After writing her boyfriend a "Dear John" letter, Rosemary Chatham attends a graduation dance in her rather small hometown with a new man by her side. When they sneak away in order to go make out in private, they are attacked and brutally murdered by a man adjourned in army regalia, who proceeds to leave a rose at the scene of the crime. Thirty-five years pass, and a young lady named Pam MacDonald is busy organizing the first ceremony since these tragic events occurred. Soon, reports of a new, masked "prowler" roaming around the area come to light, and everyone is suddenly on alert. Still, is there a possibility that this maniac shares closer ties to his predecessor than we initially thought, or is it just pure coincidence?
While writing my Madea review last night, it occurred to me that I really haven't been able to catch yet another relic in the slasher subgenre this year. So, after putting in some hours at work, wherein I can always brainstorm some ideas while preparing for the holidays, I was able to mentally dig through what choices were available for me to behold. After some consideration, I settled on Joe Zito's (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Invasion U.S.A.) much-discussed gem titled The Prowler. Given that I've discovered more than a handful of grisly, guilty pleasures (Pieces, The Burning) from these unfairly-derided type of films, and seeing as how I am apparently feeling rather sadistic after catching last night's premiere of The Walking Dead, I say let us get to it.
Basic though The Prowler's concept may be, it immediately earned respect from me when I discovered that the iconic Tom Savini was in charge of the effects work. Say what you will about these flicks be categorized as merely "dead teenager" works, but from a technical or practical standpoint, there is a lot to respect and admire. The titular antagonist's main methods of knocking off his victims come from the use of a bayonet and pitchfork, the latter of which I'm even nervous just picking up myself if the situation ever comes about when I may need it. Though none of the disposals are revolutionary, they are quite nasty regardless. A ghastly, visceral standout comes from shoving one formerly-mentioned weapon downward through a poor soul's skull, which did a nice job at getting even a hardened individual like myself to wince. Joe Zito and his crew also churn out some pleasantly good cinematography, pacing, and halfway decent acting; it adds a real level of genuine suspense and mystery that prevents it from being just pure lunacy. Some of the camera work and close-up shots are surprisingly exceptional too, as they help accentuate the agony and horror of the entire situation. Not too bad for a little ditty that cost approximately one million dollars, yeah?
Sadly, The Prowler's technical aspects will most likely be the ONLY thing what "virgin viewers" like myself will remember in the long run. Despite a very entertaining opening that is set right after the second world war has ended, I was actually disappointed to see Zito's piece jump forward into modern times. I have no doubt that a slasher picture set exclusively in the time frame of the 1940s would make for a rollicking, scary adventure, and could have been a very unique standout during the seemingly endless waves of these kind of movies that came rushing in during a shockingly short amount of time. Perhaps if this ever receives the remake treatment, such a concept could be fully realized. And even with the aforementioned acting being mostly acceptable, none of these characters are wholly memorable and are ultimately written to act as mere horror film stereotypes (save for an overweight hotel clerk played by Bill Nunnery, whose hilarious level of apathy seemed like something out of a parodic picture). I was quite taken aback to see a giant like Lawrence Tierney (Born to Kill, Reservoir Dogs) pop up as a wheelchair-bound veteran with possible connections to these horrific crimes, but considering that he rarely, if ever gets a chance to utter a single word, all one thinks is that he must have been desperate for a paycheck that week.
Though it is riddled with some occasionally slow parts and a bit of a lame wrap-up (props for a very good Savini-centric scene though), I would still give The Prowler a solid recommendation for those who share even a remote interest in this category of horror and are craving for a new way to kill ninety minutes of their free time. Yes, it may not sport as much of a shock factor as some of its brethren do, nor does it have the creativity of its more largely-successful cousins. But, it ultimately boils down to being a very commendable cinematic bloodbath whose special effects, makeup, and tension help it enough to warrant a thumbs up. If you have a subscription to Showtime, access to YouTube, or are just a curious shopper, there are multiple ways for one to watch this underrated antique.
Plus, at the very least, it doesn't star Madea.
......I don't think I'm ever going to forgive myself for that one.
Tomorrow, another trip to Italy is underway, and Jennifer Connelly, aka my eternal crush, may be hitching along for my flight!
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