The Prowler

Rating:
Summary: A Slasher Flick With A Moral
Review: The moral? Don't dump your boyfriend while he's overseas fighting the Germans. Well that's just what Rose does and now we got a bloodbath on our hands. The success of Friday The 13th gave us about 600 other slasher flicks in the early 80s. I'm a big fan of this all but forgotten subgenre. The Prowler stands out(to me anyway) as one of the best of those films. There's nothing new here-nothing you haven't seen in every other slasher flick. You'll figure out who the killer is a half hour into the film, but we're not really watching this movie for twists or suspense. But it does have a creepy looking killer and some of the bloodiest deaths for this kind of movie. Slasher flicks always tried to create gruesome and creative deaths. The Prowler's deaths aren't all that creative(lots of pitchfork and bayonette stabbings is all), but they are bloody. They look Fulci-esque. This also has one of the goofiest looking leading men I've ever seen. Directed by Joeseph Zito who brought us the timeless classics, Friday The 13th-The Final Chapter, Invasion USA and Missing In Action. With that said, you no longer have a reason not to own this. Get to the store. Chop chop.

Rating:
Summary: Gore galore, but not much more
Review: THE PROWLER (1981): Just after the end of World War II, a small-town graduation dance is halted by a gruesome double murder. Thirty-five years later, the dance is reinstated and a killer dressed in military fatigues begins to rampage through the partygoers.

Thrown together on the cheap by director Joseph Zito and debut screenwriters Glenn Leopold and Neal F. Barbera (son of legendary animation producer Joseph Barbera) as a showcase for makeup master Tom Savini's horrific special effects, THE PROWLER emerges as a real disappointment. Following a terrific pre-credits sequence which evokes the post-war period through a combination of soft-focus cinematography and imaginative production design, the movie segues into a barely adequate contemporary story which unfolds at a snails-pace and is almost completely lacking in suspense. Savini's effects are just as shocking today as they must have seemed in 1981, particularly a mean-spirited twist on the PSYCHO shower murder which positively revels in the victim's blood-spattered torment. But these effects - which are pretty few and far between - are almost all the film has going for it. Despite a paltry 88 minute running time, the feeble storyline is padded beyond distraction by endless scenes in which the two central characters - a deputy sheriff (Christopher Goutman) and a plucky young partygoer (Vicky Dawson) - wander around various locations (the cemetery, an old house, the college dormitory, etc.) in search of clues to the unfolding mystery, culminating in a mind-numbing sequence involving an unhelpful motel clerk which seems to last forever and serves only the flimsiest of narrative purposes! The young cast are all pretty nondescript, though top-billing is reserved for Farley Granger (a long way from STRANGERS ON A TRAIN!), who provides an extended cameo as the local sheriff. Lawrence Tierney (RESERVOIR DOGS) also receives a major credit, but he has no dialogue and is on-screen for less than a minute! The movie is technically competent, but it fails to generate a sense of dramatic urgency and relies too heavily on a small number of graphic set-pieces, though Richard Einhorn's tinny music score - played by what sounds like a five-piece orchestra! - does its best to disguise the cracks in the narrative. Ultimately, THE PROWLER is recommended only for Savini-worshippers and slasher completists.

Blue Underground's all-region disc - which runs 88m 9s - restores the movie to its original widescreen dimensions (1.85:1, anamorphically enhanced) for the first time on home video, though the image is crawling with grain, particularly during daylight sequences. Sound format is 2.0 mono. There are no captions or subtitles. Extras include a series of clips from Tom Savini's home movies which chronicle the filming of the various makeup effects, offering ghoulish confirmation of the film's entire raison d'etre. Savini joins director Zito for a fascinating audio commentary in which they admit the movie's shortcomings, but they also have fond memories of the production and many of the people involved in its creation. The two men later collaborated on FRIDAY THE 13th THE FINAL CHAPTER (1984), which is everything THE PROWLER is not - stylish, suspenseful and genuinely frightening.

NB. THE PROWLER was released overseas as ROSEMARY'S KILLER, and the excellent British quad poster design is replicated on an insert included with Blue Underground's DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Not just your typical 80s Slasher
Review: The Prowler has become one my favorite films. There is some bashing of this one, but I really don't get it. I love everything about this movie. The storyline, how the killer looks, the weaponry of his choice. It was like nothing I'd seen before. Also, a great showcase of the incredible talents of legendary FX artist Tom Savini. Contrary to popular belief, There is an explanation for the killings, like most slashers have some vague motive... the Prowler's motive was to get revenge on Rosemary for leaving him. Simple as that. I really dont think that many people who watch horror films religiously worry about plot and details too much anyways. The film definetly delivers in the violence department. If you're looking for a different kind of slasher, go ahead and pick this up. I think Prowler and Frank Zito could have been best friends.

