Paxton") as a school bully.

The strangest aspect of this film concerns Bo Svenson as the hard-nosed cop investigating the incidents in the film. He becomes convinced that there's a conspiracy by local gay men, and he won't consider any other explanation. At first I thought it was going to be another instance of throw-away homophobia that was not uncommon in genre films of the time. However, it becomes the driving focus of the Svenson character, with his personal hang-ups about gay men making him irrational. Added to his character being a short-tempered jerk to every other person he encounters, and it's one of the more unsavory acting jobs of his career. In the end I have a feeling that the filmmakers were sympathetic to the gay characters (there are a few, and not just in Svenson's mind), but it's handled in such a way as to make it confused, to say the least. I thought this movie was one of the more unique in a sub-genre that was glutting screens at that time, and would recommend it to fans of off-beat cinema. Others, especially those repelled by screen violence, should probably avoid it.

Tyrrell, Svenson, and Asher Help Lift This Above the Routine

[rwint · 6/10 · 19 August 2001]

If you've seen a million cheap 70's/80's horror movies with bodies in the cellar, 'shocking' revelations, and dreary drama interspersed with a few gory killings then you might consider this a notch above the rest. Not that there's anything original about it, but director Asher (whose claim to fame are directing TV sitcoms and those beach party movies) has a good handle on the demented nature of this material. He deliberately paces it only to finally unleash it all for a very twisted and kinetic climax. He also shoots a very well mounted, realistic looking car accident at the beginning. Basically the story concerns a very possessive aunt (Tyrrell) who goes completely over the edge when her 18 year old Billy decides to move out. Seems hard to believe that a kid could be living with someone for 14 years and only when he's ready to leave does he realize what a nut she is. Then again if you have a part for a good looking kid that is dull, simple, and clueless then Jimmy McNichol (you know Kristi's brother) is the perfect person to fill it. Tyrrell is fantastic, but then she always is with these types of roles. Her performance though is almost equaled to that of Bo Svenson. His brash, gruff, unorthodox investigator character becomes almost as frightening as hers. Great chance to see young Bill Paxton and pre NEWHART Julia Duffy (you even get to see her topless). A real refreshing change of pace here where believe it or not, NONE of the victims are oversexed, screaming teenagers.

Tongue-in-cheek dark humor, bloody slasher, and melodramatic TV soap opera all rolled into one!

[BillyBC · 22 March 2003]

(***1/2 out of *****) I'm surprised this one isn't talked about more (at least, on a schlocky, cult-classic level). It's awesome! Susan Tyrrell ("Flesh & Blood") plays Cheryl Roberts, a frighteningly unstable woman who has to raise her nephew, Billy (Jimmy McNichol), when his parents are killed in a gruesome car accident in the opening scene. Aunt Cheryl's overaffectionate behavior towards her 17-year-old nephew sets the creepy tone for this movie from the first five minutes, but the main plot starts after she stabs a plumber to death for refusing her sexual advances. She claims that he was trying to rape her, so a police investigation starts up that uncovers dark, past secrets and a homosexual love affair between the plumber, Billy's basketball coach (Steve Eastin), and possibly Billy himself. Bo Svenson, acting a little like a gruff, B-movie Nick Nolte, chews up his scenes as the blindly homophobic Detective Carlson. But, Tyrrell is the real star here -- her progression from disturbing, obsessive aunt to all-out, screaming, homicidal madwoman is something to watch. This would probably be a two-star movie or less without her wonderfully tongue-in-cheek performance. On top of that, you get "Newhart"'s Julia Duffy as Billy's girlfriend (if you ever fantasized about seeing Stephanie Vanderkellen topless, here's your chance) and Bill Paxton (credited as `William'), a year after his scene-stealing role in the otherwise-mediocre slasher "Mortuary," in a couple of fun scenes as an a-hole b-ball teammate. My two big complaints with the film are the director's annoying use of slow motion every time someone's about to deliver a killing blow with one sharp weapon or another and a ridiculous textual epilogue (the kind you usually see at the ends of movies based on true stories) that appears before the end credits roll. Also, the front of the video box seems to be referring to a different movie ... ? Otherwise, hunt this one down and watch it with someone you love.

HIGHLIGHT: Everything that happens after Tyrrell cuts her hair short is a highlight, because that's when she goes completely off the deep end and earns her place in B-movie cinema's Hall of Over-The-Top Performances.

