SPOOPTOBER II DAY 1: The Prowler

Starring: Vicky Dawson, Christopher Goutman, and Cindy Weintraub
Written by: Neal Barbera and Glenn Leopold
Directed by: Joseph Zito

Welcome to Spooptober II: Return to Spooptober Lake. I am your host, RJ Cusyk, and I will be taking you to each of these spoopy cabins to explore some horror flicks for you to enjoy each day in preparation for Spooperween.

Today's film is the 1981 flick, The Prowler directed by Joseph Zito, the dude who did Friday the 13th Part IV. People always complain about horror movies never giving good motivation for the killers in horror films, but then we also complain when a movie gives too much away? What a country!

I really like The Prowler's giallo-esque approach. The beginning didn't focus too much on what the killer looked like and focused more on their gloved hands. It has some terrific kills from Tom Savini. The guy getting the knife through his brain, was definitely my favorite and is an image that now haunts my mind.

The way the film begins reminded me a lot of My Bloody Valentine, which was released the same year, but I really like how the film is more focused on how a WWII vet killed his girlfriend and her new lover. This might just be because a 1940s slasher flick is something I didn't know I wanted until I saw this film. The slasher format and the wholesome aspect of early cinema, feels like a great juxtaposition.

If I have one complaint about this film, it would be the killer's revelation. However, I am said the movie itself feels very giallo-esque, so I let it slide on that principle alone. Overall, I like The Prowler and really dug the weird dream-like vibe throughout it.