The Prowler (1981)

The Prowler was filmed in New Jersey with a $1 million dollar budget in 1981. Other than the gruff and ugly Lawrence Tierney, the cast is virtually full of unknowns. The two stars of the film are part of the production crew: director Joseph Zito (Invasion USA, Missing In Action and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) and make-up and special effects legend Tom Savini (too many to mention). On paper it seems like a perfect combination of a competent B-movie director and a master of monster make-up. Is it a can’t miss… we’ll see. But Tom Savini has been quoted as saying that this film contains his best work.

“The film that shocked America!” Tagline

While doing research I found this cool homage to Iron Maiden’s mascot, Eddie. Just thought I’d share.

The film opens with a Dear John letter. How heartless are women who write these things? I mean, you have a man serving his country and in some aspects the world (like in World War II), but his woman can’t wait a year or so for him to come home? She has to jump on the next Richard that comes along and abandon the man who is counting on her, fighting for her, thinking of her, fantasizing about returning to her embrace after he fights his way out of the maw of Hell. It’s HER, his muse, his reason for living, his one and only source of hope after being thrust into an uncontrollable conflict, mentally scarred, constantly threatened with real malice. For a man who stares death in the face on a daily basis, love is the only thing to look forward to. Love is the shining light at the end of the lonely and frightening trek through the dark, cold, treacherous tunnel of spiritual and physical torture. And perhaps the most painful lash of all is that in order for her to have met a different man, that man must be on the continent… meaning he himself probably isn’t serving. That’s a low blow – an unfair punishment for doing the right thing. Feeling helpless. Being replaced by a coward who refuses to accept the brave task of opposing evil and freeing the oppressed, at risk of life and limb. What kind of punk robs another man of his light, his hope and future? His saving grace?

How horrible! What betrayal! I feel pity for all those Johns who died, lonely and heartbroken, after discovering that their beloved wives and girlfriends left them for a more accessible, less patriotic man who just happens to be in the same area code. It’s just disgusting, selfish behavior… Damn you for abandoning those men when they needed you most!

Avalon Bay, 1945 – the night of the Graduation Dance. Servicemen and young women dance to big-band music, fueled by booze and youthful energy, these young people dance, drink and kiss their worries away as one lone figure watches, concealed by the night. Two young people leave the party and find a gazebo where they can spend some time alone, away from the loud music and many prying eyes. It’s there that they are attacked and murdered with one powerful lunge of a pitchfork that impales the lovers and pins them together. The murderer, dressed in military fatigues, places a long-stemmed rose in the hand of the dead girl, who I believe is the author of the Dear John letter, Rosemary. If he can’t have her, no one will.

“It Will Freeze Your Blood.” Tagline

Avalon Bay, 1980 – the night before the Graduation Dance. Scrawny beta-male sheriff deputy Mark London visits the college community center to pick up his girlfriend and give us some exposition. At the station, Sheriff Fraser explains that there was a murder in a local town and that he is going to give them a hand in the investigation, or he’s going fishing… I’m not sure which and I don’t care enough to rewind. He gives Mark a phone number to reach him and leaves the town. This leaves Mark as the lone law enforcement officer at Avalon Bay for the night… and what could possibly go wrong?

Pam, the lead blonde female role, shows Mark a news story that she has been writing. It has something to do with the murder of Francis Chatham that took place in Avalon Bay area back in 1945. Mark feigns interest in Pam’s hard work and boundless passion for the unsolved murder. She then asks the young man to the graduation dance. Mark will be on duty, obviously, so he says he’ll stop by on his rounds. I would like to point out that he has his eyes of a lean, wild-spirited brunette named Lisa, as well. Who will ultimately be the Final Girl and survive the movie to received the coveted Avalon Bay Sausage Award? Spoiler Alert: It’s Pam. I’m calling it now. It had better be… she is innocent, kind and sweet. So far, her only concern is that Mark will make it safely through the night and the murderer from the next town will pass them by.

Pam heads out to the community center to set up for the dance as the other ladies get dressed up. The killer does likewise. This time, he bring along a nice WWI-era Springfield 1903 bayonet and a sweet sawed-off double-barrel shotgun. Wait, is it sawn-off or sawed-off?

We get two jump-scares in a row… both are way too obvious. The first one is just three people sneaking up behind Pam and scaring her as she makes her way to the community center. Then, charismatic and cool Carl scares his girlfriend, Sherry, who is taking a shower by opening the shower door and exposing her glistening, naked, wet body to the world… Thanks Carl! This scene leads up to the third kill. After turning down Carl’s request to join her, Sherry tells the sex-hungry young man that she’ll be out soon. This inspires Carl to give her the privacy and time she needs to complete her daily water-saturation ritual. As Carl configures the room and himself for the love-making that is surely to follow, he is himself penetrated via aforementioned bayonet through the skull. Pretty cool kill, but beware, it’s not for the faint of heart.

