We actually saw this on original release in 1971 in the old downtown Tucson theater. We walked a few blocks home to the delightfully serene ex-mortuary we rented during our college years and were compelled to discuss it for hours. Such was the emotional pull. After seeing Max in a few more intriguing films as this, he became my favorite actor for many years. He really knew how to pick clever roles. Like Jack Nicholson! Or, Michael Caine for a British actor. Along with the compelling interplay between him and old pro Trevor Howard, it makes this movie a must see for fans of the off-beat. His character, as the dark plot evolved, begged the question: "Is he crazy-or genius?" Definitely, an underrated and under-viewed film for many years.
47 Reviews
Chilly tale of axe murder and madness
Leofwine_draca13 October 2015
I guess that if Ingmar Bergman had ever made an out-and-out horror film, THE NIGHT VISITOR is what it would have looked like. This obscure USA/Sweden co-production brings together two of Bergman's favourite actors (Max Von Sydow and Liv Ullman) in a tale of madness, desperation, revenge, and sinister murder. It's quite a vicious film even though the on-screen violence is limited and the viewer never sees much of what's actually taking place.
The film's chilly, snowbound northern setting (Jutland) is as much a character as the cast themselves, and the story certainly has a unique feel to it: slow, stately, very much like an art-house film, but with dark revenge/thriller plotting. I liked it; there's style to spare, and some ingenious situations as we see Von Sydow's character putting the impossible into action.
The film is also notable for an exemplary cast. Aside from the Swedish luminaries, we get a real old timer as the detective (Trevor Howard) alongside popular Swedish actor Per Oscarsson, and supporting roles for two Hammer star Brits, Rupert Davies and Andrew Keir. THE NIGHT VISITOR certainly isn't for all tastes, but it's an odd film indeed: quiet and yet spellbinding at the same time.
The film's chilly, snowbound northern setting (Jutland) is as much a character as the cast themselves, and the story certainly has a unique feel to it: slow, stately, very much like an art-house film, but with dark revenge/thriller plotting. I liked it; there's style to spare, and some ingenious situations as we see Von Sydow's character putting the impossible into action.
The film is also notable for an exemplary cast. Aside from the Swedish luminaries, we get a real old timer as the detective (Trevor Howard) alongside popular Swedish actor Per Oscarsson, and supporting roles for two Hammer star Brits, Rupert Davies and Andrew Keir. THE NIGHT VISITOR certainly isn't for all tastes, but it's an odd film indeed: quiet and yet spellbinding at the same time.
a killer with a rock-solid alibi; a clever, suspenseful, artfully-done horror movie
FieCrier18 February 2005
A man is running away from a large brick building surrounded by a high wall. He's running across rocks and snow in his underwear and boots. He sneaks into a farmhouse and steals some odd items, and sneaks into another house where he kills a woman. It's not the last person he'll kill either; he's trying to frame someone, but why - and how is he getting away from the place that establishes his alibi?
This is a very good movie. As a horror movie, it doesn't have a very high body count, or much gore, and there's no on screen violence - it cuts away from that. Some horror movies benefit from that, some don't; this one doesn't need it. The locations: isolated locations surrounded by snowy fields are very nice to look at. Acting is very good, as is the musical score by Mancini.
Definitely deserves to be better-known. I'm surprised some critics didn't like it. Some didn't like that the movie gives some things away early on that could have been withheld. I don't agree; not every movie that has secrets needs to save them for a big reveal at the end. Others felt that the characters' motivations weren't established. I can only suppose they weren't listening to the dialog, because that was fully discussed.
This is a very good movie. As a horror movie, it doesn't have a very high body count, or much gore, and there's no on screen violence - it cuts away from that. Some horror movies benefit from that, some don't; this one doesn't need it. The locations: isolated locations surrounded by snowy fields are very nice to look at. Acting is very good, as is the musical score by Mancini.