Maligned video nasty is a grisly study of insanity

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 23 October 2015]

This is a real oddity of a film, dealing with insanity and family madness in the vein of all those '60s shockers starring Bette Davis, such as WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?. This film features a barnstorming central performance from Susan Tyrrell as an absolute nutter of an aunt, who has sexual designs on her own nephew and who bumps off anyone who gets in the way. Tyrrell hams it up and screams and shouts with relish, shearing off her hair at one point to make her look even more wacky; this is an extreme physical performance and as such, Tyrrell is very disturbing in the part. You can't imagine anyone else playing it just like her. Is the actress mad too? You'd think so on the strength of her acting here.

The first hour of the plot is very slow and sedate with only a bloody knife murder to recommend it to horror fans (the subsequent blood-on-beast shots, apparently a pathological trigger for psychopaths, gained it a notorious 'video nasty' classification and a subsequent banning in the UK). Director William Asher was more at home with goofy '60s flicks like MUSCLE BEACH PARTY and he seems at home when dealing with small-town American life as he does here. However, the last twenty minutes of the film add a Grand Guignol punch to the proceedings as things become extremely over the top and the film turns into your typical slasher fare. People are stabbed, shot to pieces, impaled on pokers and have their limbs lopped off; there's also a pickled head in a jar which is always a fun plot ingredient for the horror film. Gore fans are sure to get their money's worth in this bloody climax which makes up for the slow-moving first hour.

Compared to Susan Tyrrell, the rest of the cast are a little dull; certainly the young male lead seems wooden in comparison. There is one sympathetic male character, a basketball coach played by Steve Eastin, but he's hardly in the movie. B-movie fans may spot Bo Svenson, star of the original WALKING TALL; here he's another enforcer-of-the-law, except this time in the shape of an extremely nasty and homophobic small-town detective. My money's on Svenson as the real villain of the film; at least Tyrrell has madness as an excuse. Film fans may also spot Bill Paxton in a very small role as a bully; hell, this was even before his bit part in THE TERMINATOR! As for the film, well, it certainly packs its punch and delivers a powerful climax; at least it achieves some moments of true horror, and the same can't be said for many an inferior imitator.

A pretty good thriller!

[markovd111 · 7/10 · 21 July 2019]

Nice performances of main characters and second half of the movie are highlight of the movie, while the first part feels like some underground erotica movie. Still, that doesn't mean it's bad, since Susan Tyrrell looks like a fulfillment of every mature woman 's lover wet dream. It's nothing glorious, it's just a good thriller/slasher to watch and I as a horror movie fanatic wasn't disappointed. I give it 7/10 and a recommendation to people who like a decent slasher, but are not looking for perfection or God forbid, to be scared by it. Enjoy your stay with auntie! :D ;)

Ridiculous and poorly acted

[whatgift · 3/10 · 15 July 2022]

Your almost think this was a parody of it didn't take itself so seriously most of the time. The horrendous acting and overdramatised nature of it took what could've been an interesting story and just turned it into an embarrassing joke.

Repression, oppression, and family trauma under horror's most popular guise

[drownsoda90 · 9/10 · 22 January 2015]

The first word that comes to mind when describing "Night Warning" is "sophisticated"—a word I'm using loosely, though this low budget '80s shocker is definitely a cut above most. Susan Tyrrell stars as an overbearing aunt to a teenager, Billy (Jimmy McNichol), whose parents died when he was a child. As Billy nears adulthood, Billy's aunt becomes increasingly neurotic; enough to the point that she stabs a repairman to death in their house when he refuses her sexual advances. Enter a bigoted police detective who believes Billy was responsible for the murder by way of a gay love triangle between the repairman and his basketball coach, and what ensues is nothing short of mayhem.

Unusual in thematic content and character makeup, "Night Warning" (also known as "Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker") is an apt horror-thriller that is probably ten times better than one would expect. Directed by William Asher, a veteran most known for his direction of TV classics such as "I Love Lucy" and "Bewitched," the film has a superior edge over most of its peers in both content and execution.

Solid direction and atmosphere are abundant, while the performances really bring the script to life. Susan Tyrrell is fantastic as the overbearing, sexually-repressed aunt, and Jimmy McNicol plays the "normal teenager" impressively. Bo Svenson is appropriately repugnant as the homophobic and misguided police detective.

