So last night I finally watched Dead of Night (aka Deathdream) for the first time. I've had the DVD since it was released, and being a huge fan of Bob Clark's Black Christmas, as well as knowing the film's glowing rep, I was very much looking forward to it. But I was disappointed.
I'll admit off the bat I don't like Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things very much, although certain things I admire about it: the impressive makeup and the use of locale. Where Alan Ormsby is probably an acquired taste, he grated on me, and I thought the whole thing had a puerile sensibility.
Deathdream, while a smarter film, worked neither as a polemic on the horrors of war (like Combat Shock) or a melancholic zombie flick (like I Zombie), instead it just meanders. While seeing Ormsby pop up in just a cameo is a relief, his missus, the incredible dull Anya Ormsby, crops up in a major role as his sister. She employs the same method of acting that she does in CSPWDT - namely that she can't act and does this ridiculous wide-eyed thing throughout that is neither endearing or cute.
I didn't hate the film. It's suburban malaise made me wonder if the director had been inspired by The Graduate as Richard Backus reclines in his lawn chair, vacantly staring ahead while the neighborhood postman lectures at him. And there was some nifty acting from John Marley as his old man. But I think in this case the film's reputation preceded it.
A decent effort, but I'm glad Clark started fresh with Black Christmas, as that's a film that really showcased what he was capable of - especially with fresh talent. I must watch Deranged again, see if I can gain some respect back for Ormsby. Maybe I'll give Deathdream another shot later on down the line, now my expectations have been put back in check.
Note: My BU DVD is faulty, but it's too late to return it now. It skips three minutes during the killing of a certain character midway through. Must be a manufacturing issue as the disc is clean.
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