I saw this film a few years back and really enjoyed it. After coming across the title recently and the added fact it was such a bargain purchased it and again thought what a great film, well within context - must have frightened quite a few people back in its day! Still quite creepy today 8/10
Yea, I think it was good but I must be jaded because I don't quite see the big hoopla about it other than being enjoyable, even though some parts dragged. I figured the ending coming only after a few minutes into it and I watched until the end to see if I was right and I was. It didn't affect me except for being disappointed because everyone says how creepy and scary it is and how the twist was so frightening and all that. I guess I shouldn't read other people's comments anymore. They don't just say "creepy for its time" they say even by today's standards. I also don't care about the excuse that I need to consider the time it was done. I think that's a BS cop out argument and even if it were true it possibly only reflects its merits within the context of its time and doesn't change the experience I have watching it now so it's a meaningless justification. For me it was a considerable disappointment mainly because of other people building it up into something beyond what it is giving false expectations. Most people must not be very imaginative if they really thought this was the big deal "you don't see it coming" twister they make it out to be and it wasn't that creepy. They must not be to go on and on about it the way they do and I guess they are easily impressed. I believed the hype because I've heard this from some other horror aficionados. I guess I was duped. I definitely preferred watching this over most new horror but I waited the whole hour and forty minutes for that "Oh crap!" moment that never came. Had I not heard everyone's BS about it I would have said, "That was a cool little flick". Well, now I can't.
Maria la Portuguesa & some family photos
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Other people would be better served just suggesting someone watch a film without to much glowing praise. I agree that great expectations ruin many a film.
Personally I liked the film a lot but then again it was one of those childhood early teen experiences when sneaking downstairs to watch the late movie with a sibling and having no expectations. it just snuck up on me and left an indelible impression.
Seeing it again now some 20 or more years later it seems more a vignette of old Alfred hitchcock presents episodes or Twilight Zone episodes.
In regard to historical context, its easy to see how if one acculturates to more modern thriller or horror films that you may not find an older film as scary/ thrilling/ original, as one may have seen the archetype of story remade since then. As an example, Agatha Christie's famous novel And Then There Were None (book not movie) has been redone in one form or another on TV shows. Criminal Minds had an extremely well done episode (Joe Montegna returns to Long Island to investigate multiple murders) using the same plot construct as Agatha Christie. The ventriloquist vignette was also covered somewhat in a Twilight Zone episode with Cliff Robertson as the ventriloquist. So, if one sees Twilight Zone or Criminal Minds episodes before seeing the Dead Of Night and reading Agatha Christie they may say, "not so startling" or innovative.
Still find this movie to be top notch.
I Agree with you..This thing has been attempted many times after this movie ala creepshow and also by many indian directors..But dead of night is something never repeated..Interesting and Shocking..
shareI've never seen a creepier film to this day
sharereally scary movie> especially the story with the ventriliquist dummy. reminds me of the movie "magic" with anthony hopkins. also the original twilight zone did a similar story. 1st time seeing this + it was a great surprise. i love anthology type movies, i know most people will disagree. that one about the mirror was also pretty creepy. i've been afraid of mirrors since i was little + after watching this>>>> i dont think i'll look at one after dark!
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