Dark Intruder

Last updated
Dark Intruder
Dark Intruder.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Harvey Hart
Written by Barré Lyndon
Produced by Jack Laird
Starring Leslie Nielsen
Judi Meredith
Mark Richman
Cinematography John F. Warren
Edited byEdward W. Williams
Music by Lalo Schifrin
Production
company
Shamley Productions
Distributed by Universal Pictures (United States)
Rank Film Distributors (United Kingdom)
Release date
  • July 21, 1965 (1965-07-21)(location)
Running time
59 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Dark Intruder is a 1965 horror TV movie that was released theatrically, and starring Leslie Nielsen, Mark Richman and Judi Meredith. The film is set in San Francisco in 1890 concerning playboy sleuth and occult expert Brett Kingsford. This atmospheric black-and-white film, only 59 minutes long, was directed by Harvey Hart and was the pilot for a failed television series called The Black Cloak. It was written by Barré Lyndon.

Contents

The Black Cloak was to be produced by Alfred Hitchcock's television company, Shamley Productions, which also produced Alfred Hitchcock Presents , The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and Suspicion , as well as the film Psycho . When the pilot was deemed too scary and violent for mid-sixties television, NBC sold it to Universal Pictures, where Hitchcock was under contract. Universal re-edited the pilot into a feature film and distributed it to drive-in theaters as the second feature to a double bill that also included William Castle’s I Saw What You Did (also 1965).

In plot and character it greatly resembles Chamber of Horrors (1966), which was made the next year and had a similar fate. Critic Leonard Maltin wrote that Dark intruder featured: "Intricate plot and exceptional use of the time period blending with suspense" and that this made it "a one-of-a-kind movie." Dark Intruder showed up from time to time on late night TV throughout the 1970s. In the 1971 Night Gallery episode "The Dear Departed", Harvey Lembeck's character suggests, while reading through a newspaper, going to the movies to see the double-feature Dark Intruder and Destiny of a Spy .

Plot

The film opens, after the murder of a woman in dark alley by a mysterious caped figure, on a scene between Kingsford and his fiancé Eveleyn Lang (Judi Meredith). Kingsford is an expert on the supernatural and, along with his dwarf assistant Nikola (Charles Bolender), is called in by police to uncover the scheme of a Sumerian demon to return to earth and take over a human body. A series of murders of women similar to those committed in 1888 London by Jack the Ripper has taken place in San Francisco; in those killings, however, a series of ivory-carved statuettes depicting a repulsive reptilian head is left beside each body. In each statuette found , the demon emerges from the back of a man, budding out farther with each crime. It as though with each killing, the demon is freeing itself from its host a little bit more. There also seem to be connections between the four victims.

Kingsford initially consults an old Chinese curio dealer, Chi Zang (Peter Brocco) for advice. The dealer, (whose shop has a statue of a multi-armed Chinese god who may be Yu Lueh) shows Kingsford a mummified creature with a hideous fanged mouth which the priest claims is a Sumerian demon. This mummified demon is accompanied by a seven-spoked wheel. The priest says that the demon will commit seven killings, one for each spoke, until it accomplishes its purposes, according to mystic periods of time known only to itself. Kingsford picks up the small mummy but drops it when it becomes hot and leaves him with a scratched hand.

Kinsford then goes to the import shop of his friend Robert Vandenburg (Peter Mark Richman), where they earlier arranged to meet. A shadow trails him, and in the shop, Kingsford is attacked by the same caped figure who murdered the woman at the beginning of the film. Kingsford fends off the attack and the figure disappears. The police arrive, as does Vandenburg.

Cast

Reception

Author and film critic Leonard Maltin awarded the film three out of four stars, calling it 'a nearly flawless supernatural thriller'. In his review, Maltin commended the film's intricate plot, and "exceptional use of time period", but criticized the film's uneven performances. [1] Dave Sindelar, on his website Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings gave the film a positive review, commending the film's atmosphere, interesting characters, and surprises in the film's story. [2] TV Guide however, gave the film a mixed review; awarding it two out of five stars. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Maltin</span> American film critic and film historian (born 1950)

Leonard Michael Maltin is an American film critic, film historian, and author. He is known for his book of film capsule reviews, Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, published annually from 1969 to 2014. Maltin was the film critic on Entertainment Tonight from 1982 to 2010. He currently teaches at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and hosts the weekly podcast Maltin on Movies. He served two terms as President of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and votes for films to be selected for the National Film Registry.

<i>The Brain That Wouldnt Die</i> 1962 film by Joseph Green

The Brain That Wouldn't Die is a 1962 American science fiction horror film directed by Joseph Green and written by Green and Rex Carlton. The film was completed in 1959 under the working title The Black Door but was not theatrically released until May 3, 1962, under its new title as a double feature with Invasion of the Star Creatures.

<i>Night Monster</i> 1942 film by Ford Beebe

Night Monster is a 1942 American black-and-white horror film featuring Bela Lugosi and produced and distributed by Universal Pictures Company. The movie uses an original story and screenplay by Clarence Upson Young and was produced and directed by Ford Beebe. For box office value, star billing was given to Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill, but the lead roles were played by Ralph Morgan, Irene Hervey and Don Porter, with Atwill in a character role as a pompous doctor who becomes a victim to the title character, and Lugosi in a small part as a butler.

<i>The Maze</i> (1953 film) 1953 film by William Cameron Menzies

The Maze is a 1953 3-D horror film starring Richard Carlson, Veronica Hurst and Hillary Brooke. It was directed by William Cameron Menzies and distributed by Allied Artists Pictures. It was to be the second 3-D film designed and directed by William Cameron Menzies, known for his very "dimensional" style. It was his final film as production designer and director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Mark Richman</span> American film and television actor (1927–2021)

Peter Mark Richman was an American actor in films and on television, who was for many years credited as Mark Richman. He appeared in about 30 films and 130 television series from the 1950s until his retirement in 2011.

