Now this is the kind of horror movie that I like, a movie thats good for both children and adults. This movie is a good choice for a Halloween get together. It's got a good cast, except for Harper which for some reason I just did not like in the movie, maybe it was that crazy dancing act during the party which reminded me of Micheal Jacksons "Thriller" which I understand was pretty popular during that time but unappropriate for this video. The story line of the 50's girl falling in love with the leading hero in the movie was touching and sweet and I loved the sad ending. I haven't seen this one in almost 18 years and it was nice to have seen it again. Rent this one for that special Halloween occasion and I'm sure you'll like it.
54 Reviews
That's when my horror comes tumbling down
Coventry13 December 2009
I personally never heard about "The Midnight Hour" before in my life until a couple of friends and myself chose to watch it, but apparently this little made-for-TV film has a modest cult following and I've read in numerous praising reviews that it's a Halloween favorite of many horror fans that grew up during the 80's. It's not a bad film, but definitely not too great neither. "The Midnight Hour" is mainly a comedy feature and "homage" to old zombie movies instead of a typically 80's cheese and gore movie. A group of teenagers break into a costume shop on Halloween night and steal a chest that contains genuine witchery equipment to raise the dead. They all go to a remote graveyard together for a private party and the rest of the plot writes itself. The dead are raised, all right, but there are also several alternative types of creatures coming to life as well, like vampires, werewolves and a 50's cheerleader who seemingly doesn't seem to know how she died. Slow start, with overlong introductions of unimportant characters and a whole lot of Halloween information that isn't even accurate. There's also plentiful of clichéd situations/jokes, like the zombies not being recognized or even looked at as abnormal when they invade a Halloween costume party. I reckon this is a personal favorite of many, but personally I thought "The Midnight Hour" is bit boring and pointless as the zombies never really embark on a brain-eating rampage. It's an overlong film with full-length sing & dance intermezzos, for example a video that seems inspired by Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Speaking of which, the film does have a fantastic soundtrack including horror-themed songs like "Little Red Riding Hood", "Bad Moon Rising", "Clap for the Wolf Man" and of course Wilson Pickett's "The Midnight Hour".
Many May Disagree With Me But I Found it...Meh.
ryan-1007530 April 2019
Sometimes on this website I really disagree with what the rating is for a movie on here. I understand though some movies that many other people like I don't or vice versa. But, this is one of those movies.
I suppose I should get to the story. It all takes place in the town of Pitchford Cove and near the beginning Phil Grenville (Lee Montgomery) shares with the audience and his classmates a bad history about the town that also includes his friend and classmate Melissa Cavender (Shari Belafonte). So the gang that also includes Melissa's man Vinnie (LeVar Burton), Mitch (Peter DeLuise) and Mary (Dedee Pfeiffer) go off to the local witchcraft museum in search of costumes for a Halloween party at Belafonte's place. Oh and if some of those last names seem familiar don't worry they are. They are either children or siblings of big stars like Harry Belafonte, Dom DeLuise and Michelle Pfeiffer. After they swipe some costumes they are then off to the graveyard where they accidentally awaken the dead and the terrible curse.
I found the characters in this movie stereotypical and felt I had seen these characters a hundred times before. For a movie with a rating so high I really did not find anything original or for that matter groundbreaking about this movie. I felt it was a tired old script, but perhaps I may be in the minority on that opinion.
The movie though does have some great classic songs though. And when I say classic I do not mean the 80s. I mean the 60s. The songs didn't really seem to 100% fit the characters or even some of the situations. The makeup effects though are really top notch and certainly a plus.
Also starring Kevin McCarthy as Judge Crandall or Mitch's dad. I really enjoyed McCarthy in this role, but it is a stereotypical 80s role for McCarthy. I just love seeing him angry and raging. Cindy Morgan also stars as teacher Vicky Jensen (who in fact is the same age as Shari Belafonte), Dick Van Patten as Phil's dad and Kurtwood Smith as Captain Warren Jensen.
I suppose I should get to the story. It all takes place in the town of Pitchford Cove and near the beginning Phil Grenville (Lee Montgomery) shares with the audience and his classmates a bad history about the town that also includes his friend and classmate Melissa Cavender (Shari Belafonte). So the gang that also includes Melissa's man Vinnie (LeVar Burton), Mitch (Peter DeLuise) and Mary (Dedee Pfeiffer) go off to the local witchcraft museum in search of costumes for a Halloween party at Belafonte's place. Oh and if some of those last names seem familiar don't worry they are. They are either children or siblings of big stars like Harry Belafonte, Dom DeLuise and Michelle Pfeiffer. After they swipe some costumes they are then off to the graveyard where they accidentally awaken the dead and the terrible curse.
