Death Dream (1974)

Dad: "Can you believe it, they actually told me my son was dead?"
Andy: "I was."

aka: Dead of Night
aka: The Night Andy Came Home
A man killed in Vietnam inexplicably returns home as something else.
Starring: Richard Backus, John Marley, Lynn Carlin, Anya Ormsby, Henderson Forsythe

Link to IMDB

When a family learns that their son, Andy, was killed in Vietnam, they are heartbroken by the terrible news. A few days later Andy suddenly arrives home, much to the surprise and happiness of his parents and sister, Cathy.
The family wants to celebrate their war hero but Andy isn't feeling too well, and he spends his days in complete silence, often just staring into space like a shell-shocked ghost.

We know things about Andy that the family doesn't, which is the fact that he's already murdered a few people in town since his mysterious return, and he's developed a taste for human blood!
This might sound like a silly premise but the movie is played completely serious, establishing an eerie tone as we slowly learn more about what Andy has become.


Andy's father begins to get annoyed with his son's odd behavior, and when Andy kills the family dog in a fit of rage he decides it's time to get Andy some help. The family doctor gets involved, trying to understand what has happened to the troubled soldier.

Andy grows more and more detached from normalcy, and as his face begins to crumble so does the family itself, as they argue and try to cope with the pain and horror of what Andy has become. 

Mom and Dad                                      Cathy

The movie is clearly using Andy's undead qualities as a metaphor for the terrible PTSD that so many soldiers have to deal with. No explanation is given for his return from war, but none is needed. This is an examination of a broken man, and the grief his family feels when they realize the war has wounded their son in a sinister way.

Joanne: "You've changed."
Andy: "Everyone changes eventually."

Something terrible has happened

The plot is slow but thoroughly engaging, with a dark atmosphere and discordant music that fits the disturbing tragedy of the characters. Alongside the unflinching social commentary on what war does to a person, it's also a splendidly gloomy movie that even has room for some morbid comic relief.
It's definitely a cult classic that's worth seeing.


Be sure not to miss:
- The dog's death scene is pretty crazy.
- I enjoyed the Stompin' Tom Connors song at the diner.
- Directed by Bob Clark. (And he plays the police man in the above photo.)

Internet review:
"Imaginative and original, once you’ve seen it you will never forget it." - Zomblee

Should I watch it?
Recommended.

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.

Death Dream gets...