Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
innovative, powerful, original -- true crime told as horror film/religious parable, September 28, 2009
NIGHTSTALKER doesn't follow the Richard Ramirez serial killer facts too closely. But that's not what this film is about.
This is history told as a horror film. Indeed, as a religious parable.
We see Ramirez's killings through his own eyes. He stalks and kills his victims while an albino Satan with a blood-stained mouth flashes about him, head shaking quickly. Ramirez himself flashes about the scene. It's a series of killings seen through the eyes of an insane drug addict. It sets the mood of Evil. It works.
(Although the fast head shaking was first used in JACOB'S LADDER, it may be that this film's albino Satan later inspired THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.)
Evil is the theme, to the point of religious parable. Ramirez not only sees Satan, he orders his victims, "Say you love Satan!" He tells Satan, "I did it for you!" Naturally, his apartment abounds in upturned pentagrams, written in blood.
Ramirez's nemesis is Rosalyn Sanchez, who plays an East L.A. cop--who's also a devout Catholic. She prays fervently every night, the camera hovering in extreme closeup about her quivering lips, her tightly clutched rosary, focusing in and out at the aged crucifix she prays before.
Sanchez (Detective Martinez) is surrounded by encroaching evil. Her black police lieutenant boss sexually harasses her. His head shakes quickly (as does Satan's head), thus linking him to Evil. Sanchez's Latino partner snorts coke in the squad car, his head shaking quickly. Sanchez's white partner turns vigilante, his head shaking quickly. The Evil is everywhere, in all races.
All three men behave in a mostly decent (if roughshod) manner throughout the film. None of their indiscretions are followed up plotwise. Rather, the Evil just lurks there, surfacing on occasion, but always beneath the surface of those Sanchez might trust.
The Evil lurks in women too. Sanchez is betrayed by a gal reporter, who uses Sanchez as a source, then breaks confidence, exposing Sanchez as her source. Sanchez had given a police sketch of Ramirez to the reporter, hoping it would save lives. Sanchez's motives were pure, but the reporter didn't care about saving lives, only making a name for herself; exposing Sanchez saved no one, but made the story juicier. The reporter also snorts coke, her head shaking quickly.
Sanchez has other problems. Her aging mother is senile, a burden on Sanchez, who's turned down better job offers to stay in East L.A. and care for her mother. These problems are additional crosses for Sanchez to bear as she prays to Jesus.
The Evil is everywhere. The film is set in 1985, and TV sets throughout the film carry newscasts of crises in the Mideast, the poison plant leakage in India, US support of Iraq, and the Ramirez killings.
No, this is not a "true crime" film. It's shot in the aesthetic style of a horror film, and it's about a devoutly Catholic woman seeking divine help in her fight against Evil. Sanchez is the moral core of this darkening universe as Evil encroaches on her from all directions.
I can see that many true crime fans were disappointed. I don't think horror fans would be upset. The cinematography is beautiful. (And yes, so is Sanchez.)
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4.0 out of 5 stars
For those that love scary movies!, August 3, 2009
I had to turn this movie off 3/4 of the way through and I still had nightmares. A friend of mine and I were having a slumber party and thought it would be fun to rent scary movies. By far, to this day the scariest movie I have ever seen. Being female and realizing that these stories are based on actual events and attacks on women this movie was where its at if you want to be scared!
Unfortunately even with a big dog in the house we still woke up several times and couldn't sleep. Now we laugh about it but I will never ever watch this movie again.... ew
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1.0 out of 5 stars
I wish I could have gave it less than 0 stars, August 3, 2008
I am going to say this with confidence- hands down the WORST movie I have ever seen. I dont know why the movie is called "nightstalker" and based on Richard Ramirez because NONE of the facts are even close to reality. I love serial killer movies but if you are going to start a movie off by saying "based on true events", at least have some of them. If you have ever read ANYTHING on Richard Ramirez you are goint to be completely frustrated with so many aspects of the movie. Real quick. the director must think that the entire LAPD are either racists, sexiest or alcoholics. Also everytime you show "the nighstalker" you dont have to show him smoking crack and having that monster appear and have him shake with the horrible sound effects. Also if you are doing a movie on a serial killer have a few facts correct. Here are some of the mistakes: There was no lead female dect. on the case, he was never stabbed during a rape, LAPD do not take their cars home for their personal use, he was not a size 9.5 shoe, the police NEVER released the wanted poster for him (the San Fran Mayor did), there was never 666 on the walls. He never singled out a memeber of the police dept and shwoed up at her house and didn't kill her family. Pathetic movie. I am so lucky i rented this movie and didnt buy it. wow HORRIBLE.
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DVD ~ Andrew Church
DVD ~ Mark Holton
DVD ~ Steve Railsback
DVD ~ Roselyn Sanchez
