This is a very excellent slasher film, one of the best. The killer is quite creepy, and has very cool weapons, especially the bayonet. Tom Savini's gore effects are simply outstanding! This is such a great film that every slasher fan should see. I want an SE DVD release of this VERY soon! What do you all think of this classic?
I like this movie too. It's one of the better early '80s slashers. This would certainly be a good title for Anchor Bay to get their hands on.
Same here! It's a good 80's slasher that SCREAMS out for a DVD release! Thanks to Vdlman for recommending this movie to me a while back. useless trivia: Lustig named the screen psycho ("Frank Zito" from Maniac.) after his friend, Joesph Zito. (Director of The Prowler and F13th- The Final Chapter.) ------------------ "Have you ever had an Egyptian feast?" "They're back from the grave and ready to party!"
I love this movie! The effects are great and bloody, and it would make a terrific DVD since the VHS versions I've always seen are so dark, they're horrible to watch. It would be nice to see someone pick this up and do something good with it. Who owns Vestron's stuff anyway?
I too would be interested in this on DVD but ONLY if Tom Savini's excellent FX are restored in their entirety...I saw it on cable years ago in its truncated version and was not all that impressed.
Kind of a dud outside of the amazing kill sequences. Still worth watching for Savini's top notch work but I rather watch The Burning and Friday thr 13th-The Final Chapter.
I actually really like this movie. Probably because I liked it as a kid. But I can understand why people can't get into it. It can be extremely dull and slow. There's a really good chase scene in it and tbh it might feature some of Savini's best work. The effects in this are simply stunning (the kills are fucking GRUESOME). I can't imagine having seen the R-rated cut in theaters. This movie doesn't have much going for it besides the effects. Oh and the ending is pretty fucking awesome. ~Matt
I agree. Some of Savini's best work, but damn it's a dull film out side of the killings. The ending is fucking awesome.
Poor Farley Granger. First he had to deal with a crazy Robert Walker in Strangers on a Train and then he got his head shot off.
Hey, actress Vicky Dawson (Pam McDonald in The Prowler, 1981) is back in the business. But after 1989? That was the last time she acted. Why does she return after so much time? Money? Or what? Check her profile on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0206290 She's in two low-level movies.
The Prowler serves up two forms of brutality. Brutal violence, and brutal dullness. Do we really need the lingering shot of the chunky guy on the phone who pretends to get up to reach someone? Talk about padding. However, the violence is some of Savini's best work and saves the movie.
Yeah unfortunately its dullness is something that kept me from enjoying this one when I revisited it.
I just love how brutal and nasty the kills are. Basically makes other slashers of the era, like F13th, look like pg-13 in comparison Just wish they had trimmed about 10-15 minutes, to improve the flow of the movie.
I saw this movie recently. Perhaps during the last October movie sessions. I'm sure I posted a review somewhere here or on the Horror.com forum. I too thought the kills were just a bit harsher. Where Jason kills quick, The Prowler took it a few more seconds which surprised me. Some I thought were maybe a bit much like the pool death. I did like the main actress though, I'm curious to see what she shows up in.
I was watching a show on Travel Channel called Most Haunted Towns and they did an episode on Cape May, NJ. The show was pretty terrible, but of interest because one of the places they investigated was the Emlen Physick Estate, which was Major Chatham's house in The Prowler. Apparently it's a pretty famous haunted house. Also, The Prowler is not boring! It has amazing atmosphere! And that ending is by far the best of the Carrie rip-off endings (yes, better than the final scare in Carrie and Friday The 13th! I said it!). The end theme is quite beautiful and melancholy.
