Nothing But the Night (1973)

Director:

Peter Sasdy

Writers:

John Blackburn (novel)
Brian Hayles (screenplay)

Release Date:

June 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

This nightmare has already killed five people - now it's yours to live!

Plot:

Already three trustees of the Van Traylen fund have died during the last months, looking like suicides...

Plot Keywords:

Dead Children | Mass Suicide | Child Suicide | Murder | Orphanage

Cast

Christopher Lee	...	Col. Charles Bingham
Peter Cushing	...	Sir Mark Ashley
Diana Dors	...	Anna Harb
Georgia Brown	...	Joan Foster
Keith Barron	...	Dr. Haynes
Gwyneth Strong	...	Mary Valley
Fulton Mackay	...	Cameron
John Robinson	...	Lord Fawnlee
Morris Perry	...	Dr. Yeats
Michael Gambon	...	Insp. Grant
Duncan Lamont	...	Dr. Knight
Shelagh Fraser	...	Mrs. Alison
Kathleen Byron	...	Dr. Rose
Geoffrey Frederick	...	Computer Operator
Louise Nelson	...	Nurse

Also Known As:

The Devil's Undead
The Resurrection Syndicate (USA) (reissue title)
Cervello dei morti viventi, Il (Italy) [it]
Dunkel der Nacht, Das (West Germany) [de]
I nattens mörker (Sweden) [sv]
Keskiyön kauhut (Finland) [fi]
Noche infernal (Spain) [es]
Terror na Penumbra (Brazil) [pt]

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:AA | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | USA:PG

Company:

Charlemagne Productions

Trivia:

The final film of Michael Brennan.

More then you let on.

Three trustees of the Van Travlen have died within the last couple of months, their deaths looking less than natural. When a bus accident occurs involving the Van Traylen Trust, the only survivor is the young girl Mary Valley. The behaviour of Mary has Dr Haynes worried, so he tries his best to dig up information on her and this leads to her original mother/convicted murderer. She wants Mary back, but the Trust manages to bring her back to their orphanage on the Scottish isle of Bala. Police Colonel Bingham believes there's more to these deaths, and soon his trying to protect the Trust from Mary's mother who believes that they turned her daughter against her. Also pathologist Sir Mark Ashley and reporter Joan Foster start digging up some vital dirt, which could answer many questions.

"Nothing But the Night" seems to fall more in the interesting bracket, than the successful one. Peter Sasdy's minor mystery chiller is a moderate attempt made more accessible due to the presence of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. It was actually produced under Lee's Charlemagne production company, and would be the last one too. These two icons of the genre can make anything watchable and even though they might not be as prominent here. They still have the ability to leave their mark when they aren't on screen. Brain Hayles' cryptic screenplay (taken off John Blackburn's novel) works up a smart, if overly padded script and captivating dying half, but the knotty plot doesn't seem to click, as it moves all over the place making it hard to get comfortable and come to terms with the haunting pay-off. You might find the twist kinda obvious, but the true revelation throws you off. It does take quite awhile to hit its straps. Which could turn people off from its talkative and slow progression. However the timidly restraint and uncertain nature only makes the final 10 minutes even more unnerving, as that's when the murder mystery makes way for some creepy horror strokes. Both Sasdy and Hayles do a good enough job in keeping the viewer interested. Sasdy uses the open locations to great effect, and ably stages the set pieces with efficient slickness and ominously dark shades. Malcolm Williamson's lightly smooth jazzy score stays on the back-burner and Ken Talbot's sturdy photography keeps it stark and upfront. The performances are considerably tailor-made. Lee (more uptight than usual) and Cushing are at their assured best, even if they only have lesser parts. The spruce Diana Dors makes for a good fiery, eccentric turn and Georgia Brown's is equally impressive as the down-to-earth reporter. Gwyneth Strong wonderfully draws up her part as Mary.

A middling hot (impeccably acted) and cold (unfocused story) mystery thriller.