Aside from the classy direction, the script is also incredibly interesting in thematics; it's essentially a modern twist on Oedipus Rex, and the execution is fantastic. It's also extremely unusual (and pioneering) for its incorporation of a sympathetic, non-archetypical gay character maligned by circumstances and social bigotry. For 1982, it's definitely far from the standard— daring, in fact— and this alone makes the film a curious and unusual piece of eighties celluloid. That, and, who can't love Susan Tyrrell going on a stark-raving-mad murder spree?

Overall, "Night Warning" is a classy and well-executed horror film-cum-twisted family drama. Asher's direction is great, the special effects are on par, and the performances are glorious, both the understated and the outrageous. Of the slew of horror films from this era, "Night Warning" is an honest depiction of familial trauma, unwavering violence, and social oppression. It juggles its thematics with flair and moodiness, all while maintaining the impressions of a horror picture. Watch for: an early performance from Bill Paxton, and one of the greatest car crash sequences I've ever seen. 9/10.

fun with bad horror

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 19 January 2019]

Billy Lynch loses his parents in a suspicious car accident. His Aunt Cheryl (Susan Tyrrell) raises him for the next 14 years. He's trying to get a college scholarship but Cheryl is not happy that he's leaving her. She wants him all to herself. Julia (Julia Duffy) is his high school girlfriend. He witnesses Cheryl killing the TV repairman who she claims to be raping her. Police detective Joe Carlson (Bo Svenson) doesn't believe her and suspects Billy as his homosexual lover who killed in a jealous rage.

This is kinda bad but it's funny bad. Bo is playing it so broadly that I can't help but laugh at his performance. He is so bad that it's good. All the bad old fashion takes are so very campy. This is not a good movie but it is good at its badness. Psycho Cheryl has a bit too much Misery. It's fun at first but she's one of the leads and it gets a bit tiring. She seems to enjoy it as well as everybody else. It's fun to have fun with a bad horror.

Whatever Happenned to Baby Jane? meets Psycho

[Fernando-Rodrigues · 5/10 · 15 May 2021]

Susan Tyrell SLEW here. No kiddings, literally. Overall the weak performances, she's the best. I'd say it's just another weak suspense that tries to make some coins over Hitchcock and Aldrich's ideas, but this movie has a lot of reflections and messages (subversion of the "final girl" concept, homophobia, incest, etc.) and it's also entertaining. I mean, who doesn't loves to see a crazy white woman going mad?

An over looked film.

[bigpappa1--2 · 10/10 · 6 June 2000]

An over protective aunt eventually goes crazy and murders off anybody that tries to bring harm to her teenage nephew, whom she has incestious desires toward. The plot is nothing new or very original, but this horror film is well made (by any movie standard) and very well acted by all involved. The standout in the cast though, is Susan Tyrell as the crazed aunt. Susan gives what is the performance of her career.

A very over looked film, but this is very good and worth seeking out. Ignore the bad tape box though. MY RATING: 8 out of 10.

You wouldn't see a movie like this anymore

[mkaloghlian · 7/10 · 14 March 2021]

This movie is two important parts one mental illness and two Homophobia which in 2021 Wokeness people would deem it when it should be used as learning experience about homophobia or mental illness.

Highly recommended this hard to find movie and thank you Shudder for streaming it.

EPITAPH prequel?

[Maciste_Brother · 3/10 · 17 September 2003]

When I watched NIGHT WARNING (what a terrible nonsensical title!), I had a vivid sense of deja vu because the movie reminded me a lot of EPITAPH, a movie about a psycho mother who torments her daughter. Though EPITAPH was made after NIGHT WARNING, I saw EPITAPH first and still prefer that one over NW. Unlike EPITAPH, which had a creepy voyeuristic aspect to it that fitted the story, NIGHT WARNING looks like a TV movie (with a couple of nude scenes thrown in) and never creates a level of creepiness that EPITAPH achieved. The main story-line, about the demented sheriff going after the kid because he thinks the teenager is gay, was stretching the whole crux of the movie to the point of ridiculousness. The story ended up looking like a bloody THREE'S COMPANY episode. Plus, the sheriff was a total nutcase and was more scary than the demented mother, who was supposed to be the main villain. All in all, I have to say that the movie was almost totally forgettable. Not scary. Too long. Contrived. And the acting, except for a few actors, was mostly bad.

* * *1/2 out of 4.