Unaware that her boyfriend has just had the worst headache of his short life, Sherry continues to wash herself. The killer creeps in. Using his pitchfork, the olive-drab clad man impales the nude girl and lifts her off the floor as she screams. It cuts away, but man what an uneasy sight. Tom Savini plays the killing and did all the murder scenes himself. Since the killer is wearing an outfit that completely covers himself, it’s easy to conceal the large make-up artist and give the character an eerie faceless persona which maintains mystery to the identity of the character. But, judging by the fact that this takes place thirty-five years after the murder of Rosemary and taking into consideration the primary murder-weapon of choice, I’d say that the suspect looks something like this. I think his wife suspects something…

Meanwhile, at the party, Mark shows up to visit the overly enthusiastic Pam. As a crappy rock band plays a crappy Beatles-esq song, Lisa pulls Mark into herself and they start dancing, much to the dismay of Pam. As she looks on, disapprovingly, their friend spikes the punch. Mark finishes round one with Lisa and finally arrives at the table to visit Pam, but as he does so, Lisa bumps into him and makes him spill his punch all over Pam’s skirt! OH NO!! Call Billy Mays and tell him that we need OxiClean, FAST! BUT WAIT!! Keep that tub within reach because it also removes blood stains!! Thanks OxiClean!

Instead of walking Pam home and giving her the attention she desperately wants, Mark stays with Lisa. Pam leaves, and makes the dangerous trek back to the dorm alone, soon to discover the blood-soaked carnage that awaits her… Or not. Pam enters the room, changes into another dress and due to the lights being dim, she never sees the bloody sheets on the bed or the inside of the bathroom. And the killer, sensing another presence in the next room, begins to stalk Pam as she leaves. She feels his eyes as she descends the stairs, turns and looks up into the dark shape of the murderer. She sees him react to her fear which just amplifies her panic. Pam finds several locked doors and screams for help, but no one comes. Eventually, the young woman finds an exit and rushes outside. This actress can MOVE in some high heels! I’m impressed and I believe the killer is, too. As Pam runs by the disabled man who lives next door, Major Chatham. For some strange reason, he is just sitting in his wheelchair next to the dormitory. The invalid man grabs her hand as she attempts to sprint by, but Pam struggles free and runs into the arms of Mark… here to save the day. That was sarcasm.

Mark investigates the area with his flashlight. He finds nothing except Pam’s little handbag, which she dropped during the chase scene. When he returns it to her, Pam tells him that Sherry and Carl are upstairs. Mark goes to check on them and finds the door locked from inside. Instead of knocking, calling out or looking any further into the concerns of his friends, Mark turns and leaves. Well done, officer… very thorough investigation.

On the other side of the locked door is an undiscovered slaughterhouse that was once a dorm room. In the tub, Sherry’s body soaks in a pool of blood-infused water. A single rose lays across the girl’s cheek – the calling card and a token to reflect the betrayal-induced anger and continual-passion the killer has for Rosemary and perhaps all women at this point. Sherry’s deceased boyfriend hangs over her, held up by the shower head. There’s no rose for Carl… Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

The two living love-birds go to the Major Chatham’s house to check on him. That’s right, they just walk right in… I guess Mark didn’t learn about warrants in junior-detective-school and Pam, well she’s just straight-up trespassing. Good thing there isn’t a law-enforcement officer around… There’s only one cop on duty in the whole town and he’s committing a B&E with her. I guess she’s off the hook due to entrapment. Of course I’m just joking, as a sheriff deputy, Mark can cite probable cause as a reason for the entry, though bringing Pam may be a bit of a stretch.

“Come on, babe. Watch me rough-up this old-man-perp.” Not-Mark

They search the dark house and call out to the elderly, disabled homeowner as creepy violins shriek and whine in unison with the moaning of cellos. Pam discovers a painting of a young woman holding a rose and exclaims “This is Francis Chatham” with raw enthusiasm. She stops to examine the room further as Mark moves on. Pam goes through the old man’s desk and finds a wooden box with his journal, several old photos of Francis and some pressed roses. Mark ascends the stairs and reaches the top floor, but his investigation is a dead-end, no pun intended. Wait, is that even a pun? Well, Pam starts hurling assumptions at Mark once the two reunite in the den. She explains that the photos she found were of Chatham’s daughter, Francis ROSEMARY Chatham and points out the various roses scattered around. Mark furrows his brow and fails to connect the dots. Pam continues down the path of evidence, something else that Mark clearly did’t pay attention to in junior deputy detective class. She reminds the dimwitted man that Rosemary was found with a single rose on her corpse. Sounds pretty relevant, almost like a clue or something… Are we sure that Pam isn’t the deputy sheriff? She sure is better at Mark’s job than he is.

