Starring: Linda Blair, Vincent Van Patten, Peter Barton, Kevin Brophy, Jenny Neumann Directed By: Tom DeSimone Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Color, DVD, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Anchor Bay Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Release Date: August 24, 1999 Running Time: 102 minutes Theatrical Release Date: August 28, 1981
Amazon.com: Is there a cheesier, funnier (without meaning to be) actress than Linda Blair? A victim of early Hollywood success with The Exorcist, she hit puberty, tried being a teen queen and a scream queen, and then hung around on the basis of the success of her first major role, exploring the limits of her talent in a series of sub-B movies. This 1981 film, about bad shenanigans during Pledge Week at college, wasn't exactly one of the high points. This surprisingly tedious venture features a group of fraternity and sorority pledges forced to spend the night in an abandoned--and, of course, haunted--mansion that once housed a killer. And would you be surprised to find out that it still does? The cast includes Vincent Van Patten and Peter Barton, as though that's an attraction. No scares, no skin--what's the point? --Marshall Fine
Classic Slasher from the Golden Era This is just about my favorite of the more obscure 80's slasher films(along with 'Happy Birthday to Me'). If you feel that ambience is among the essential elements to any slasher movie (as I do) then you will most likely be impressed with this one. The whole thing is set in, or around, this huge gothic mansion. The place is dark and archaic-looking, and is illuminated by candles and a huge fireplace. The house looks like something Edgar Allen Poe would have conceived.If you're anything like me, this description will suffice.
In other words, it looks as if somebody actually spent some money on this movie. That's not always the case with slasher films.
The estate is possessed of a distinctive,intensely macabre atmosphere.But, at the same time, the place is beautiful, albeit in an undeniably creepy fashion. I don't know if I've seen a horror film in which the setting was such an integral part of the proceedings.
Aside from that, there's not much to say. Typical slasher film motif:group of kids are stalked by a killer. That about sums it up. The villain is cut from the Jason Voorhees mold: a big, severely challenged fellow who doesn't like anybody invading his personal space.The horror and suspense elements are both above average. Plus, it's a nice change of pace to feature a heroine who doesn't look anorexic.
This is one of my personal favorites.
A True Classic! Plus the Beauty of Linda Blair! On a typical college campus, "Hell Night" is in full swing as a fraternity/sorority party moves on to their annual initiation ceremony at an abandoned mansion. Two male and two female pledges now must spend an entire night locked in the grounds of the old house, the site of a grisly family murder/suicide that left some disfigured bodies unaccounted for. Ample and drop-dead-gorgeous Marti (Linda Blair), dashing Jeff (Peter Barton), surfer-boy Seth (Vincent Van Patten), and British party-girl Denise (Suki Goodwin) now must occupy themselves and each other until daybreak, or at least try to get some sleep, while simultaneously dealing with pranks being played on them by their upperclassmen. But the worst pranks will be those no one was expecting!
The filmmakers behind the '80's horror hit "Hell Night" (directed by Tom DeSimone) successfully create an '80's disfigured slasher flick with the beauty and innocence of classic horror, as if Linda Blair at 22 wasn't reason enough to be glued to the screen! The film plays out a great, classic scary story with fine performances and clever moments for the slasher genre, and the beautiful lighting and absence of nudity and gratuitous gore give the film a refreshingly older appeal. "Hell Night" fantastically proves how effective a ghoulish-slasher film can be without resorting to the sex and gore factors (the period costumes, the result of a costume party, were a nice touch, especially for a big Hammer fan like me). And, they actually have the sense to get you to like and care about the characters in this one! If you're a fan of '80's horror (or the beautiful Linda Blair), this one is definitely a keeper! The Anchor Bay DVD, with enhanced widescreen picture, includes the theatrical trailer, two TV spots, text bios, and a great commentary with Linda, director Tom DeSimone, and producers Irwin Yablans and Bruce Cohn Curtis. Highly recommended!