I found the characters in this movie stereotypical and felt I had seen these characters a hundred times before. For a movie with a rating so high I really did not find anything original or for that matter groundbreaking about this movie. I felt it was a tired old script, but perhaps I may be in the minority on that opinion.
The movie though does have some great classic songs though. And when I say classic I do not mean the 80s. I mean the 60s. The songs didn't really seem to 100% fit the characters or even some of the situations. The makeup effects though are really top notch and certainly a plus.
Also starring Kevin McCarthy as Judge Crandall or Mitch's dad. I really enjoyed McCarthy in this role, but it is a stereotypical 80s role for McCarthy. I just love seeing him angry and raging. Cindy Morgan also stars as teacher Vicky Jensen (who in fact is the same age as Shari Belafonte), Dick Van Patten as Phil's dad and Kurtwood Smith as Captain Warren Jensen.
Awesomely cute little movie ;)~
SaltwaterSurfAngel8 September 2001
I saw this movie ONLY ONCE when I was about 7 or 8 and it's still one of my favorite movies. I just remember how much it was like something i would have thought up back then (i was really into vampires and stuff) mixed with someone else's imagination. It is a really cute movie and I'm just now buying it..lol.
Lighthearted, 80's horror comedy TV movie.
cool_cool_126 June 2006
The Midnight Hour (1985) is a very hard movie to find but i found it to be enjoyable and good fun so i'd recommend it to horror/ 80's movie fans!!! On Halloween night at Pitchfork Cove, a nice little town, a group of teenagers go down to the graveyard and unwittingly unleash an ancient curse, this curse is about to cause panic and devastation as zombies, werewolf's and other monsters get unleashed!!! Amidst all of the chaos, leader of the gang "Phil" meets a mysterious blonde girl called Sandy, she and Phil become close friends and form a bond and work together to raise the curse before midnight and rid the town of the evil. Can the couple save their town?? Who is Sandy?? Phil is in for a shock as he finds out her past and who she really is!!!! Like i said before this T.V movie is hard to find but well worth it, with good make up effects, a nice story, good pacing, good fun characters and an excellent soundtrack too, 7/10 for The Midnight Hour.
A cheese classic!
BandSAboutMovies6 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
With so much of television now just fodder for streaming services, we may never have the days of Halloween specials and strange movies like this ever again. The world is a worse place for this.
Originally airing on ABC on Friday, November 1, 1985, The Midnight Hour is all about five teenagers causing hijinks in Pitchford Cove. Those kids, Phil (Lee Montgomery, Davey from Burnt Offerings all grown up!), Mary (Dedee Pfeiffer, Vamp), Mitch (Peter DeLuise, son of Dom), Vinnie (Levar Burton!) and Melissa (Shari Belafonte, Time Walker) steal all manner of costumes and artifacts from the town's historical museum. But then they go too far and read a spell in the cemetery, which causes the dead to rise, led by Melissa's great-great-great-great grandmother Lucinda Cavender.
While everyone else is having fun at a Halloween party, Phil hooks up with a mystery girl named Sandy who ends up being an undead cheerleader. Lucinda is also turning everyone into vampires to the sounds of "How Soon is Now?" by The Smiths, which is pretty amazing music for a 1986 TV movie (yes, I am that Charmed used this song too, but this is only one year after it was released and long before the mainstream found it).
The only way our heroes can stop the curse is to find a spirit ring that is in the grave of witchhunter Nathan Grenville, who is, of course, Phil's great-great-great-great grandfather and perhaps more troubling, the former slave owner of our main villain. If Phil and Sandy don't stop the spell by midnight, the town will be cursed until the end of time.
I can best describe this movie as a combination of recognizable talent like Cindy Morgan (Lacey Underall from Caddyshack), Kurtwood Smith (sure, he was on That 70's Show, but we remember him best as Clarence Boddicker from RoboCop), Dick Van Patten, Wolfman Jack and Invasion of the Body Snatchers' Kevin McCarthy with musical numbers and comedic scenes while also containing some truly horrific and frightening scenes. It's a mish-mash. A monster mash?
