I Watch Films: Deathdream

Deathdream (aka Dead Of Night)

Andy Brooks is an American soldier in Vietnam, and he’s shot. His mother prays that he will return, saying that he promised. They’re sent a telegram saying he’s been killed in action.

Later he returns, but is transformed in character. Everyone seems to be taking this fairly calmly, especially the older men, who make it clear that when they came back from the war (WW2 presumably, though they might be veterans of Korea) they had changed and had things to deal with.

This is a horror film, specifically a Monkey’s Paw inspired one, so eventually Andy is discovered to be dead, and also murdering people, and there is a violent car-chase/fight/graveyard finale.

Watch This: A 70s horror film with a little bit to say about coming home from a war
Don’t Watch This: The film throws its metaphor away in favour of bloodthirsty zombieness