One of the first and best films to confront the ill-effects the Vietnam War had on the home front. When Andy’s guilt-stricken father ( John Marley) fails to turn in his son even when knowing he’s not mentally there and that he killed their family doctor and strangled their beloved pet dog, the crushed dad will commit suicide for that lapse in judgment in failing to prevent the subsequent drive-in murder of his daughter’s ( Anya Ormsby) boyfriend Bob ( Michael Mazes) and his son’s old flame Joanne ( Jane Daly). The zombie needs fresh meat to survive, and views those around him as prey. The chillingly quiet Andy rejects all those offering him love and brutally kills a trucker ( David Gawlikowski), whom he hitched a ride home with, and then his friendly family doctor ( Henderson Forsythe), who suspects he was the killer. It chronicles the story of a Vietnam War private, Andy Brooks ( Richard Backus), who was reported killed at war but turns up the next night at his family house in the suburban small-town of Brooksville as a zombie seeking retribution from those who sent him to war. ”ĭirector Bob Clark (“Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things”/”Murder by Decree”/”Black Christmas”) does a good job directing this eerie zombie chiller, that has an excellent script by Alan Ormsby. “ One of the first and best films to confront the ill-effects the Vietnam War had on the home front.
DEATHDREAM (DEAD OF NIGHT) (THE VETERAN) (director: Bob Clark screenwriter: Alan Ormsby cinematographer: Jack McGowan editor: Ronald Sincair music: Carl Zittier cast: Richard Backus (Andy Brooks), John Marley (Charles Brooks), Lynn Carlin (Christine Brooks), Anya Ormsby (Cathy Brooks), Henderson Forsythe (Doc Phillip Allman), Jane Daly (Joanne), Arthur Anderson (Postman), (George, Army Captain), Michael Mazes (Bob), David Gawlikowski (Trucker, Howie) Runtime: 88 MPAA Rating: PG producers: Bob Clark/Peter James/John Trent Blue Underground 1972-Canada/UK)