Deathdream — Deathdream( Blu Ray)

Deathdream ( aka Dead Of Night) was the second feature-length from Louisiana-born Bob Clarke( Black Christmas, Porky’s, Turk 182 ). The film is a decidedly ghoulish example of 70’s horror exploitation- blending proto-slasher tropes, down-beat back from war drama, and one of the more original takes on living dead horror. Here from Blue Underground is a recent(ish) Blu-Ray release of the film- taking in a 4k scan, a new commentary track & interview, as well a great selection of archive extras.

The film appeared in the year 1974,  two years after his weird-but-wonderfully ghoulish horror comedy Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things, and the same year as one of the early examples slasher genre Black Christmas.  The film has a rather neat ‘n’ tight runtime of one hour twenty-eight minutes- blending creepy horror tropes, with elements of thriller & glum drama, and subtle touches of dark humour.

The film opens with shots of what is meant to be a Vietnam jungle as we see a soldier being blown up, and a female voice keeps repeating ‘You Can’t die, Andy, you can’t die’ As we get past the credits we get to meet Andy’s parents-  Charles( John Marley) his grey bouffant haired father, his over fussy/ emotional fought mother Christine (Lynn Carlin), and his rather reserved slightly younger sister Cathy  (Anya Ormsby). They're all hopeful for Andy’s return from Nam, though one night a knock comes at their door- it’s a military officer informing the family Andy died in service- Christine doesn’t believe it, and both Charles and Cathy are shellshocked.

We then switch to a nighttime roadside- with the first great use of the doomy/ discordant soundtrack, which is edged with ghoulish moans & wails. Via a  POV shot, we see someone getting into a truck.  Shortly after the same truck pulls in at a roadside café- with the driver complaining about the soldier he’s picked up, who hasn’t said a word since he picked him up. Fairly soon the folks at Andy’s house are waking up in the middle of the night- they find a  creepily smiling Andy(Richard Backus) in his army uniform.

As things unfold Andy just doesn’t seem right- he says little or nothing, is constantly in a rocking chair, and has moments of sudden rage/ break. His parents initially pass it off as just returning from war. But as more deaths occur it seems something is very wrong with Andy.

Backus plays Andy in a wonderful creepy low-key manner- with a decidedly chilling smile and a real genuine presence of unease/sinister disquite. The rest of the cast is a little mixed- moving between overacting and a little flat- but this is a 70’s low-budget horror/thriller

The soundtrack by Carl Zittrer uses gloomy prepared piano, discordant acoustic sting picks, and macabre moans. With Clarke setting up some wonderful slasher-like POV scenes, and a general tangible feeling of macabre unease. There is a subtle use of special effects- be it Andy's (initially)  low-key body deterioration and moments of jarringly sudden gore- these were created by effects legend Tom Savini. 

Deathdream is a great/ more approachable- instantly effective horror thriller, after Clarke’s first film Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things which certainly was a little quirkier/ cult in its feel. The film also has a very tangible feeling of both dread/ ghoulish unease- which is quite distinctive to this film.

 

Moving onto this region free Blu-Ray( there is also a UHD/Blu-Ray dual release). And the 4k scan looks largely very crisp, clean and full of colour definition/ depth. A few of the nighttime scenes do look a little murky in places, but largely you can see what is going on.

On the new extras side we have two things- first of these is a commentary track from  Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson, and as we’ve come to expect with these two track pros this is another excellently researched and informed track.  They begin by discussing the films different titles- in script form it was called The Veteran, then when shooting The Night Caller, before it got shifted to Dead Of Night & Deathdream. They point out a different actor playing Andy in the war scenes,  and how back in its original VHS form you could barely see anything in the opening credits/ films darker scenes.  They point out actors as  they appear- giving brief bios for each. They discuss the influences on the films script,  and the elements of Low-brow humor that appears near the beginning of the picture.  They talk about their first experience seeing Deathdream.  We find out the film was Canadian financed- but was all shot in Brooksville Florida- including the meant-to-be Vietnam opening scenes. They touch on the films blend of zombie and vampire tropes, and how this was Tom Savini first professional job. They talk about the way the soundtrack & sound effects are mixed together to great effect. Later on they discuss the films title, and wonder if it’s why the film didn’t make much of an impact/ impression when it was first release. We find out the film was made late 1972, but didn’t appear in theatres until the summer of 1974.  They talk about the films more grim and unsettling moments, though also point out there were few easily exploitative elements in the film like approachable violence or nudity.  Another great track from these two- which is well worth a play.

The other new extra here is The First Andy ( 12.23) which is a blend of an interview and original screen test with Gary Swanson- who was initially going to play Andy and appears in the first few minutes of the film. This is most interesting, as Deathdream was his first experience with film, and he’s gone on to have another fifty acting credits since with role in the likes of Vice Squad (1982) and The Bone Collector (1999)- it’s fascinating to watch him playing out some of the films key scenes in his screentest- wondering what the film would have been like if he was the lead.

On the archive side of things, we get a good selection of things. Two other commentary tracks- one with Co-Producer/Director Bob Clark, and one with Writer/Make-Up Artist (Uncredited) Alan Ormsby. A Recollection With Star Anya Liffey and Writer/Make-Up Artist Alan Ormsby Notes For A Homecoming – Interview with Composer Carl Zittrer. Flying Down To Brooksville – Interview with Production Manager John ‘Bud’ Cardos. Tom Savini: The Early Years. Deathdreaming – Interview with Star Richard Backus. Screen Test with Original Andy, Gary Swanson. Alan Ormsby Student Film. Alternate Opening Titles, theatrical trailer, and still galleries.

Deathdream is easily a four-star film, but with the addition of the classy 4k scan, and a great selection of new & archive extras this easily pushes the release up to a five out of five release. If you like glum & troubling 70’s genre films Deathdream is a must, and this new release from Blue Underground is the best way to see it.