"The Prowler" was one of many slasher films released in the 1980's during the 'slasher craze'. But what elevates "The Prowler" to the top of the heap is the impressive and brutal kills created by special effects legend Tom Savini. The killer strikes quickly but the deaths are long and painfully realistic. The film opens in the 1940's and the period piece (cars, wardrobes, dialog) is done rather well. Giving the film a bit of class and scope that other slashers of that period didn't have. The plot revolves around teens being killed off during a dance by a murderer wearing WWII fatigues. A "Dear, John" letter is the catalyst for the slaughter.
"The Prowler" is shot effectively and director Zito does a great jump of building tension. And tension is what separates great slashers from generic slashers. A sub-genre that was heavily produced in the decade. There are quite a few shots and kills that have gone on to become cliché. But at the time, we're quite innovative for the genre. It's a rather fierce and hard hitting slasher. The film has a certain savageness about it that makes it feel nastier than most films of the sub-genre.
"The Prowler" features nudity, death by pitchfork, plenty of red herrings, a nice shotgun beheading, an annoying redneck receptionist, and Farley Granger slumming it up.
Till next time horror hounds and fright fanatics, beware the darkness
"The Prowler" is shot effectively and director Zito does a great jump of building tension. And tension is what separates great slashers from generic slashers. A sub-genre that was heavily produced in the decade. There are quite a few shots and kills that have gone on to become cliché. But at the time, we're quite innovative for the genre. It's a rather fierce and hard hitting slasher. The film has a certain savageness about it that makes it feel nastier than most films of the sub-genre.
"The Prowler" features nudity, death by pitchfork, plenty of red herrings, a nice shotgun beheading, an annoying redneck receptionist, and Farley Granger slumming it up.
Till next time horror hounds and fright fanatics, beware the darkness