[brandonsites1981 · 13 September 2002]

Teenager (Jimmy McNichol) who was orphanded at a young age after his parents were killed in a freak car accident, thinks his over protective and sexually repressed aunt (Susan Tyrrell) is losing it. That's when the murders begin to happen and a homo phobic and racist police officer (Bo Svenson) gets involved in the proceedings suspecting McNichol to be the killer.

Judging from the premise you would expect this to be a pretty standard film. It isn't. There is much more going on than there appears to be. This thriller is expertly constructed and features a shocking opening sequence and some terrifying moments. It is a truly smart and intelligent film that covers ground no other horror movie would dare to cover. And while doing this, it never is tasteless or over the top. The entire cast is excellent by the way, but Susan Tyrrell really stands out in a truly demented performance that shows incredible range. Even Bo Svenson gives it his all and his performance really gets under your skin (that's a good thing!). Highly under rated!

Rated R; Violence, Sexual Situations, Nudity, and Profanity.

Fairly Decent with Remarkable Story Line

[captainpass · 7/10 · 4 November 2021]

There are a lot of familiar faces in this one; not surprising, as the (replacement) director was William Asher. The result, then, is a competently filmed slasher-style entry, even if the film tends to use television-style resolutions throughout. (And, yes, Bo Svenson's bigoted cop character is a bit too arch; and the same can be said for Tyrell's increasingly unhinged Baby Jane-like "Cheryl." But the cast is solid and the same can be said for the directing.)

That said, this would be a forgettable entry but for the fact that it is almost singularly unique for the time-period in using two complementary narratives dealing with sexuality: In the first, Svenson's Joe Carlson is a man obsessed with weeding out "deviants" in "his" community, even if it means framing the innocent. In the second, Tyrell's Cheryl is obsessed with possessing those she sees as her great loves, even if it means destroying those people.

Now, the two narratives don't always sync, and the writing is a bit "TV-friendly" in both style and content; particularly toward the end (gore notwithstanding). But props to the producers for greenlighting something really different during the hey-day of the American slasher. Thematically, Night Warning (or BBNM) looks as much to "Don't Torture a Duckling" (Italian) and "Cannibal Man" (Spanish) for its inspiration as to "Psycho" and "Friday the 13th."

Worth The Wait

[acidburn-10 · 7/10 · 4 April 2009]

I have been waiting for so long to see this movie, to add to my Slasher movies list and finally last night I saw it, and after seeing it, I thought, pretty good, not brilliant but good.

Night Warning was one of those 80's horror movies that ended up getting banned and labeled as a video nasty, which to be honest I don't get why because, it's not that gory or brutal, but then again tripe like (Don't Go In The Woods and Don't Go Into The House) also ended up on the Video nasty list and they were both awful and banned for the wrong reasons in my opinion.

The movie is about a woman who is so disturbed that she resorts to murder in order to prevent her young nephew Billy from leaving.

Night Warning does have a TV Movie feel to it at times, but with added on violence. Tyrrell regularly changing from Mother figure to would-be seductress is disturbing and incendiary stuff. It is also unusual for a film of this type to tackle the issue of homophobia in such a frank way. The petty prejudices of the small town mentality are thrown into sharp relief when compared to the horror being committed behind closed doors. Interestingly it is Tyrrell and Svenson ,the film's two psychos (Tyrrell is deranged; Svenson is dangerously obsessed), who are the most rabidly moralistic.

Susan Tyrell truly shines as the psychotic Aunt Cheryl who at first manages to keep the mask of sanity in place for her nephew Billy, then letting it slip and slide completely as the movie progrees, she's a brilliant psycho and steals the show with every scene she's in. Jimmy McNicol (Billy) plays his part well, his chemistry with his Aunt and his girlfriend worked, he's just an all round good guy who doesn't deserve all the crap that he's been put through. Bo Svenson (The Detective) was the worst character I have ever come across in a slasher movie, he was good at being this really hatable character, and I did, I did really hate this guy and his detective skills are rubbish, I'm glad he had what was coming to him in the end. And Julia Duffy (Julie) played the part of the sympathectic girlfriend really well, she was sweet and stunning and had a really good chase scene at the end.

All in all a really good movie, a great entry in the Slasher cycle of the 1980's, the performances were well played, but it's Susan Tyrell whose the best in this part. The incesterous theme in this movie I found unsettling and other than that a great movie.

