31 Days of Halloween – Day 8

The Prowler (directed by Joseph Zito, 1981) There is nothing sheepish about The Prowler. First, the death scenes are bloody and gruesome. When the main instrument of murder is a pitchfork, you are not going to find a neat and tidy crime scene. Secondly, there is no shortage of of gratuitous nudity. That era of horror film and the bare female form went hand in hand. Third, the production team did not skimp on amazing make-up and wound effects. From slit throats, to punctured skulls, every death looks convincing. Veteran F/X maestro Tom Savini brought his ‘A’ game for The Prowler. This standalone, underrated murder-fest knows what it is, and delivers. A small New Jersey town is terrorized by a maniac dressed in WWII army fatigues (simple and effective, not mention creepy). It is also to the thirty-fifth anniversary of an infamous double-murder, and the pitchfork wielding butcher is celebrating by targeting teens, who are attending their high school graduation dance. Director Joseph Zito (Invasion USA, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) delivers a no-nonsense slaughter festival. As much as it pains me, I enjoy The Prowler more than the first Friday the 13th Films (I still love them). If you are looking for wonderful gore, buxom ladies in distress, and a violent psycho dressed like a soldier, add The Prowler to your Halloween viewing index. It’s bloody good fun.

Recap

• Day 1 -The Conjuring
• Day 2 -You’re Next
• Day 3 -Rob Zombie’s Halloween
• Day 4 -Dog Soldiers
• Day 5 -Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
• Day 6 -Psycho (1960)
• Day 7 -John Carpenter’s The Thing
• Day 8 -The Prowler

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