Definitely deserves to be better-known. I'm surprised some critics didn't like it. Some didn't like that the movie gives some things away early on that could have been withheld. I don't agree; not every movie that has secrets needs to save them for a big reveal at the end. Others felt that the characters' motivations weren't established. I can only suppose they weren't listening to the dialog, because that was fully discussed.
Clever thriller
heedarmy24 October 1999
Atmospherically set in freezing Jutland, this clever revenge drama starts slowly but will grab your interest as Salem's plan unfolds. The acting is good and the film is well-handled by director Laslo Benedek. Worth a viewing.
Creepy
JasparLamarCrabb6 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
If Ingmar Bergman had written and directed an episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, it may have looked something like this. Wrongly convicted mental patient Max von Sydow leaves the asylum each night to exact revenge on his nasty family members (who, he believes, set him up). Conniving sister Liv Ullman and weak willed brother-in-law Per Oscarsson are no match for von Sydow's vengeance. There's a lot of moody, stark images captured by director Laslo Benedek (the film was shot in a particularly chilly Norway & Sweden) and the music score (by Henry Mancini!) is very creepy. von Sydow is dynamite and Ullman gives a great performance (rare for a non-Bergman film). Trevor Howard is the cop on the case who very slowly peels the case open. Featuring a great, almost comic, ending!
Hokey but entertaining
jamcdaid5 August 2018
This movie has plot holes large enough to fly a 747 through. For one example, The Flash could not run as fast and as far as Max von Sydow apparently can, in freezing cold and wind, wearing only his skivvies. Exactly how far is it supposed to be from the asylum to the farm to the town?! For another, Trevor Howard, who is portrayed as a Lt. Columbo but is about as competent as Inspector Clouseau, never thinks to check for footprints in the snow. But it's fast paced and the acting is very good, although how the actors managed to keep straight faces is beyond me.
A chilly and atmospheric slow burner.
parry_na13 November 2019
If you enjoy pacey, fast-moving horror stories, then I would suggest that 'The Night Visitor' will not entertain you in any way. I am fan of slow-burning chillers, and the crawling pace even made me wish the story would hurry up a little. There are times when watching this seems to last longer than the 105 minute running time.
But I'd advise you to stick with it.
It is a pleasure to see such legendary veteran faces as Trevor Howard, Rupert Davies, Andrew Keir, Gretchen Franklin and Max Von Sydow, and they don't so much liven things up here as lend their weight to the grim surroundings and bleak locations, all beautifully filmed by Laslo Benedek.
There's also a darkly playful twist at the end, which follows a series of other twists that will have you smiling wryly.
Per Oscarsson and Liv Ullman (as Anton and Ester Jenks respectively) also turn in wonderfully measured performances. Such fascinating characters are what carries the narrative here, and the film is as watchable as it is because of them. There is similarity to the works of Ingmar Bergman here, not least because two of his 'muses' are featured here. The attention to detail, the methodical story structure, and the stifling bleakness, are all representative of his style.
I ended up enjoying this very much. It is easy to become entranced by the frozen surroundings, the cold and unfriendly conditions, the austere buildings. If you allow yourself to fall under their spell, the leisurely pacing ceases to become a problem. My score would be a chilly 7 out of 10.
But I'd advise you to stick with it.
It is a pleasure to see such legendary veteran faces as Trevor Howard, Rupert Davies, Andrew Keir, Gretchen Franklin and Max Von Sydow, and they don't so much liven things up here as lend their weight to the grim surroundings and bleak locations, all beautifully filmed by Laslo Benedek.
There's also a darkly playful twist at the end, which follows a series of other twists that will have you smiling wryly.
Per Oscarsson and Liv Ullman (as Anton and Ester Jenks respectively) also turn in wonderfully measured performances. Such fascinating characters are what carries the narrative here, and the film is as watchable as it is because of them. There is similarity to the works of Ingmar Bergman here, not least because two of his 'muses' are featured here. The attention to detail, the methodical story structure, and the stifling bleakness, are all representative of his style.