Obscure but not bad

[preppy-3 · 7/10 · 19 January 2019]

A kid (Jimmy McNicol) is bought up by his possessive aunt (Susan Tyrrell). She wants him to stay with her forever...and will kill if anyone tries to stop her.

An effective little horror film. It manages to work homophobia and incest into its plot and has a few nicely bloody murders. Tyrrell is excellent as the aunt and Bo Svenson matches her as a detective on the case. Unfortunately McNichol is not that good. He's handsome and in good shape but a total blank. He flashes some nudity too in a shower scene. Not some unsung classic but a good strong horror film not deserving its obscurity.

What?

[coreyjmesler · 2/10 · 20 January 2019]

I don't know what movie y'all are talking about because this is terrible. If it's camp, camp is supposed to be fun. The direction is stodgy. The script is a mess, and uninspired. Everyone in it, including Susan Tyrell, is awful. And can we talk about McNichol? Not only can he not act, he can't dribble. Skip this one.

A shocking and powerful 'lost' film.

[Nightman85 · 10/10 · 19 December 2005]

The strongest of horror films always seems to be those whose victims are sympathetic and whose villains are mercilessly frightening. Night Warning is a testament to just that!

Young man becomes the unhealthy obsession of his aunt, who raised him, which leads him into a web of madness and murder!

Night Warning is a relatively unknown film, which is a shame because it is a truly effective and fairly original thriller. The story is very intriguing, full of mystery, suspense, and some solid shocks. A big part of the originality factor of this film is the fact that the story dares to explore subjects very rarely touched upon by most genre pictures, such as incest, homosexuality, and the question of what morally right really is. It is a complex and emotionally strong tale, that's gripping in a way that few thrillers ever are.

The excellent cast is another strong feature of this movie. Bo Svenson is solid as a homophobic police detective. A young Jimmy McNichol is touching as an attractive teen desperately trying to have a normal life. The greatest of all though is Susan Tyrrell as one of the most demented villains you'll ever see! Also among the cast is a young Bill Paxton in one of his earliest roles.

Night Warning is a terrific shocker that seems to have been lost over time, but for those seeking a truly jarring genre picture it is well worth finding a copy of!

**** out of ****

CrazIest woman ever!

[veritybingo · 6/10 · 21 April 2021]

Susan Tyrrell gives possibly the most savagely insane portayal of an unhinged woman ever (including Fatal Attraction, Play Misty For Me, Misery). The film itself is full of cliche and 'yeah sure' moments but she pulls focus away from these flaws with pure nutty, frightening energy. Also looming over the proceedings is an incredibly nasty, bigoted & single-minded cop. These elements together raise the tension so much that you may find yourself jumping out of your chair, hoping either one of these two gets it.

A B-movie with A-grade thrills.

Explores interesting themes but rarely rises above tedium

[tomgillespie2002 · 4/10 · 16 September 2011]

Jimmy Lynch (Billy McNichol) is a promising high school basketball player. When he was a child, his parents were both killed in a freak road accident, and has since then been looked after by his loving, but slightly overbearing aunt Cheryl (Susan Tyrrell). He returns home one night to find his aunt holding a knife after killing a maintenance man. She had desperately groped him, shouting that she needs a man, only for him to reject her. Det. Carlson (Bo Svenson) is assigned to investigate, and when the bigoted detective finds out that the maintenance man was gay, he suspects Jimmy of also being a homosexual. He then discovers that Jimmy's basketball coach is also gay, and suspects the murder is a result of a big gay love triangle.

When I was deciding which Video Nasty to watch next by reading up about them on Wikipedia, this film, also known as Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker, certainly caught my eye and sounded more interesting than the likes of Faces of Death. A Video Nasty exploring homophobia and incest, whilst mixed with a bit of gruesome violence? I was sold! As usual though, I was left disappointed. While the film certainly raises itself above tedium every now and then, it is no more than a standard psycho- biddy film, and those aforementioned themes left relatively unexplored. However Tyrrell turns in an effective performance, and Bo Svenson is certainly very funny (although I doubt that was the intention) as his rather dated gay-bashing cop. Not the worst Nasty by a long, long way, but certainly a missed opportunity. And watch out for a young Bill (listed here as William) Paxton.

