The Prowler (1981)

Director: Joseph Zito

Starring: Vicky Dawson, Christopher Goutman, Lawrence Tierney

An unknown killer, clad in World War II U.S. Army fatigues, stalks a small New Jersey town bent on reliving a 35 year-old double murder by focusing on a group of college kids holding an annual graduation dance.

Back in 1945, a young girl, Rosemary, breaks up with her boyfriend – who is serving in the military – by writing him a letter. Then, at a Graduation Dance, a young couple is brutally murdered.

We jump to present day (1981) with youngsters preparing for the first Graduation Dance since 1945. ‘The Prowler’ isn’t just another mindless slasher movie. It has more substance, and also serves as a mystery thriller, and a twist linking the opening murder to present day. The film is set entirely on the night of the Graduation Dance, and set mostly in the dance hall, or the dormitory.

‘The Prowler’ is very atmospheric, and reminded me of (the first) ‘Friday the 13th’ and (the first) ‘Halloween’, and even the likes of ‘The Burning’ and ‘Madman’. The film’s hero is deputy Mark (Christopher Goutman) and heroin Pam (Vicky Dawson). There’s also a love interest here, marred by jealousy. Unlike most slasher movies of its time, the film doesn’t bombard the viewer with female nudity, reducing exploitation to a bare minimum – and well justified.

The kill scenes are brutal, with good effects by Tom Savini. In general, ‘The Prowler’ was a much better film than expected. I honestly thought this was going to be a bad B-movie slasher, but it was actually pretty good.

Would I watch it again? I somehow don’t think so.

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