I ended up enjoying this very much. It is easy to become entranced by the frozen surroundings, the cold and unfriendly conditions, the austere buildings. If you allow yourself to fall under their spell, the leisurely pacing ceases to become a problem. My score would be a chilly 7 out of 10.
Something was missing
MissSimonetta12 September 2019
With its intriguing premise, an illustrious cast of actors, and a truly creepy score from the great Henry Mancini, THE NIGHT VISITOR should have been at least a minor classic of the thriller genre. Unfortunately, an underdeveloped story takes it down a few notches. I think the supporting characters could have used a bit more development than they get, for instance. However, the wintry atmosphere creates a lovely desolate tone and it is fun to watch the cat and mouse game between Max von Sydow and Trevor Howard.
Excellent lost 70's chiller - HIGHLY RCOMMENDED
GarethG19 March 2006
I remember catching 'The Night Visitor' on UK late night TV in the late 70's. At that time I'd not heard of it but was hooked from the outset. Many of the haunting images stayed with me and recently I got all nostalgic and started searching for either video or DVD releases of several lost gems from the early 70's, amongst them 'And Soon The Darkness', 'I Start Counting' and of course 'The Night Visitor'. Success!!! as all titles were available on DVD (some are deleted from obscure labels but all frequently pop up on Ebay for reasonable amounts). Strangely, having caught up with several long forgotten film or TV shows from my childhood, most have been disappointing, however 'The Night Visitor' retains it's menacing, almost surreal air and Max Von Sydow carries the film with great support from Trevor Howard (who seems to be setting the tone for his later appearance in 1973's 'The Offence') and I even recalled Arthur Hewlett as the prison guard with the gnome-like features. All in all a MUST for any Von Sydow fan and any lover of quirky psychological thrillers, low on budget but high on plot and intrigue.
The best twists and turns in thrillers like this make you say wooh, not wow.
mark.waltz27 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
When you don't see certain things coming and you know that the writing has outsmarted you, you've got to admit checkmate from them towards you. An international cast of mostly Swedish and British actors gives stunning performances in this film that while often slow uses that pacing to bring you in subtly and by the time you realize that you are hooked, you are far too stunned to remember even being briefly bored.
It's a cold and windy atmosphere for the setting of a mental health hospital and its surroundings where a patient escapes and seeks revenge on those they blame for their being locked up. The cast includes the terrific Max Von Sydow as the mental patient who escapes in nothing but shorts and a t-shirt in the frigid cold, managing to get back yet find his way out again and again.
Liv Ullman and Per Oscarsson are members of the targeted family and Trevor Howard is the local inspector investigating the case, frazzled by the hints that someone has made their way through the very secure building and down the tall walls. But how Von Sydow does it is ingenious as we see through the game he plays of chess with the elderly caretaker and how he manipulates his way out.
As the credits are in Swedish, it's obvious that this was filmed both in Swedish and English, the actors really deserve credit for keeping it fresh and chilling. Everyone is very understated so this is one of those thrillers with aspects of a horror film that makes the viewer think about every move as if it was a chess game. Von Sydow's board is quite unique. The thriller part is in watching Von Sydow make his next move, and the horror comes from guessing what he's going to do when he arrives.
It's a cold and windy atmosphere for the setting of a mental health hospital and its surroundings where a patient escapes and seeks revenge on those they blame for their being locked up. The cast includes the terrific Max Von Sydow as the mental patient who escapes in nothing but shorts and a t-shirt in the frigid cold, managing to get back yet find his way out again and again.
Liv Ullman and Per Oscarsson are members of the targeted family and Trevor Howard is the local inspector investigating the case, frazzled by the hints that someone has made their way through the very secure building and down the tall walls. But how Von Sydow does it is ingenious as we see through the game he plays of chess with the elderly caretaker and how he manipulates his way out.
As the credits are in Swedish, it's obvious that this was filmed both in Swedish and English, the actors really deserve credit for keeping it fresh and chilling. Everyone is very understated so this is one of those thrillers with aspects of a horror film that makes the viewer think about every move as if it was a chess game. Von Sydow's board is quite unique. The thriller part is in watching Von Sydow make his next move, and the horror comes from guessing what he's going to do when he arrives.
