Nightside
Nightside

Movie spotlight

Nightside

1973
Movie
70 min
English

The story of three people - a press agent, a private detective and a nightclub owner - whose careers require them to spend most of the night awake and on the prowl. In the pilot episode, Carmine manages to rescue Smitty's night club from being demolition and manages to resurrect a fading star's acting career.

Insights

IMDb5.6/10
Director: Robert Vincent O'NeilGenres: Horror, Thriller

Plot Summary

A young woman takes a job as a night clerk at a secluded, luxurious mansion, only to find herself terrorized by a series of increasingly disturbing events and encounters. As the night unfolds, she realizes she may be trapped with a dangerous presence or a deranged individual. Her struggle for survival becomes a desperate fight against unseen forces and mounting psychological fear.

Critical Reception

Nightside is a relatively obscure horror film from the early 1970s, often noted for its atmospheric tension and suspenseful build-up. While not widely discussed, it has gained a cult following among genre enthusiasts for its effective use of psychological horror and a strong performance from its lead. Critical reception at the time was mixed, with some critics praising its moodiness and others finding its plot underdeveloped.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unsettling atmosphere and suspense.

  • Brenda Vaccaro's performance is often highlighted as a strong point.

  • Some critics found the plot to be slow or lacking in clear resolution.

Google audience: Audience reviews for Nightside are scarce due to its limited release and older status. However, comments that do exist often mention the film's effectiveness as a mood piece and its ability to create a sense of dread, even if the narrative isn't always tightly constructed.

Fun Fact

The film was originally intended to be a television pilot for a series about a woman working at a remote inn, but was later re-edited and released as a theatrical feature film.

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