Get The Hell Out Of My House! "Hell Night" stars adorable, vivacious Linda Blair of "Exorcist" fame. She must spend the night in the abandoned, decrepit Garth manor along with three other sorority and fraternity pledges. Members of Sigma Phi Rho have rigged the house to emit spooky sounds and images. Unknown to them all, Garth Manor is not as abandoned as it appears. A deranged mongoloid remains and is determined to kill all intruders using a number of gruesome weapons. Who will survive this night of hell?
This slasher flick from the eighties is great to watch on Halloween or on any stormy night. In fact, the producer, Irwin Yablans, who brought us "Halloween" also co-produced this fright fest. The gothic Garth manor, huge and creepy, is the perfect setting for murder and mayhem. It is surrounded by a spiked fence with gates that are locked, trapping the pledges within. The chase scenes within the maze of hedges are accentuated by suspenseful music; they reminded me of Elke Sommer being pursued in Mario Bava's "Baron Blood."
Good performances are given by all, especially Blair. Vincent Van Patten, however, grew annoying as the wise cracking surfer dude. I was disappointed that the film didn't have a higher body count since Anchor Bay described it as " . . . an `80s body-count classic." The ending was shocking and violent. The last still frame of a stunned Blair slowly walking away from the manor was memorable.
"Hell Night" is worth seeking out if you enjoy good slasher fare such as "Halloween," "The Last House on Sorority Row," "Prom Night," and "Terror Train." Watching this movie will make you think twice about trespassing on someone else's property at night.
Great spooky house, whacko killer 80's flick. Get it. Love it. It took me a while to catch up with "Hell Night"--I saw it on cable long ago, in the 80's, and I remember enjoying it then. Well, a few intervening years have improved this particular psycho killer on the loose movie. It might have gotten three stars from me then, but now it's so much fun that it rates five stars. Why do deformed people lurking inside abandoned houses go on mad murdering sprees? Well, in these movies, they just do. That's what you paid your five bucks for, and that's what you get.
We have our standard setup--fraternity pledges must spend a night in a creepy old haunted house. Of course, there really IS something very evil and dangerous in the house, and the pledges find they are in a dire situation. A night of horror ensues. "Hell Night" delivers the goods fairly well, and rates up there with "The Funhouse" as a well-produced, nice looking slasher film with style to spare.
The 80's saw a glut of slasher films after the release of "Halloween," and most of them were wretchedly awful, so the gems stand out, and this is one of the gems.
The acting performances are pretty decent all around. We have the wonderful Linda Blair, doing a screaming, cleavage-baring Hammer Films-style damsel-in-distress bit, sure to satisfy fans of that sort of thing. Vince Van Patten steals the show for a few reels when his surfer/party animal character "Seth" suddenly grows a brain and LEAVES THE SPOOKY OLD HOUSE as soon as he realizes there is a real killer on the loose. Seth then goes on to alert the authorities, procure a weapon, and return to the house to save his buddies. This is all very entertainingly bizarre for an 80's horror film because in most of these things, there are no characters so sensible and proactive. Van Patten literally has to be seen to be believed. The various supporting players also do well.
The spooky old house itself is a combination of two houses (one for the exterior scenes, one for the interiors) and some sets built on a stage for special business (catacombs below the house, hair-raising rooftop action, etc.). The DVD is a little murky at times, but the house is one of THE best spooky houses ever presented in a film. I think it rivals Hill House from the original "The Haunting". There, I said it.
Finally, although there is a good bit of blood and gore, the film has an admirable sense of restraint and never goes overboard in that department. Graphic violence is usually only quickly shown, and this helps the character performances stay in proper focus. This is what they call "class," guys.
A very nice-looking, well-acted horror film. Don't buy that new stuff they are calling horror films; all that new stuff is garbage. Get your microwave popcorn popping, and give this one a spin.
Typical 80's Horror Classic I don't know if I'm getting older or more jaded, but I thought I remembered this movie as being one of the scariest I had ever seen. Compared to todays films, I do appreciate the understated gore and not as much flesh and fewer trash words. Ahh the good old days. The movie was in good condition.
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