Anyway, Pam continues to connect the newly discovered evidence to the report she wrote for the local newspaper, explaining the facts to Mark as she goes. She deduces that the murders ARE related… but, Mark doesn’t buy the observant young woman’s theory. Instead of investigating further, he suggests that they return to the party. Why solve a pair of murder mysteries when there’s spiked-punch and hot young barely legal flesh to exploit!?

Pam and Mark inform the kids at the party that there is a ‘prowler’ in town and that everyone in the community center should stay there and NOT leave… for their own safety. Do you think drunk, horny college kids will heed the advise? Nah, me neither.

A random babe swims alone in a swimming pool – a prime target for a good old fashioned pitchfork poking. Or not. The killer has decided to switch back to the bayonet. In a shocking scene, the murdering prowler jumps into the pool and slices the girl’s throat as she tries to fight him off. The acting and special effects are really good… like, TOO good. The expertly crafted elements culminate and produce a horrifyingly realistic depiction. Good stuff, Mr. Savini. You’re a little too good at this.

I’d like to pause for a second and critique the poster. This particular poster is an original, I believe. If so I must say I’m very impressed. I LOVE negative space artwork and this poster is a great example of why. With two colors and zero photos, the image gives a perfect representation of what the film is about. An ominous house on a hill, shaded in black with a mysterious character inching towards it, pitchfork in hand. The tagline “It Will Freeze Your Blood” hammers home the concept of horror. The tagline itself isn’t all that good, in my opinion… I don’t quite understand the reference to cold or freezing. Something like this might be more appropriate:

“If he can’t have her heart, he’ll take yours.”
OR
“His heart stopped overseas, theirs will stop here.”

Mark and Pam apprehend an intoxicated teen and bring him to the station with the intent on locking him up in the drunk-tank. He jokingly goes along and even has some lighthearted banter with the two. Once they enter the station, the drunk kid tells Mark to “Slap the cuffs on me, chief.” Then, he follows up with “Book’em Pam-O.” OK, that was pretty funny.

Back at the party, a girl informs a woman who has taken charge about the girl who went for a swim. Worried about the missing girl, the woman heads out to find her and bring her back… what’s left of her. Too soon?

Back at the community center, a dude who looks like he’s about to start a computer company in his father’s garage is trying to score with his not-that-attractive-but-too-attractive-for-him girlfriend. This guy is a constant contender for the Ultimate Nerd Stereotype of the Year Award and he’s about to get laid. I hear you, bro, but I believe this old meme better suits your future. But she wants to do the ‘not-so-wild thing’ in a secluded place… and this IS a slasher flick. So, his chances of competing with the two Steves and their up-start Apple company is getting slimmer by the second. Ctr-Alt-Del, bro Ctr-Alt-Del! Well, the two wonder deep into the basement of the community center in search of an appropriate bedding area.

Meanwhile, back at the pool, the concerned lady finds the dead girl and is dispatched in similar fashion… Paul, the comedian in lockup, lets loose a string of jail-related expressions that go beyond the limits. Pam tells the boy to ‘shut-up’… And, the two nerdy kids hear someone snooping around in the basement with them as they make whoopy.

Kingsley, the local grocery store owner and noted pervert warns Mark that there is an open gate at the cemetery, so I guess Pantera has a gig at the party. Mark and Pam load up in the sheriff’s jeep and ride out to the cemetery. OK… but why? I mean, so what? There is a string of murders, stalkings, missing people and break-ins. There is ONE cop in town to watch over the dozens of unsupervised college kids as they have a graduation party… but hey, lets ignore all that and go close the cemetery gate.

Whatevs. Mark pulls up to the gate and decides to check out the property. He LEAVES PAM ALONE in the jeep and begins surveying the area with nothing but a flashlight. This guy is just the worst boyfriend/cop ever. Of course, someone sees Pam alone and starts stalking her. Of course, Mark finds an open grave and decides to climb down in it and investigate the casket inside that is slightly ajar. Of course it’s a jumpscare. Of course, Pam sees someone outside the jeep and screams and of course Mark dashes back to save her. Pam explains that she screamed when she saw a local guy named Otto… so, she must really not like this Otto guy, or else, why scream?

The two decide to go BACK to the open grave. Hey Mark… it’s a cemetery. There are really only two things in the cemetery: closed graves and open graves. A freshly dug grave isn’t uncommon in a cemetery… And prying open a casket is kinda disrespectful. But hey, you’re the law around here… do your thing.

