Customer Reviews

Dead of Night

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before "Dead of Night" Dan Curtis did a three story anthology show called "Trilogy of Terror." It starred Karen Black; the first two segments were so-so; the third was unforgettable. The story entitled "Amelia" featured the Zuni fetish doll called "He Who Kills"; it was one of the greatest moments of horror, on tv or elsewhere.

And so it is with "Dead of Night." The first two stories are average. The third is a knockout. I remember seeing it when it first came on; I never forgot the final piece entitled "Bobby." Joan Hackett and Lee Montgomery are excellent. I won't reveal the story; it's best not to know what happens. All I'll say is that the segment is terrifying and features an ending that packs a wallop. Really, it was one of the most shocking, frightening things I've ever seen. And after it ends the credits roll over a background of total darkness, with the eerie sound of crickets making it seem even more foreboding.

This deserves five stars for "Bobby" alone. Dan Curtis at his best was a master of horror.

This film is all about Bobby, period. When I first saw this short story on TV, I was just a kid and I was haunted by it. While the rest of the movie is mediocre at best, Bobby is brilliant. I was very happy to find this classic restored on High Quality DVD9 with great menus and extras.

I saw this trilogy when it first aired, probably on ABC, in 1977 when I was thirteen. I can't review the first two stories because I simply don't remember them. I think Mr. Curtis intentionally stuck the last story, "Bobby" at the end of the trilogy, and for good reason. It scared the hell out of a generation! I'm 45 now and cynical and jaded, but I just don't think I have the guts to purchase "Dead of Night" on Amazon. Television was so much fun back then!Dead of Night

"Dead Of Night" was originally produced as a follow-up to the classic "Trilogy Of Terror" on ABC's "Movie Of The WeeK".
It was written by Richard Matheson and directed by Dan Curtis(the same team who produced Trilogy), and while not as great as Trilogy Of Terror" is a very good antholgy in its own right.
"Second Chance" featured a young Ed Begley Jr. as a car restorer and is an interesting tale of the imagination.
"No Such Thing As Vampires" is a nice tale of mystery about a couple in an eastern country who are being stalked by a vampire(or so it seems).
The last story is (I think) the best. "Bobby" is about a mother whose grief over her lost son causes her to enlist some help she really shouldn't.
I'm sorry if I'm being vague, but I think that this is a really good movie, and if you can find it, see it,you'll be happy you did.

Dead of Night is a anthology TV movie (3 short horror stories) by Dan Curtis who gave us Trilogy of Terror. I thought it was pretty good with the last story Bobby being the most memorable. This same story came back in Trilogy of Terror part 2. Bobby is a boy brought back to life by his mother through some witchcraft but it really isnt Bobby. What this creature looks like at the finale will scare the crap out of you. What a face..
The 2nd story No Such Thing as a Vampire has a woman thinking she is getting bit by a vampire - her husband gets a man who specializes in vampires to stop the horror. If I say any more it would ruin the twists and turns of what is going on. I will say Elisha Cook Jr is in this - for those that remember him from many classic Noir and mysteries like The Maltese Falcon
The first story with Ed Begley Jr. - he buys a car from 1926 and suddenly finds himself in that very year. Again, I dont like to spoil anything for those wanting to see this, but I will say this was the weakest of the 3, at least to me.
Dark Sky presents this DVD in its original full frame and the transfer is a nice sharp image for the most part. There are still some grainy or hazy parts here and there, the night scenes in Bobby - I think there was just a little too much black, still a little dark in some places.but nothing really bad...
If you like Trilogy of Terror you will most likely enjoy this as well, Bobby is the winner here, and is almost as good as the Zuni misfit doll from Trilogy of Terror.

I'd caught the last 15 minutes of this movie on television a few years ago, and spent some time and effort tracking it down. Being 41 myself, I well remember the wonderful old "ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week" telefilms of the 70's (and Wednesday MOW's and so on). This, I guess I'd missed the first time around.

Anyway, as "horror anthology" this isn't a success at all. I understand this was the pilot for a possible series of strange and unusual tales, so it isn't all horror. In fact, the first story is an interesting romantic time-travel tale, by noted writer Jack Finney. In that story, a man who restores a classic, antique car, is taken by that car back in time to before the car was wrecked. ...

The second story, is about a man using his village's fear of vampire legends to dispatch his own enemies - not much interest or tension there.

The third story - aha! PAYDIRT!!!

This is the story worth waiting for, the story you want to see, the story like no story you've ever seen before, and that will keep you jumping throughout. I'll tell you nothing about it - you'll have to buy this video to see it yourself, and believe me - you'll be glad you did!

I would ignore the obvious spamming for "dead central" as the host there is trying to drum up hits for his website.

Good movie - alot to offer horror fans.

I recently got this movie, at just over $5. I mean usually this movie is listed at prices that range from no less than $40 and all the way up as high as $70,$80 or maybe even $100, if you can believe that. I will tell you that the movie is nowhere worth that! The first stoty about the car is like a Twilight Zone episode mixed with a little Lifetime original movie feel to it. In other words it's not good! The second about the vampire thing is really odd, until the end, when it comes clear what's really going on. It's an ok story, I guess. The third about the little boy is pretty good. It has some really creepy moments in it. If not for the third story it would not be worth watching ever again. I give the first story a 1 out 5, the second a 2 out 5, and the third a 4.5 out of 5. As a whole the movie gets a 3 out of 5, mainly because the last story saves what would have been a not so good movie .

Three short flicks. The best of all being "Bobby". The acting, story....everything was awesome and creepy. The first two stories are interesting, but "Bobby" was worth buying the whole CD!!!

Today people think horror has to be nothing but blood and gore
and sex with boys and girls running around with mad axe men in
mask or other ridiculous costumes with no story! Dead of Night
was made by the great Dan Curtis who could make a horror story
and not show ounce of blood and scare the pants off you! of course
you have to have an attention span and watch and listen to the
story! This trilogy of three stories are well written acted and
directed. I remember these as a kid and the last one scared me
I didn't want to turn the lights out! If you like Dan Curtis or
Night Stalker TV series with Darren McGavin [a must have] or
the best Dracula movie ever made with Jack Palance [a must have]
then you will like these classic horror stories. I bought these
as bootleg years ago so I can't comment on the disc set quality.