<i>The Astro-Zombies</i> 1968 film by Ted V. Mikels

The Astro-Zombies is a 1968 American science fiction horror film written, directed and produced by Ted V. Mikels and starring John Carradine, Wendell Corey, and Tura Satana.

<i>Equinox</i> (1970 film) 1970 American supernatural horror film

Equinox is a 1970 American supernatural horror film directed by Jack Woods, and starring Edward Connell, Barbara Hewitt, Frank Bonner and Robin Christopher. Though uncredited, producer Dennis Muren also served as a second director. The film focuses on four young people picnicking in a California canyon, where they stumble upon an ancient book used to conjure demons; soon they unleash a plethora of evil creatures.

<i>The Slime People</i> 1963 film by Robert Hutton

The Slime People is a 1963 horror film directed by Robert Hutton, who also starred in the film. The film was featured on the first season of the television show Mystery Science Theater 3000, as well as the 1986 syndicated series The Canned Film Festival.

<i>Leonard Maltins Movie Guide</i> Book by Leonard Maltin

Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide was a book-format collection of movie capsule reviews that began in 1969, was updated biannually after 1978, and then annually after 1986. The final edition was published in September 2014. It was originally called TV Movies, which became Leonard Maltin's TV Movies and Video Guide, and then Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide, before arriving at its final title. Film critic Leonard Maltin edited it and contributed a large portion of its reviews.

<i>Lurking Fear</i> (film) 1994 American film

Lurking Fear is a 1994 horror film, loosely based on the H. P. Lovecraft short story "The Lurking Fear". It was produced by Charles Band's Full Moon Entertainment and written and directed by C. Courtney Joyner.

<i>The Last Chase</i> 1981 dystopian science fiction film

The Last Chase is a 1981 Canadian-American dystopian science fiction film directed by Martyn Burke who was also the producer on the film, produced for Argosy Films. The film stars Lee Majors, Chris Makepeace and Burgess Meredith in a futuristic scenario about a former racing driver who reassembles his old Porsche car and drives to California in a world where cars and motor vehicles of all kinds have been outlawed by the authorities.

<i>The She-Creature</i> 1956 film by Edward L. Cahn

The She-Creature, or The She Creature, is a 1956 American black-and-white science fiction horror film, released by American International Pictures from a script by Lou Rusoff. It was produced by Alex Gordon, directed by Edward L. Cahn, and stars Chester Morris, Marla English and Tom Conway, and casting Frieda Inescort and El Brendel in smaller roles. The producers hired Marla English because they thought she bore a strong resemblance to Elizabeth Taylor.

Jack Laird was an American screenwriter, producer, director, and actor. He received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his works in Ben Casey, Night Gallery, and Kojak.

<i>The Avenger</i> (1960 film) 1960 film

The Avenger is a 1960 West German crime film directed by Karl Anton and starring Heinz Drache, Ingrid van Bergen and Ina Duscha. It is based on the 1926 novel The Avenger by Edgar Wallace. It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich. The film's sets were designed by the art director Willi Herrmann.

<i>The Dead Eyes of London</i> 1961 film

The Dead Eyes of London is a 1961 West German black and white crime film directed by Alfred Vohrer and starring Joachim Fuchsberger, Karin Baal and Dieter Borsche.

<i>Voodoo Island</i> 1957 film by Reginald Le Borg

Voodoo Island is a 1957 American horror film directed by Reginald Le Borg and written by Richard H. Landau. The film stars Boris Karloff, with a cast including Elisha Cook Jr., Beverly Tyler and Rhodes Reason. It is set in the South Pacific and was filmed on Kauai, Hawaii back to back with Jungle Heat. Adam West appears in a small pre-"Batman" uncredited role.

<i>The Curse of the Aztec Mummy</i> 1957 Mexican film

The Curse of the Aztec Mummy is a 1957 Mexican horror film directed by Rafael Portillo. It is the second film in the Aztec Mummy series which began with The Aztec Mummy which was released earlier that year.

<i>Curucu, Beast of the Amazon</i> 1956 film by Curt Siodmak

Curucu, Beast of the Amazon is a 1956 American adventure/monster film, directed and written by Curt Siodmak and starring John Bromfield, Beverly Garland and Tom Payne. The title creature is pronounced "Koo-Ruh-SOO". The film was distributed in the United States as a double feature with The Mole People.

<i>The Mysterious Doctor</i> 1943 film by Benjamin Stoloff

The Mysterious Doctor is a 1943 American horror film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and written by Richard Weil. The film stars John Loder, Eleanor Parker, Bruce Lester, Lester Matthews and Forrester Harvey. The film was released by Warner Bros. on March 3, 1943.

Curse of the Stone Hand is a 1965 horror film created by movie producer Jerry Warren by editing together two 1940s Chilean films, La casa está vacía, a 1945 film directed by Carlos Schlieper, and La dama de la muerte, a 1946 film directed by Carlos Hugo Christensen.

References

  1. ↑ Leonard Maltin; Spencer Green; Rob Edelman (January 2010). Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide. Plume. p. 149. ISBN   978-0-452-29577-3.
  2. ↑ Sindelar, Dave (24 January 2015). "Dark Intruder (1965)". FantasticMovieMusings.com. Dave Sindelar. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Dark Intruder - Movie Reviews and Movie Ratings". TV Guide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.