The Night Andy Came Home

Deathdream (aka Dead of night and The night Andy came home) was directed by Bob Clark and written by Alan Ornsby and released in 1974. Alan Ormsby directed some great horror films such as Popcorn and Deranged and actually did special make-up effects for the great Nazi zombie favorite Shockwaves. Bob Clark is a well respected director who has given us such classics as Black Christmas (the first slasher), Children shouldn't play with dead things, Porkys 1 and 2 and the beloved Christmas film A Christmas Story. He had quite the range of talent from the horror genre to the family genre, and making great films in both. Sadly Bob Clark and his son we're killed in a car accident on April 4 2007 by a drunk driver, he will be missed and fondly remembered for his influence on comedy and horror directors alike. Deathdream is the fourth film by Winston and my personal favorite horror film by him.

The film opens with the family of Andy Brooks (played by Richard Backus)receiving a letter of Andy's death in the Vietnam war, then we follow a man hitchhiking his way home and killing a trucker along the way. Soon we realize it is Andy, and as he arrives home his family is happy and confused at the same time of his arrival. Andy gives no real explanation as how he got home and something defiantly seems off about the way he is acting, there is a dead look in his eyes and his family soon finds out he is not the same boy they remember. Andy spends all of his time in his room in a rocking chair which slowly drives his father (played by John Marley) insane. Andy starts displaying some strange behaviors and it becomes all too clear that he is completely out of his mind while hanging out with some younger kids in the neighborhood he kills the family dog right in front of them. Andy's father has had enough at this point and makes Andy see a psychiatrist to find out what is really wrong with him. Andy's sister informs his girlfriend that Andy is home and they arrange a date at the drive-in that goes horribly wrong, and as the rest of the film plays out we discover what is really wrong with Andy and what he needs to survive.

It is pretty obvious the social commentary Bob Clark is making with this film and the effects the Vietnam war had on the soldiers sent into battle. that works really well into the story without banging the viewer over the head with it, kind of like early Romero films.


Richard Backus who plays Andy does an excellent job in the role and comes off really cold and psychotic in subtle ways, he was picked for the role because of his psychotic stare he was able to give the casting director, which is seen throughout the movie. Christopher Walken was considered for the role as Andy which would have been great as well but I think Backus was born to play this role. John Marley is a wonderful actor and also does a great job in the film playing Charles Brooks, his most recognizable role probably being the guy who wakes up with a horse head in his bed in the Godafther. This was also the first film that Tom Savini, the legendary make-up effects master, worked on in his career.

In the final scene Richard Backus and a stunt man are driving in a car and apparently the fire from the front of the car sucked into the back seat igniting the inside of the car, luckily the two men were able to escape unharmed.

Blue Underground released a great edition of Deathdream on DVD with some great extras like two adio commentaries with the director Bob Clark and with writer Alan Ormsby, a featurette on Tom Savini's early work, an interview with Richard Backus, alternate opening titles, extended ending sequence, poster art, stills and theatrical trailer. This DVD is a definite purchase.

Deathdream is one of my all time favorite horror films from the 70's mixing elements of a psychological thriller and and gore piece. This is a must see for any horror fan for it's subtle terror and commentary on the Vietnam war, and for Richard Backus' performance.

Review by Jason

Rating: B