Rating:
Summary: Truly An Incredible Slasher Film!
Review: The Prowler is a classic slasher gorehound film that really delivers all you want to see. It also is genuinely scary and builds up a lot of tension at points. I have not seen gore this good in a long time. Tom Savini is the master! This is so much more watcheable than Friday the 13th. I could never understand the popularity of those flicks, especially since they were always so censored. This is the real deal! If you are a gorehound and like a lot of blood with your horror, you can't go wrong with The Prowler.

Rating:
Summary: 3/5 OUT 5 OVERALL
Review: The Prowler is classic to horror fans and when it came out in early 1981 we witnessed more of Tom Savani's great effects. First off The Prowler is about a World War vet that is over seas and gets a Dear John letter,his girlfriend Rosemary says she can no longer bare the pain of having to wait for him,so she told him she found someone else and moved on with her life. In 1945 a graduation dance is held and a couple is brutally murdered with a pitchfork. Years later the town has the graduation dance again but a prowler is on the loose. Could it be the jealous girl,the angry boyfriend,the shrieff,the man that lost his daughter in 1945 at the dance? Its a great coverup of the identity until the end. Lastly the death scenes are brutal unlike Paramounts April Fools,My Bloody Valentine,or Friday The 13th these death scenes are credited with Tom Savani's (1977/DAWN OF THE DEAD,1981/THE BURNING)effects and are all uncut/unedited. There is even a special effects making extra,and trailer,tv spots,picture galleries and great creepy score DON'T MISS THIS CLASSIS OR WILL BE MISSING ONE OF THE BEST HORROR/SLASHERS OF THE EARLY 80'S!

Rating:
Summary: Often Overlooked, But Once Seen...Not Forgotten
Review: There was always something about "The Prowler" that made it stand out among the other 80's slashers. It's a fun and scary movie that features some of F/X maestro Tom Savini's most gruesome work. The small town setting, the sprawling mansion and dorm, the innovative backstory all create a great atmosphere. The actual menacing figure of the Prowler himself is just down right creepy, and the unique kills involving a pitchfork, a bayonette and other sharp instruments will keep horror fans happy. The DVD treatment is fantastic, and I really enjoyed Tom Savini's behind the scenes look at some of the great effects. If you are a fan of the horror genre then this movie is a must see. The only two drawbacks to the film; the Prowler looks menacing, but he doesn't instill that sense of dread Jason or Michael posess. And the musical score is kind of flat, not really helping to build suspense, just a trilling violin that kind of gets in the way. But those two minor complaints shouldn't keep you from enjoying a great old-school slasher. And by the way....why do so many people who have reviewed this movie feel the need to give away the entire story? I mean if you are not sure what "The Prowler" is about...just look at the DVD cover art....there aren't too many folks out there that will think this is a romantic comedy!! If you aren't familiar with this movie, don't read further reviews some of which contain quite a few spoilers!

Rating:
Summary: Savini unleashed
Review: This film has always been butchered in the UK with the censors depriving us of Tom Savini's incredible fx so it's great to finally get the chance to see this classic 80's slasher epic in its uncut glory.The film is nicely directed by Joseph Zito who has a keen sense of how to deliver the shocks for maximum impact.The image looks a little grainy but I have a feeling that was intended by Zito.A terrific little horror film of the kind they just don't make any more.

Rating:
Summary: Prowler-Real Life Horror?
Review: This forgotten gem of a slasher movie is the R-rated version.
Several years ago, I rented The Prowler UNRATED version from a
mom and pop store in Van Nuys, Ca. I copied it and then returned
it late for one night. The following week, the video store burned
to the ground! Needless to say, I never had to pay the late fee!
Anyway, the UNRATED version is extremely gory and it's very cool
even on VHS. Tom Savini(SPFX Artist) would be proud!!
Ted Buchanan
Tujunga, CA
[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Underrated, unusual slasher gets A-grade DVD treatment
Review: To say THE PROWLER is any kind of great film is simply untrue. However, the whole thing has an eerie, unsettling, dream-like quality to it that carries it through the slower patches and makes the film's near-total lack of coherency and logic much easier to take. The tension is kept taught throughout, and with top-notch scoring, photography, gore effects and direction, makes for a surprisingly effective and repeatable horror film. Just make sure you watch it in the dead of night! The Blue Underground DVD has a fine anamorphic transfer that is as good as the original negatives will allow, some fascinating on-set footage of the make-up effects, an impressive stills and poster gallery that is definitely worth ploughing through and a superb, hugely entertaining commentary with director Joseph Zito and make-up maestro Tom Savini. Very much recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Grisly but unimaginative
Review: When I learned of another horror film boasting special effects work from Tom Savini, I knew I had to see it as quickly as possible. Fortunately, Blue Underground gave the film, 1981's "The Prowler," their usual careful and comprehensive treatment. Founded by veteran horror director William Lusting ("Maniac," "Uncle Sam," and "Maniac Cop"), Blue Underground makes it their mission in life to dig up obscurities and re-release them uncut and with loads of extras. Perhaps my memory is deceiving me at the moment, but I have yet to see a DVD from this company that fails to provide a spectacular presentation. The movies themselves might be mediocre, as is the case with "The Prowler" in certain aspects, but for horror film fans the company has been a godsend. While I am slowly working my way through their back catalog, I look forward to future DVDs from Blue Underground.

