In this graphic and gory slice-n-dicer, a young boy goes Lizzy Borden when he sees his daddy making love to his mistress, and he chops them to bits. Though he goes through years of treatment, nothing can heal his shattered mind and he grows up to be a homicidal maniac. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review
Nightmare is a slasher film that revels in the extremes of its genre. It delivers everything that type of film promises: there's a disturbed killer, plenty of extended setpieces where the killer stalks his prey and a barrage of over-the-top gore effects. If one is not predisposed to enjoy a film with these elements than Nightmare isn't likely to win them over. However, horror fans who like their fare sleazy and gruesome will get their money's worth here. Writer/director Romano Scavolini shows some unexpected inventiveness with the genre's tropes, giving his villain character a novel background story involving a secret government program and slowly revealing bits of a central flashback sequence over the course of the entire film to create a parallel narrative with the present day action. The performances are hit-and-miss but Baird Stafford turns in some memorable work with his raw, almost painfully intense performance as the killer. The finished film is likely to be too much for anyone except fans of hardcore horror but there is no denying that Nightmare delivers the gruesome goods for that target audience. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Cast
Baird Stafford - George Tatum
Sharon Smith - Susan Temper
C.J. Cooke - C.J. Temper
Mik Cribben - Bob Rosen
Kathleen Ferguson - Barbara
John L. Watkins - Man with cigar; Danny Ronan - Kathy the Babysitter
Credit
Romano Scavolini - Director, Robert T. Megginson - Editor, David Jones - Executive Producer, Jack Eric Williams - Composer (Music Score), Ed French - Makeup, Gianni Fiore - Cinematographer, Simon Nuchtern - Production Manager, John L. Watkins - Producer, Bill Milling - Special Effects, Les Larraine - Special Effects, Romano Scavolini - Screenwriter
