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Nightmare

Play trailer Poster for Nightmare R Released Apr 4, 1981 1h 37m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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33% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A drug-treated schizophrenic (Baird Stafford) plagued by horrible nightmares escapes from the hospital and goes on a killing spree.

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
Janet Maslin New York Times "Nightmare'' is the perfunctory work of Romano Scavolini, a writer-director whose best idea here is to repeat the same gory flashback footage over and over again. Aug 30, 2004 Full Review Keri O'Shea Warped Perspective It’s an undoubtedly OTT, gory and profoundly mean-spirited vision; unlike many of its peers, swept onto the video nasties lists for still mystifying reasons, Nightmare is, at least, a genuinely nasty video. Mar 12, 2024 Full Review Daniel Goodwin Starburst [Nightmare] is an unheeded cult b-movie gem that has stood the test of time and should strike a chord enough to resonate with even the most desensitised horror fans. Rated: 4/5 Feb 9, 2024 Full Review Alan Jones Starburst This is a piece of junk whichever way you look at it. Jul 29, 2022 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault This was the early '80s, man, when horror directors had no limits, no morals, no shame. Rated: C- Jun 3, 2006 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 14, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (54) audience reviews
Alexander K If you are into sleazy slashers like Maniac and New York Ripper, this one might just do it for you! Lovely that it's available on UHD. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/10/24 Full Review Mr P So much nasty slasher goodness. Must see Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/17/23 Full Review Audience Member This is totally the spirit of the good slashers. It has plenty of horror, a demented madman and no reason. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member This dude is in a mental hospital being treated for homicidal rages brought on by graphic and horrific nightmares. For some reason he gets a day pass (??), and after wandering around Times Square for a while, he takes off for Florida, killing several people along the way. He stalks a particular family in Florida who have some issues of their own leading to a bloody climax. The first half hour of this film is so damn good that it pains me to say that the last hour is really not that good at all. Baird Stafford is, among other things, ab amazing screamer, and his unhinged performance is one of the highlights of the film. The strange, gory nightmares and the amazing footage of Times Square sets up a super promising film that descends into a ton of dull and static nonsense in the 2nd half. Still, if you are looking for violence and sleaze, this film will not disappoint ... not at all. It all builds to a climax full of revelations that manage to be both extremely predictable and completely nonsensical at the same time. There's a feat. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Most video nasty movies aren't very good so if you're on a marathon you'll be happy when you get to Nightmare. A good, sleazy horror movie that borrows from all the right horror of the 70's. Not the best, but impressive for a nasty. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member This is truly exceptional for this kind of genre, great acting, a well written script and taut direction. The effects are superb bringing the nightmare to life and not overdoing it. I'm not one for these movies but i would have to say this one had me gripped, Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Nightmare

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis A drug-treated schizophrenic (Baird Stafford) plagued by horrible nightmares escapes from the hospital and goes on a killing spree.
Director
Romano Scavolini
Producer
John L. Watkins
Production Co
Goldmine Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 4, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 12, 2017
Runtime
1h 37m