The Night Visitor
Prismark101 June 2023
The Night Visitor is a thriller set in Sweden. Director László Benedek reimagines this a psychological movie made by Ingmar Bergman.
Salem (Max Von Sydow) has escaped from his asylum, runs across the snowy landscape in his underpants and kills his sister Emma in their farmhouse. Salem arranges it so that his other sister's husband, a doctor would be framed. Salem then returns back to his cell at the asylum.
It is revenge Both Dr Anton Jenks and his wife Esta (Liv Ullmann) framed Salem for the murder of a farmhand a few years earlier. His lawyer got Salem to plead guilty by reason of insanity.
The local inspector (Trevor Howard) keeps an open mind despite the evidence against Dr Jenks. The problem is just how does Salem manage to escape from his cell.
There is a prolonged sequence as to Salem ingeniously leaving his cell. He must have some endurance to get from the castle to his farm on foot with hardly anything on in the snow.
This is an odd movie, the ending is bird brained. There is a lack of forensics. No one catches Salem's footprints in the snow and he would be covered in blood after some of the murders. It is an early example of Scandi noir.
Salem (Max Von Sydow) has escaped from his asylum, runs across the snowy landscape in his underpants and kills his sister Emma in their farmhouse. Salem arranges it so that his other sister's husband, a doctor would be framed. Salem then returns back to his cell at the asylum.
It is revenge Both Dr Anton Jenks and his wife Esta (Liv Ullmann) framed Salem for the murder of a farmhand a few years earlier. His lawyer got Salem to plead guilty by reason of insanity.
The local inspector (Trevor Howard) keeps an open mind despite the evidence against Dr Jenks. The problem is just how does Salem manage to escape from his cell.
There is a prolonged sequence as to Salem ingeniously leaving his cell. He must have some endurance to get from the castle to his farm on foot with hardly anything on in the snow.
This is an odd movie, the ending is bird brained. There is a lack of forensics. No one catches Salem's footprints in the snow and he would be covered in blood after some of the murders. It is an early example of Scandi noir.
Looks like a cheesy slasher movie, but is actually a brilliant thriller
cine-1126 May 2002
I wasn't expecting much when I saw this movie some years ago, but was I pleasantly surprised. This is a highly underrated suspense movie that is one of my favorites. It grabs you from the very opening ("why is that man jogging through the snowy countryside in his underwear?") and delivers a clever plot that deals with a series of murders with a Columboesque twist - you're shown who's doing them at the beginning, yet you're also shown that it's physically impossible for him to be committing them. The story then involves why he's doing them, the cat and mouse interaction between him and the police inspector investigating the cases, and the amazing way he accomplishes the seemingly impossible. Does he get away with it? You'll have to see for yourself. This one won't disappoint mystery fans.
A Duel of Wits
EdgarST2 December 2022
A tense, tight, little thriller which is more of a duel of wits between a psychopath and a police inspector. In the plot there is no mystery whatsoever about who did what to whom. Above all, it is about demonstrating the ability to kill, take revenge and do justice: while the psychopath plans every detail to get his way, the inspector is simply looking for small flaws in the execution.
Excellent performances by Max von Sydow and Trevor Howard as the killer and the inspector. It is a pity that an actor as good as Per Oscarsson (unforgettable in Arne Mattson's "Vaxdockan" (The Doll), Vilgot Sjöman's "Syskonbädd 1782" (My Sister, My Love) and Henning Carlsen's "Sult" (Hunger), for which he won the Best Actor award in Cannes), with a equally key role, was dubbed with an American accent, far from his excellence in acting. Liv Ullmann is effective, but wasted.