Directed by Joseph Zito ("Missing in Action," Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter"), "The Prowler" meanders through territory instantly familiar to fans of slasher films released in the early 1980s. The folks of some small town out in the sticks abandoned their annual dance after a psychotic soldier went on a bloody rampage back in the 1940s. Turns out that his sweetheart sent him one of those obnoxious 'Dear John' letters and the guy flipped. He returned home, suited up in his army gear (uniform, mask, helmet, bayonet, and even though I never realized it was standard issue, a pitchfork), and proceeded to wreak bloody havoc on his ex-lover and her newly acquired boyfriend. We learn all about this in the typical opening sequence, the one that sets the stage for the obligatory flash forward to a group of modern day teenagers who will soon become cannon fodder for a series of outrages committed by the returning soldier. Sound familiar yet? It should, but fortunately for "The Prowler" most of what we see is well above average in the gore department, thanks to the tender loving attentions of Tom Savini.

O.K., flash forward thirty or so years to the modern day (in this case, 1980 or so) where we see a bunch of kids with hilariously feathered coifs--who look a lot older than your average teenagers--getting ready to throw the first dance since the unfortunate incidents of the 1940s. Oh, a few killjoys mumble ominously about the potential for new atrocities, but they fall mostly on deaf ears because kids these days just don't want to listen to their elders. Most people, however, just aren't all that worried about new killings. Heck, even the sheriff (played by Farley Granger) chuckles benevolently about the party and then promptly announces he is going to take a fishing trip. He decides to leave his young deputy in charge of the town, even though a report about a robbery/murder in a village up the road presents a slight possibility of violence moving into the area. Who cares, though? With the sheriff heading out of town, the kids expect to indulge in a night of alcohol, promiscuity, and dancing. No one gives the deputy much thought since he is a young guy just learning the ropes. Again, we have seen all of this before in one way or another.

The nightmare begins awfully fast as the soldier of yesteryear returns in grand style, sporting that trademark pitchfork along with a bayonet the size of William Wallace's sword. Kids die by the boatload before the alarm goes out, but one of the girls teams up with the young deputy (surprise!) and the two begin to search for the killer. In the meantime, the soldier goes on a massive killing spree, impaling people on that darned pitchfork and getting some mileage out of the bayonet. In one scene, definitely ranking as one of the grimmest in the film, the masked maniac drives his bayonet straight through a guy's head while the victim judders and jitters like some sort of demented marionette. Another gory scene takes place in a swimming pool, when a young lady decides to take a swim and runs right into our demented soldier. And wouldn't you know it? In vivid close up he swipes that old knife right across her throat with the greatest of ease. Yuck! The capper, though, occurs near the end when Savini attempts another exploding head scene ala "Maniac." Regrettably, the attempt pales in comparison to the effect in Lustig's grisly film, but Savini's heart is in the right place and it still looks nasty. Overall, "The Prowler" is a step up from other gory films of its period. Zito attempted to make this film more sadistic and colorful, and he largely succeeded. Unfortunately, the extended stalk and slash scenes run on far too long; so long, in fact, that any tension built up melts away while the scene is still unfolding. The tendency to overplay the suspense card, along with cardboard cutout characters we could care less about, significantly hampers the overall effectiveness of "The Prowler."

The Blue Underground DVD is awesome. Extras include a commentary with Joseph Zito and Tom Savini (!), a poster and still gallery, a trailer, and a behind the scenes look at Savini's gore effects. Attention: you MUST watch this behind the scenes footage. I know a lot of the featurettes on DVDs aren't very good, but this one is a winner. Not only do we see how Savini pulled off his grisly effects, we see them acted out in horrific detail. Even though you know what you are seeing is fake, it still looks gruesome in the extreme. Especially noteworthy is the swimming pool scene, which goes on for an eternity in the featurette. To top it all off, "The Prowler" is in widescreen. This isn't a unique film, but the DVD should appeal to horror fans everwhere.