Anyways, The Prowler is right smack in the middle of the Golden Age of slasher films (roughly '78-'84), and is probably most notable nowadays for the effects work of Tom Savini. I wouldn't go so far as saying it's an oft-maligned film, but it's never mentioned in the same breath as many of the classics of that era. It could be because it was heavily edited upon it's release and never really caught on because of it. But my guess is because it suffers from some issues that stop it from being really good, namely an obvious killer and an over-reliance on fake jump-scares. But overall, it's solid - it's got some great effects work and a pretty wicked mean streak. I was expecting "eh" and got "pretty good."
It starts... well, it all starts on the DVD menu, which promptly spoils the majority of the kills. It's semi-obscured, but still! Shame on you, Blue Underground! I'm not sure if they're expecting most people who see this to be newbies - so take caution if that's how you watch it.
So, it actually starts with a newsreel of footage of soldiers returning home after WWII. The footage focuses on those who came home after a long, brutal tour of duty, and the women who patiently waited for their return. One woman who has NOT waited is Rosemary, as we read an apologetic letter to her (now ex-) boyfriend saying she just can't wait around any longer. So two minutes in, we have our killer's motive.
We hang out for a quick scene, still in 1945, at a graduation dance. Rosemary (whether we are supposed to know it's her or not, I'm not sure) and her date, a rich asshole kid, ditch the dance and go to make out at a gazebo by her house. Rosemary doesn't want to get caught by her strict father, so she's a bit scared and cautious. However, sometimes cautiousness is not enough, as both her and her date are skewered mid-embrace with a pitchfork by an unseen person (shades of Bay of Blood and Friday the 13th II).
Flash forward 35 years - the college has decided to hold their first graduation dance since that fateful night. We are introduced to our main characters on the afternoon of the dance as they are decorating -our obvious final girl is Pam (Vicky Dawson), and she is playfully scolding her boyfriend Mark (Christopher Goutman) for checking out the other ladies. Mark is the deputy of the town - in charge for the weekend as the sheriff (and only other member of the local police department) is off on a fishing trip.
Everyone is convinced that nothing will happen while Mark is in charge, so of course it does. Two of Pam's friends are attacked and killed while getting ready for the big dance, where we see our Prowler is a person dressed in WWII fatigues and an army helmet. He's got some sort of fabric over his face, which must be a WWII thing. He's got a big knife, but seems partial to his pitchfork (the only part of his ensemble that doesn't fit with the military theme). Pam stumbles across the titular prowler in her dorm (but not her friend's bodies) and the chase is on. Pam narrowly escapes and runs into Mark. For the rest of the movie, they are trying to get to the bottom of the case, while trying to save the town from The Prowler!
Also, I learned that "Prowler" is a real word used for people who slink around uninvited? The chaperone at the dance says "we have a report of a prowler on campus." Not sure if it's gone out of use or what, but I haven't ever heard that. It's a better name for a horror movie than "The Loiterer" or "The Tresspasser," I guess.
Like I said, The Prowler is best known for the effects/gore work of Tom Savini, and rightfully so. This is one gory, messy movie. There is a low-to-medium body count (but feels like less, as some of them are doubles), but the ones we get count. Even simple stabbings are accompanied by copious amounts of spraying blood, and the nastier ones... well, they'll make you cringe. If you are a fan of horror effects, this is a must see. Fair-warning - it's all pretty front-loaded - at least the really brutal ones. So there is a certain feeling of The Prowler peaking a bit early. While the non-killing/mystery stuff isn't bad, it can't keep up with the insanity from earlier in the film.
There is a certain amount of meanness in the kills though. For instance, why just stab a bikini-clad woman in a pool, when you can let her try to get out and then kick her in the face first? Also, people struggle a lot longer than you usually see in these sorts of things, which kind of takes the fun out of it (for me at least). I think there is some sort of sweet spot for just the right amount of suffering I want to see a victim in a slasher film go through. The Prowler overshoots that more than once.
The performances were just fine. Dawson is a good final girl. She's got a good look for it, and plays it just right - somewhat vulnerable to make you fear for her safety, but in control enough that she's not just fodder to be rescued. Goutman is solid as Mark, the deputy who ends up in over his head. I liked the two of them as a couple, and was surprised that neither of them really did anything else after The Prowler. Maybe it was a terrible experience shooting all of the violence.
Or maybe they were sick of looking around. There is seriously a lot of looking around in this movie. It could be called Looking Around Major Chadwick's House - Major Chadwick being Rosemary's father who is still devastated about the crime from 35 years ago. Pam and Mark suspect he must have *something* to do with the prowler, so they search his house in one overlong scene. They find nothing, only to come back later and have *another* overlong search scene. At least something happens the second time around. It's during these searches that we get a ton of fake scares - i.e. someone is searching a room, and the other comes up and taps their shoulder (accompanied by a loud musical sting). They should just say "hey!" instead of sneaking up on each other.
There are some other weird things in this movie that could be either endearing or annoying, depending on how forgiving you are feeling. For example, there is a random character that pops up in the end, followed by a very awkward "tender moment" that is really out of place. Also, it's unclear if some of the mysterious stuff is supposed to be a reveal or not. I don't want to spoil it, but some of the mysteries aren't all that mysterious.
The killer looks pretty good though - the military garb is pretty creepy, and actually designed for killing to boot. There is sort of a missed opportunity for some sort of social commentary (how soldiers are treated when they come back from war, or how the government/war turns soldiers into killers), but all we get from it is a cool looking suit.
Despite any missteps and quirks, The Prowler is still pretty decent. The effects are definitely the highlight. Without them, I'd be torn on whether to recommend it. It's never really bad, but it's never that good either. Ultimately, I think I'd end up with a thumbs up even without Savini's work, but the effects make it an easy choice.
I would recommend this film.
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