by Frank Calvillo
Nightmares beautifully represents the glory of the horror anthology film. The eclectic group of characters and the wildly different stories being told, featuring the sole connection of terror-filled events taking place in the midst of the everyday are what makes such a cinematic horror outing a must for any fan of the genre, and thankfully Nightmares has them all. An intended TV pilot which was later refashioned into a theatrical feature, Nightmares might be an oddity, straddling the line between two mediums, yet the film manages to offer up a collection of genuinely suspenseful tales in the tradition Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt.
Chapter 1: “Terror in Topanga”
In “Terror in Topanga,” an ordinary housewife (Cristina Raines) decides to make a late-night run to the local store for a pack of cigarettes, despite the fact that there’s an escaped killer on the loose. A great opening to Nightmares, “Terror in Topanga” shows that good old-fashioned scares trump effects and gore any day. The peaceful California canyon setting has never seemed more menacing than it does here. “Terror in Topanga” also offers Raines a great showcase, which she takes full advantage of, giving a great performance. The ending may feel a bit abrupt, but it hardly matters since what came before was exactly right.
Chapter 2: “The Bishop of Battle”
Teenager J.J.’s (Emilio Estevez) obsession with arcade games goes way too far when he finds himself as the object of one in “The Bishop of Battle.” While this second chapter of Nightmares seems out of place with the other stories, it does help give the project the kind of variety such anthologies were known for. Admittedly, “The Bishop of Battle” is more dark fantasy than horror, and does feel like it was most obviously made for T.V. Yet great early work from Estevez as well as a deft comment/snapshot on the 80s video game culture help the chapter earn its place in Nightmares.
Chapter 3: “The Benediction”
Taking a somewhat elegiac tone, “The Benediction” casts Lance Henriksen as a priest who decides to leave the church after suffering a crisis of faith, leaving him to face the outside world, and the menacing force that awaits him. The novelty of the “The Benediction” is seeing Henriksen in a wildly different role than his fans are used to. His surprisingly strong work as a conflicted, tortured priest is truly one of the biggest highlights of Nightmares. While the story is more or less a rehashing of Steven Spielberg’s Duel, the California desert setting is perfect and there is enough real suspense to make this chapter feel like its own entity.
Chapter 4: “Night of the Rat”
Nightmares concludes with “Night of the Rat” in which a well-to-do suburban couple (Richard Masur and Veronica Cartwright) must deal with a rat infestation which turns out to be much bigger than either of them thought. The idea of a rat problem being a substitute for suburban materialism and marital distress is clever, with both actors, especially Cartwright, playing it expertly. While “Night of the Rat” has the most laughable effects, even by the modest standards of the day, its the buildup and sense of mystery which gives the story its strength and proves a fitting ending to the film.
Nightmares was quite obviously a thrown together affair as evidenced by the extremely bland title, lack of recognizable stars and TV-level effects. However, decent production values, including great edits, cuts and performances make up for most of the film’s shortcomings, while genuine suspense and an on-point ideology throughout each of the stories make the film more than worthwhile.
The Package
The Blu-ray release features the film’s excellent trailer, which offers a throwback to the glory days of movie marketing seldom practiced anymore. There’s also a pleasant commentary featuring Raines and Executive Producer Andrew Mirisch filled with interesting facts regarding the film’s origins, which scenes were shot for TV and which for theaters, as well as how each story represented an aspect of American life in one way or another.
The Lowdown
Not exactly quintessential, Nightmares is still a welcome part of the horror anthology genre.
Nightmares is now available on Blu-ray from Scream Factory.