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Nightmarish Video Nasty

[The_Void · 8/10 · 17 August 2006]

Nightmare Maker achieved cult status through it's inclusion on the DPP 'Video Nasty' list, which has also lead to it becoming a 'lost' film. It's somewhat unfortunate that William Asher's film was included on the infamous list, as aside from a couple of gory scenes; there really isn't anything in this film that warrants it's banning. Nightmare Maker focuses on themes of insanity and incest, and the way that the director portrays these themes is bold and uncompromising…although I find it hard to believe that this film was banned for it's themes by the same set of censors who made such decisions as banning 'The Driller Killer' merely for it's artwork. The plot focuses on Billy Lynch; a young man living with his aunt after his parents were killed in an unfortunate car accident. However, his relationship with his aunt isn't how she would like it; as the aunt has designs of a sexual nature on the boy, and does her best to ruin all of his plans; including his relationship with his girlfriend, and his hopes of winning a scholarship. All in all, making his life a nightmare...

The film features performances from a few well known actors, including Bo Svenson as a bigoted sheriff and Susan Tyrrell as the maniacal aunt. The film also features a small early role for Bill Paxton; who, as he would in the rest of his career, doesn't appear in the film for long enough. The acting performances overall aren't bad considering the type of film; but it would be unwise to go into it expecting anything brilliant. Susan Tyrrell does get to enjoy herself as the central matriarchal figure, however, and seeing her descend into insanity is a lot of fun. The style of the film is very eighties indeed, and through gritty cinematography; director William Asher ensures that the film feels every bit like the 'Video Nasty' that it would become shortly after it's release. The scenes of gore are short and don't show much blood; although scenes involving a machete, as well as the pivotal scene that sees Billy's parents killed in a car crash are rather bloody and deserve mention. The plot never really gets going properly, which is a shame; although the final fifteen minutes are very good indeed and manage to bring closure to all the plot threads. Overall, this certainly isn't the best film on the Video Nasty list; but it's a good one, and well worth tracking down!

Twisted Love Kills...

[P3n-E-W1s3 · 7/10 · 26 March 2017]

This is a truly bad film though it had a hypnotic effect on me... I just couldn't stop watching. This is an awesome film in its alarming subject matter. As a youngster, Billy Lynch is left with his Aunty Cheryl as his parents take a trip into the city. There's an accident and Billy's parents are killed so for the next fourteen years his Aunt takes care of him and brings him up. Then one day his Aunt kills a handyman who she claims tried to rape her. Billy affirms her story, though Detective Joe Carlson doesn't believe them. It's in the course of his investigation that things begin to unravel for Billy and Aunt Cheryl.

There are plenty of twists and turns in the story which keeps the viewer entertained and interested. Though it's the earnestness of the acting from Bo Svenson's portrayal of the over-the-top testosteroned bullish boor of a man in Detective Carlson that makes this humorous and enthralling. I have known people who are homophobic, to the point of brutishness, but this character could be the archetype.

Then there's the wonderful Susan Tyrell who's maniacal and lunatic portrayal of Aunty Cheryl is skin-crawlingly bizarre and creepy.

As the film progressed and grew more florid I was surprised to see Julia Duffy and, one of my favourite actors, Bill Paxton appear. Julia Duffy does a good job as Billy's love interest Julia and is one of the main characters that aren't too unnatural. One of the strongest and realistic characters in the movie is that of the homosexual Coach Tom Landers. When viewed in respect to the homophobic actions of Carlson I thought we'd get to see more of Landers. It is actually a shame that we don't

This film is bad enough, weird enough, crazy enough, and strangely entertaining enough to be a cult film. If you have time to spare and like a film to fascinate and delight then this is one worth a watch. I loved it...

The Evil Protégé

[d_m_s · 5/10 · 18 August 2014]

This is a very dark and serious slasher is and slight above average in terms of low budget b-movie slashers. In fact, I'm not even sure if you would call it a slasher. It's just a very dark toned horror film.

Susan Tyrrell was remarkably good as the mental Aunt Cheryl. Bo Svenson was also very convincing as the homophobic detective who is determined to convict those he thinks guilty for a recent murder(i.e. homosexuals) regardless of evidence to the contrary.

These two characters lend the film a very menacing tone and make it quite and uncomfortable watch. Although this film is somewhat better made than most b-movie horrors and has some very good performances, it lacks the humour that other slashers have and so it's a bit of an uncomfortable watch rather than a fun one.