Speaking of disrespectful, this scene was filmed at an actual cemetery and the freshly dug grave was used for a funeral the next day. The film crew saw an opportunity to get the needed footage with minimal effort and took it. Kinda creepy, but whatever.

Mark jumps back down into the grave and breaks open the casket as Pam watches. Inside is the pale, bloodless corpse of Lisa. Pam is NOT pleased. Mark and Pam return to the station and the disturbed young man makes the phone call to the sheriff that he should have made hours ago. Considering that it’s so late at night, the clerk at the camp is a little surly… plus he’s a Boston Redsox fan, so that’s to be expected. He tells Mark that he will go and get the sheriff, but instead he just puts the phone down, loads up a mouthful of Redman and continues playing solitaire. It’s actually kinda funny. Mark grows more and more impatient as we have a minute long ‘waiting scene’. The Redsox fan picks up the phone and tells Mark that the sheriff must be out night fishing. Next, Mark asks if the man will tell the sheriff to call him as soon as possible… but I’m not confident that he’ll suddenly develop the needed customer service skill set to do so.

Mark calls the law enforcement in the neighboring town and is told that the murderer he was warned about was apprehended… which means the killer in Avalon Bay is someone else. Then, the two ride back to Major Chatham’s house. Again, the killer is hiding inside. They split up and search different rooms… Mark is knocked out and while he lies on the floor, the killer prepares to make the deathblow… but stops. No no… why would he NOT kill Mark? Don’t do that, movie… Don’t spare a character just because.

Oh, I know who the killer is… it’s the Sheriff. Right? It just dawned on me. Not because there were clues or anything… that would have been nice if there were actual bits of information that would unravel the mystery. But what is going to happen is the killer will reveal everything at the end in one massive exposition dump. Just like Scooby-Doo. And the Sheriff has been away for the majority of the film, so he is free to commit the crimes. Also, he’s the right age.

As Mark is dreaming about whatever the Hell this kid is talking about (seriously, I haven’t heard that much stammering since the last Obama speech), Pam sees a necklace hanging inside the fireplace. She shoves her arm up into the chimney and starts feeling around, exploring the charred, soot covered brickwork searching for the source of the obstruction. Of course, Rosemary’s body falls out. All the noise and screaming from Pam attracts the attention of the killer. As Pam opens the door to call out to Mark, the killer is standing there, rose in hand. She turns and runs through the house and of course the doors won’t open. Why is that? You’d think that the killers in these movies are spending most of their time going around locking doors and windows. How do they have the time to kill people?

Pam avoids the murdering madman and finds herself next to the staircase. Of course… she runs up the stairs. Where are you going? She runs from room to room, randomly picking locations to hide with no plan, no logic in her acts… just moving from one hiding spot to another. Meanwhile, the killer is pacing around the house with his pitchfork. After a while, Pam flees to a bedroom and uses the chain lock to little effect. The killer manages to get his pitchfork into the door, but Pam breaks the handle, rendering it virtually useless… unless she is a vampire (what a twist!).

The killer breaks through the door and charges at Pam, bayonet in hand. Just when he’s about to strike, Otto enters the room with a shotgun and mows down the murderous villain. Pam and Otto stare at each other for what feels like a very awkward eternity, then the killer pulls out his double-barrel sawed-off shotgun (did you forget that he had that?) and sprays the large hero with shot. Pam quickly reacts and takes the broken pitchfork and stabs it into the back of the killer. They wrestle on the floor for control of the shotgun which has one charged barrel remaining. The killer struggles for breath and pulls his hood off to reveal that it’s………………….

Sheriff George Fraser.

Pam gets control of the handgrip and the barrel finds it’s way under the Sheriff’s chin at the same time. With one quick pull of the trigger, we get a head explosion that nearly rivals the infamous scene from Scanners. Magnificent!!

So, the reveal was a typical Scooby-Doo job, but it wasn’t that bad – it was mixed into a decent action scene. I wish there was some actual hints in the film about the identity of the killer or maybe even a good twist, but whatever. It is what it is… and that is a somewhat low-budget slasher flick. They made a good movie, but it could have been GREAT. Tom Savini was pretty spot-on. I agree that it was his best work, from what I can remember. He should be proud.

Oh, and the movie has one more jumpscare in store. After killing the Sheriff, Pam must have found Mark. In the following scene, Mark is driving Pam to her dorm when a police car pulls up. Mark tells Pam to go ahead and get cleaned up while he deals with the cops. So, the traumatized girl heads up to her room. With the daylight shining through the windows, Pam can finally see the bloody mess that the killer left behind. She follows the stream of red into the bathroom. The water is still running in the shower. Pam goes to see why, she opens the glass shower door slowly to find…