Produced by Mel Ferrer, with effective music by Henry Mancini, it was also known as Salem, Come to Supper. Among the actors who were thought for the role of the psychopath, there was talk of Steve McQueen and Christopher Lee; but I can't imagine anyone other than Sydow in the part. With McQueen it would have been an action film; with Lee, a terror movie. Some sources credited Panama as a co-producing country... it must have been one of those 'Panama Papers' enterprises, created to avoid paying taxes...
Definitely worth a look.
Excellent performances by Max von Sydow and Trevor Howard as the killer and the inspector. It is a pity that an actor as good as Per Oscarsson (unforgettable in Arne Mattson's "Vaxdockan" (The Doll), Vilgot Sjöman's "Syskonbädd 1782" (My Sister, My Love) and Henning Carlsen's "Sult" (Hunger), for which he won the Best Actor award in Cannes), with a equally key role, was dubbed with an American accent, far from his excellence in acting. Liv Ullmann is effective, but wasted.
Produced by Mel Ferrer, with effective music by Henry Mancini, it was also known as Salem, Come to Supper. Among the actors who were thought for the role of the psychopath, there was talk of Steve McQueen and Christopher Lee; but I can't imagine anyone other than Sydow in the part. With McQueen it would have been an action film; with Lee, a terror movie. Some sources credited Panama as a co-producing country... it must have been one of those 'Panama Papers' enterprises, created to avoid paying taxes...
Definitely worth a look.
Codswallop
MOscarbradley11 October 2015
"The Night Visitor" has to be seen to be believed...and even then. This Laszlo Benedek film was long considered to be lost and it's easy to see why it disappeared. The Night Visitor of the title is Max von Sydow who moves in and out of the local asylum (don't ask) where he has been incarcerated so he take his revenge on those responsible for putting him there. These include Liv Ullmann and Per Oscarsson while Trevor Howard, looking like he would rather be anywhere else, runs around as the sceptical police investigator investigating all the killings. Watching this, two words kept coming to mind - balderdash and cods-wallop. The sooner this gets lost again the better.
New Meaning
kwarbur48826 February 2000
It has been thirty years since I first saw this title, at a drive-in movie theater, with my girlfriend. She and I both had eyes glued to the screen. The "feeling" of the setting still lingers and we could almost experience the cold. But what I remember the most is that The Night Visitor gave new meaning to the old line,
"a little birdy told me...".
Superb direction and wonderfully twisting ending!
"a little birdy told me...".
Superb direction and wonderfully twisting ending!
The Night Visitor
d_m_s12 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
OK, so this was better than I thought it was going to be when it first started. I initially balked at the appearance of the film as the white balance was all off (the snow looked blue or yellow rather than white) and it was a poor quality image overall. This initially put me off as I felt I was watching some kind of shoddily put together film.
I don't know where this film is supposed to be set as the 3 main characters are Swedish yet the police are English and in English attire. The location is covered in deep snow and does not look like England. It was all a bit jarring and initially off-putting.
Also at first it seemed to be a rather generic opening and I thought I would get nothing more than a dull slasher-type film.
However, after about 15 minutes or so I started to get intrigued by the storyline. It also helped that Trevor Howard was in the film, as I enjoy watching his performances. I also enjoyed Per Oscarsson's surreal performance. In fact he was the best character in the film because of it. I couldn't really tell if he was a really bad actor or supposed to be acting that way but it was interesting to watch and his scenes were the most interesting. Max Von Sydow on the other hand was really dull and brought no life to his character.
Overall, a jarring and unusual film. I enjoyed watching it and it created a very good atmosphere – at points I felt cold watching it. But I still only gave it a 6 because Von Sydow's character was the focus of the film and him and his scenes were a bit boring.
I don't know where this film is supposed to be set as the 3 main characters are Swedish yet the police are English and in English attire. The location is covered in deep snow and does not look like England. It was all a bit jarring and initially off-putting.
Also at first it seemed to be a rather generic opening and I thought I would get nothing more than a dull slasher-type film.
