"Night of Fear" focuses on a young woman who is tormented by a psychotic backwoods hermit after crashing her car in a remote area. This early Australian horror film (some cite it as possibly the first) in many ways resembles something like "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" which came the following year, albeit a more insular and shorter version.
Originally intended as a TV pilot, the film is not even an hour in length, but the threadbareness of its plot perhaps makes the proceedings more effective because of it. It also contains no spoken dialogue, but is riveting none the less. The two cast members give solid performances as predator and prey, and the film is accentuated by dark, dingy cinematography and atmospheric locations.
While optically it may not appear as such by today's standards, there is an argument to be made that "Night of Fear" was one of a number of progenitors of backwoods slasher movies, albeit a lesser-known offering from down under. It is certainly worth viewing for fans of this subgenre of horror. At 54 minutes, it manages to engage and offer a number of macabre set pieces and other surprises that are more than worth the price of admission. 9/10.
Originally intended as a TV pilot, the film is not even an hour in length, but the threadbareness of its plot perhaps makes the proceedings more effective because of it. It also contains no spoken dialogue, but is riveting none the less. The two cast members give solid performances as predator and prey, and the film is accentuated by dark, dingy cinematography and atmospheric locations.
While optically it may not appear as such by today's standards, there is an argument to be made that "Night of Fear" was one of a number of progenitors of backwoods slasher movies, albeit a lesser-known offering from down under. It is certainly worth viewing for fans of this subgenre of horror. At 54 minutes, it manages to engage and offer a number of macabre set pieces and other surprises that are more than worth the price of admission. 9/10.