Slasher-Hybrid Month: 10 to Midnight (1983)
With their potential high return on low investment, slasher movies became the must-make sub-genre on every studio’s production slate in the early 80’s. It was only a matter of time before studios began hedging their bets, injecting slasher tropes into other film styles.
In 1983, The Canon Group released its slasher-infused 10 to Midnight, a Charles Bronson police thriller directed by frequent Bronson collaborator J. Lee Thompson. Thompson was no stranger to the slasher genre, having directed Happy Birthday to Me two years earlier. This time around, the Scooby Doo finale is set aside as Bronson’s cop character is newly partnered with a younger, less experienced though brainy cop played by Andrew (The Fury) Stevens. They’re on a trail of a serial killer (Gene Davis, brother of Brad) who does his wet work in the nude. Things get more complicated when the killer targets Bronson’s student nurse daughter (Lisa Eilbacher from Bad Ronald and Leviathan), just as she’s starting a serious flirtation with Stevens.
While 10 to Midnight isn’t particularly scary or suspenseful, it’s an entertainingly seedy movie. The bloody stalk-and-slash scenes are more Toolbox Murders than Halloween, but they’re effective on their own terms. The leads all deliver solid performances, while some of the supporting actors are a little more iffy. Bronson is always reliable, and Davis, who offered another ballsy performance in Cruising, appears nude frequently throughout the film, as do several of his victims. TV prints offer up an underwear-clad version for happy family viewing. As a villain, Davis’ Warren Stacy character is clever, creepy, and the type of jerk you love to hate. The script by William Roberts moves briskly, tying its slasher, cop and romantic storylines together seamlessly, though it tends toward the crudely juvenile in its dialogue. Some choice examples:
Bronson (explaining the killer’s motive): “Anybody who does something like this, his knife has got to be his penis.”
Reporter to Bronson, dismissing a statement given by the Chief of Police: “I could fart a better statement than that.”
And Eilbacher flirting with Stevens: “Maybe we should check your prostate.”
Um, yeah.
Criticized for its perceived misogyny (a hot topic in regard to slasher movies at the time), and in particular for a scene that bears similarities to the student nurse murders committed by real-life serial killer Richard Speck, 10 to Midnight did well at the box office. Today, it’s readily available on a MGM disc, and it can be enjoyed as the sleazy, era-specific cop thriller and slasher hybrid it is.
I can’t even tell you how much I adore this movie. You got it right Dave, it’s seedy but fun. Those lines are hysterical and thanks for giving Eilbacher her Bad Ronald props. She was so great. I wish she made more films.
Bronson became a favorite of mine only recently. What a true talent with a wonderful range of films. His output in the 80s is just amazing, even if he didn’t think so (take that, Bronson!)…
Ten to Midnight has that wonderful mix lurid sleazy nastiness and hard boiled action you only really get with the pre-muscle hero stars of the 70′s and 80s. Bronson was as good as Eastwood in these sorts of films.
Anyway talking of Hybrids I have just found an old rental copy of The Zero Boys for 10p in a junk shop, that’s 6 or 7 cents! I am currently gloating over it. The British cover makes it look much more of a horror movie than the American ones.
Yeah Amanda, I’ve always kind of appreciated Bronson without too actively pursuing his flicks. Though I’ve always had a soft spot for Death Wish, it wasn’t until recently that I started getting into his stuff like 10 to Midnight, The Mechanic and even Once Upon a Time in the West. He’s rightfully iconic.
Bronson is such a bastard in this… I love it! Similarly, the slasher elements are so strong that they actually sometimes outdo the stalk-and-kill scenes in many proper slashers, I think.
I once saw this movie on HBO when I was a kid. It’s kinda funny for a cop thriller, plus I guess I have to thank TV censoring since the guy in the version I saw is in his undies. Not exactly scary indeed, but it sure was fun.
Fans of Bronson who want to see him in a truly amazing and heartbreaking performance should check out The Indian Runner.
10 to Midnight deserves a sequel, or a remake!