Nightmare At Noon is an entertaining-if-typical straight-to-VHS 80’s action film, which adds in intriguing if light touches of both Sci-fi and horror. It was directed by Greek schlockmeister Nico Mastorakis- of taboo-breaking nasty Island Of Death, action slasher mash-up The Zero Boys, etc.  Here from Arrow Video- both in the UK and Stateside- is a new Blu-Ray release of the film, taking in a new HD scan of the film, as well as a few extras

Nightmare At Noon( aka Death Street USA) appeared in the year 1988. It was the tenth film directed by Nico Mastorakis, and he co-wrote it with Kirk Ellis. Like a lot of Mastoraki's output, the film blends genres- though they are done in a lot lighter manner- with the key focus being here 80’s action, with lots of gun fights, explosions, and corny lines.

The film was shot in and around the ragged and grand rock deserts of Utah, and is set in a small valley set town. Things kick off with a group of black secret op vans appearing later at night near the town's water reservoir. Out of one of the vans steps a sinister white latex-gloved and white-suited Albion- played by cult bad guy actor Brion James, with dyed white beard & hair. He fires a green fluorescent tube into the reservoir, before returning to his high-tech van to program mayhem for the morning.

We flash forward to the next morning as we see rock star lawyer Ken Griffiths( Wigs Hauser) and his blond-haired & large breasted wife Cheri(Kimberly Beck) driving towards their town in their RV, just on the town outer limits they pick up middle-aged army bomber jacket wearing Reliy( Bo Hopkins). The three stop off at the town's dinner- but just as they are having some breakfast ‘n’ beers(!). A long-bearded and dungarees-wearing older man comes into the dinner- he first seems fine, then suddenly switches to stabbing the waitress in her hand, and attacking the others in the dinner.
The man's rampage spills outside, and the classic ageing/ larger sheriff (George Kennedy) turns up with his twenty-some deputy daughter Julia(Kimberly Ross) to try and resolve things…with the man seemingly being more than a little difficult to stop- finally, he’s gun down, with green blood spurting as he dies.  Things go from bad to worse for the town, as more folks go crazy- and the black ops guys block the phone lines, and burn out any vehicle trying to leave.

So, the sheriff, his daughter, and the out-of-towners team up to try and find outs what’s going on. We get a ton of gun battles as the group fight the gone-crazy residents, there are car explosions, black ops with flame throwers, and a dusty ‘n’ burning desert resolve, which is interspersed by a helicopter chase through the Canyons and huge rock work of the desert.

Acting wise Hauser is fairly low-key (compared with some of his other roles) and likeable enough as the rock star lawyer. Hopkins is great as the middle-aged Vietnam vet- who is full of cheesy one-liners, and a sharpshooter.  Kennedy is perfect as the town sheriff, and later on, we get some emotional moments between father and daughter.  James is effective as the silent and sinister bad guy, with his dyed white beard/ hair, and contacts in.  The film runs just over the hour and a half minute mark- and for the most part, it’s entertaining, at points quite thrilling ride- my only slight criticism would be that the intercutting between the showdown/ resolve and chopper chase seems to be a little clunky/ frustrating.

Moving onto this new Blu-Ray release, and we find a nice HD scan of the film, which is clear ‘n’ crisp- bringing to life the dusty setting and the limited effects elements well. On the extras side- it’s all archive-based stuff- firstly there is The Films of Nico Mastorakis: Nightmare at Noon(33.13) which is a seemingly relatively recent making-of doc, which is voiced over by the director with behind-the-scenes footage, and cast interviews. Behind-the-scenes footage( 48.19) this collects together stunt and general behind-the-scenes footage. We get a selection of on-set interviews with the cast- these are utilized in the films of doc, but are presented here in their full uncut form- and we have Wings Hauser(12.39), Bo Hopkins(11.06), Kimberly Beck(7.36), George Kennedy(4.28) and Brion James(17.09).  An original trailer, and an image gallery with the score playing over the top.

As with all of Nico Mastorakis's output Nightmare At Noon is another entertaining ride. Sure it may not be wholly effective in its genre-blending as some of his output, and at points, it does become a little clichéd in its 80’s action elements- but it’s (largely) a well-paced, eventful, at times exciting/tense slice of straight to VHS  fun. And it’s great to see Arrow carrying on with their slow but sure reissuing of Mr Mastorakis's filmography.