However, after about 15 minutes or so I started to get intrigued by the storyline. It also helped that Trevor Howard was in the film, as I enjoy watching his performances. I also enjoyed Per Oscarsson's surreal performance. In fact he was the best character in the film because of it. I couldn't really tell if he was a really bad actor or supposed to be acting that way but it was interesting to watch and his scenes were the most interesting. Max Von Sydow on the other hand was really dull and brought no life to his character.
Overall, a jarring and unusual film. I enjoyed watching it and it created a very good atmosphere – at points I felt cold watching it. But I still only gave it a 6 because Von Sydow's character was the focus of the film and him and his scenes were a bit boring.
hold on to the mystery
SnoopyStyle14 August 2019
Salem (Max von Sydow) escapes from an insane asylum. He feels that he was framed for a murder by his sister Ester (Liv Ullmann) and her husband Anton (Per Oscarsson). There could be a parrot witness. He breaks into their home and frames Anton for a murder. Police inspector (Trevor Howard) investigates but Salem is still in the asylum.
As a story, it has some interesting aspects. As a horror, it has no scares. It could have worked great as a mystery but it reveals everything right off the bat. The escape is interesting without being compelling. He's already done it so it's not that intense that we get to see it. It would be better to not show the reveals right away. It should be a mystery until the reveal of his escape. The acting is great. Max von Sydow is nothing but terrific. This is fine but it could have been great.
As a story, it has some interesting aspects. As a horror, it has no scares. It could have worked great as a mystery but it reveals everything right off the bat. The escape is interesting without being compelling. He's already done it so it's not that intense that we get to see it. It would be better to not show the reveals right away. It should be a mystery until the reveal of his escape. The acting is great. Max von Sydow is nothing but terrific. This is fine but it could have been great.
Trevor Howard, Max Von Sydow and Ethel from Eastenders in a bleak suspense thriller
Stevieboy66612 October 2020
Max Von Sydow plays Salem (cool name), a man convicted of murder and who sneaks out of his asylum cell at night to take revenge on those who got him wrongly put away. Trevor Howard is the detective on the case.
This is a Swedish English language movie, despite a good cast the dialogue from some of the Scandinavian actors sounded a bit wooden, I think it would have been better either dubbed into English or have subtitles. Most of the film is set at night but it was plainly filmed during the day. Set during winter there is snow on the ground, this does make the film look very bleak, as does the howling wind and the looming asylum walls. Talking of which Salem's ability to escape and negotiate a 100 ft drop do stretch the imagination, and his stunt double sticks out like a sore thumb. Nice to see Gretchen Franklin amongst the cast, she played Ethel in the long running BBC soap "Eastenders".
I recorded a screening of this movie on British TV, the print quality was poor, However it did add to the bleakness. I found the film to be long and slow in places, it does build to a nail biting end but the conclusion is almost comical. I liked the story line, it is a dark and suspenseful thriller, a bit of a curiosity but ultimately it has flaws which let it down somewhat.
Entertaining enough
ebeckstr-13 October 2021
The 8 to 10 star reviews of this film are overdoing it, but it is entertaining enough if you like mysteries from that era. That is essentially what it is - a mystery, as opposed to a horror movie or a thriller. Another reviewer compared it to Columbo, in the sense that from the beginning you know who perpetrated the crimes and you followed the detective as he catches up with what you already know. That's where the similarities end, but that's the basic setup.
I almost gave The Night Visitor 7 stars, but a plot hole or logic gap that I couldn't get past opened up right at the very end. Regardless, the presence of Trevor Howard elevates the flick, and the plot is entertaining enough for a viewing, though I will not watch it again.
I almost gave The Night Visitor 7 stars, but a plot hole or logic gap that I couldn't get past opened up right at the very end. Regardless, the presence of Trevor Howard elevates the flick, and the plot is entertaining enough for a viewing, though I will not watch it again.
Chilling movie, Chilling location, Chilling Score.
