150 Words About . . .Deathdream (1972)
by James Newman
A tragic look at how men and women who are sent off to war often return as ghosts of their former selves, Deathdream (a.k.a. Dead of Night) is a modern take on “The Monkey’s Paw.” It’s the story of Andy (played by soap-opera actor/screenwriter Richard Backus), a young man who is killed by a sniper in Vietnam. Andy’s family is elated when he comes knocking at their door one night, seemingly safe and sound. They decide the news of his death must have been the result of a clerical error. Problem is, Andy now needs blood to stay alive. Eventually, his loved ones start to wonder if it might have been best if he never came home at all. Deathdream’s director, Bob Clark – who, sadly, was killed by a drunk driver in 2007 – also helmed Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things, Black Christmas, Porky’s (!), and A Christmas Story (!!!).