Semih5 June 2000
Max Von Sydow brilliantly portrays Salem, a patient at an insane asylum. The chilling cinematography of some guy in his underwear running around in the chilling snow fields makes this thriller even more chilling. But wait till you hear the chilling score by Henry Mancini. He wisely uses de-tuned piano notes that set a perfect mood.
interesting but not perfect
myriamlenys24 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
So what you're getting here is a dark revenge drama / thriller, in which a highly intelligent man locked up in a psychiatric institution seeks revenge against the various people who put him there. It's a clever movie with an unusual plot and memorable characters. The snow-covered scenery is superb ; it is also essential to the story, to the point where it almost becomes a character by itself.
As I've said, it's a pretty grim and dark movie, but this does not mean that there aren't touches of wit and humour. The Props Department certainly delivered, by providing a variety of weirdly funny ceramic figurines supposed to represent the creative output of the psychiatric patient.
Still, there were a few factors sabotaging my enjoyment. I watched the movie in an English-language version and it became clear that the various characters (supposed to be members of the same community) spoke with different accents, a number of which, by the way, were unpleasant to listen to. Suspension of disbelief, anyone ? The movie was also littered with tiny continuity errors with regard to lighting, daylight quality, scenery, etcetera. Some people should feel pretty guilty about that.
As I've said, it's a pretty grim and dark movie, but this does not mean that there aren't touches of wit and humour. The Props Department certainly delivered, by providing a variety of weirdly funny ceramic figurines supposed to represent the creative output of the psychiatric patient.
Still, there were a few factors sabotaging my enjoyment. I watched the movie in an English-language version and it became clear that the various characters (supposed to be members of the same community) spoke with different accents, a number of which, by the way, were unpleasant to listen to. Suspension of disbelief, anyone ? The movie was also littered with tiny continuity errors with regard to lighting, daylight quality, scenery, etcetera. Some people should feel pretty guilty about that.
The snow visitor
Angel_Peter5 August 2019
I do not really understand peoples high praise of this movie. Of course I can see why some people can like it but that they see it as a masterpiece is out of my understanding.
First of all I did not really find the story itself interesting. I have seen much better both revenge and murder movies from both before and after. max Von Sydow that I normally like I found dull in this role. Only bright light for me was when Trevor Howard was on the screen. The rest of the time was mostly dull.
This guy Max Von Sydow plays is apparently some kind superman that can get from a closed institution back and forth without leaving footprints in the snow or freezing even though he run far in underwear.
The ending was maybe supposed to be funny or something. I just sat and stared and thought that is stupid.
Well it seems like fans of Ingmar Bergman loves this movie. But if not Ingmar Bergman fan then I would recommend skipping it. it is not the worst movie you can find but I found it rather dull and far fetched.
First of all I did not really find the story itself interesting. I have seen much better both revenge and murder movies from both before and after. max Von Sydow that I normally like I found dull in this role. Only bright light for me was when Trevor Howard was on the screen. The rest of the time was mostly dull.
This guy Max Von Sydow plays is apparently some kind superman that can get from a closed institution back and forth without leaving footprints in the snow or freezing even though he run far in underwear.
The ending was maybe supposed to be funny or something. I just sat and stared and thought that is stupid.
Well it seems like fans of Ingmar Bergman loves this movie. But if not Ingmar Bergman fan then I would recommend skipping it. it is not the worst movie you can find but I found it rather dull and far fetched.
Fascinating n atmospheric thriller.
Fella_shibby5 December 2020
I saw this for the first time recently after reading Coventry's review. If not for Coventry's review, i wudnt have stumbled upon this atmospheric n fascinating film.
Salem (Max von Sydow), a mental asylum inmate escapes from the asylum in the dead of winter n reaches his family farm, now run by his younger sisters n the husband of the elder sis. Salem kills all the people he believes responsible for his unfair conviction and subsequent confinement. The film has oodles of atmosphere, the frozen locations, the sparsely populated area n the freezing n gushing wind. Salem's escape plan is meticulously shown and viewers will root for his character.
I think Law Abiding Citizen (one of my fav revenge thriller) borrowed from this film.
Some may wonder why Salem killed Brit Torrens. Salem's alibi in the case was Brit Torens, a young lover he was with when the farmhand was killed. Unfortunately, Brit did not speak up in court to clear Salem, instead protecting her own virginal reputation at the cost of his freedom.
Salem (Max von Sydow), a mental asylum inmate escapes from the asylum in the dead of winter n reaches his family farm, now run by his younger sisters n the husband of the elder sis. Salem kills all the people he believes responsible for his unfair conviction and subsequent confinement. The film has oodles of atmosphere, the frozen locations, the sparsely populated area n the freezing n gushing wind. Salem's escape plan is meticulously shown and viewers will root for his character.
I think Law Abiding Citizen (one of my fav revenge thriller) borrowed from this film.
Some may wonder why Salem killed Brit Torrens. Salem's alibi in the case was Brit Torens, a young lover he was with when the farmhand was killed. Unfortunately, Brit did not speak up in court to clear Salem, instead protecting her own virginal reputation at the cost of his freedom.
Salem is innocent
BandSAboutMovies10 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Salem (Max Von Sydow) has escaped a near-inescapable insane asylum, a place where he's been trapped since being wrongly charged with killing a farmhand. Now he truly is deranged and is out for revenge on those he believes are guilty: his younger sisters Emma (Hanne Bork) and Ester (Liv Ullmann) and her husband Dr. Anton Jenks (Per Oscarsson), the man who accused Salem of the murder.
Beyond the fact that the villain is actually the hero of this, it has an incredible score by Henry Mancini that was made for synthesizer, 12 woodwinds, organ, two pianos and two harpsichords - with one tuned to be flat and add dissonance.
Originally entitled Salem Came to Supper and released again ten years later by 21st Century Film Corporation as Lunatic (before that company was bought and rebranded by Menahem Golan after the breakup of Cannon), this was directed by Laslo Benedek (who made the 1951 Death of a Salesman) and written by Guy Elmes, who adapted several Italian films for Western audiences.
Beyond the fact that the villain is actually the hero of this, it has an incredible score by Henry Mancini that was made for synthesizer, 12 woodwinds, organ, two pianos and two harpsichords - with one tuned to be flat and add dissonance.
Originally entitled Salem Came to Supper and released again ten years later by 21st Century Film Corporation as Lunatic (before that company was bought and rebranded by Menahem Golan after the breakup of Cannon), this was directed by Laslo Benedek (who made the 1951 Death of a Salesman) and written by Guy Elmes, who adapted several Italian films for Western audiences.
Creepy Thriller
GManfred7 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Underrated crime picture that is very deliberate and very effective. Set in rural Sweden, "The Night Visitor" is a cat-and-mouse movie which holds your interest throughout, even though it is slow to get underway. Salem (Max Von Sydow) is framed for murder and is sent to an insane asylum, where he manages to escape periodically to exact his revenge on his antagonists. The detective assigned to the case (Trevor Howard) has his work cut out for him - how can he prove that it is Salem himself, incarcerated in an escape-proof asylum, who is responsible for the grisly murders taking place?
Director Benedek goes to great pains to create the appropriate mood to show us how Salem goes about his deadly business. It is fascinating to watch his painstaking escapes and returns to prison, leaving no stone unturned to cover his traces. Be aware the murders are pretty gruesome, making you feel that maybe he wasn't framed after all.
You will love the surprise ending of this nearly-unknown blood-and-gore indy picture, made when nobody was looking and which quickly dropped out of sight. It's tough to find, but do yourself a favor if you like this genre.
Director Benedek goes to great pains to create the appropriate mood to show us how Salem goes about his deadly business. It is fascinating to watch his painstaking escapes and returns to prison, leaving no stone unturned to cover his traces. Be aware the murders are pretty gruesome, making you feel that maybe he wasn't framed after all.
You will love the surprise ending of this nearly-unknown blood-and-gore indy picture, made when nobody was looking and which quickly dropped out of sight. It's tough to find, but do yourself a favor if you like this genre.
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