It's interesting to say the least. It's the kind of movie that wouldn't get made today, a movie that crosses genres and emotions while trying its heart out to entertain you. Director Jack Bender has gone on to direct episodes of Lost, The Sopranos and Game of Thrones.
Originally airing on ABC on Friday, November 1, 1985, The Midnight Hour is all about five teenagers causing hijinks in Pitchford Cove. Those kids, Phil (Lee Montgomery, Davey from Burnt Offerings all grown up!), Mary (Dedee Pfeiffer, Vamp), Mitch (Peter DeLuise, son of Dom), Vinnie (Levar Burton!) and Melissa (Shari Belafonte, Time Walker) steal all manner of costumes and artifacts from the town's historical museum. But then they go too far and read a spell in the cemetery, which causes the dead to rise, led by Melissa's great-great-great-great grandmother Lucinda Cavender.
While everyone else is having fun at a Halloween party, Phil hooks up with a mystery girl named Sandy who ends up being an undead cheerleader. Lucinda is also turning everyone into vampires to the sounds of "How Soon is Now?" by The Smiths, which is pretty amazing music for a 1986 TV movie (yes, I am that Charmed used this song too, but this is only one year after it was released and long before the mainstream found it).
The only way our heroes can stop the curse is to find a spirit ring that is in the grave of witchhunter Nathan Grenville, who is, of course, Phil's great-great-great-great grandfather and perhaps more troubling, the former slave owner of our main villain. If Phil and Sandy don't stop the spell by midnight, the town will be cursed until the end of time.
I can best describe this movie as a combination of recognizable talent like Cindy Morgan (Lacey Underall from Caddyshack), Kurtwood Smith (sure, he was on That 70's Show, but we remember him best as Clarence Boddicker from RoboCop), Dick Van Patten, Wolfman Jack and Invasion of the Body Snatchers' Kevin McCarthy with musical numbers and comedic scenes while also containing some truly horrific and frightening scenes. It's a mish-mash. A monster mash?
It's interesting to say the least. It's the kind of movie that wouldn't get made today, a movie that crosses genres and emotions while trying its heart out to entertain you. Director Jack Bender has gone on to direct episodes of Lost, The Sopranos and Game of Thrones.
It's bad but it's great
yusufpiskin31 December 2019
This is, in my opinion, a perfect bad movie. It's made for TV so there is no nudity, swearing, or severe violence, but it's still non-stop entertaining which makes it even more impressive. The cast is incredible, the story is fun, it centers around teens, and it reeks of wonderful 80's fashion and design. This will be an annual must-watch for me.
Its a homage to monster movie mania featuring ghoulish party crashers.
kclipper18 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
A mostly dumb but sometimes fun teenage horror/comedy T.V. movie features a plethora of creatures comprising of vampires, werewolves and graveyard ghouls who crash a high school dance during Halloween night. It seems that unsuspecting teens performed a ritual that caused the dead to rise, and at the stroke of midnight they will reign terror over the earth forever. (or something like that.) This sometimes feels like a throwback to the 1960s lifestyle with rag-top convertibles, cheerleaders and school spirit, but then it also looks like a 1980s rehash of 'Michael Jackson's Thriller' with retro-80s music blended with monster movie clichés and a cheesy Halloween themed dance sequence. Fans of traditional monster movies will appreciate it for its nostalgic value, but anyone else should stay clear, especially gore fans. It definitively falls short on supplying blood or any substantial surprises..
A wonderful movie. I love to see it over and over again
jimmyplm28 January 2000
The Midnight Hour is, in my opinion, the best tv movie ever made. It was scary and funny. It had everything a person could want to see on a Halloween night. I watched it when I was five years old when it came on the television. It quite possibly could be the movie that made me the horror fanatic that I am today. I absolutely loved it, especially the musical number towards the end of the movie. Now on amazon.com they are offering a collector's edition for sale. I promptly bought myself a copy and I advise any fans to do so. A movie like this one might not be around forever. People just don't know what they are missing.
A little cheesy, but it was made-for-TV
Blazehgehg9 October 2017
The Midnight Hour is a little slow, a little cheesy, and a little saccharine, but it evokes the Halloween mood well.
The moments that really stand out in this movie are the moments where it does finally push the boundaries a little bit -- when it stops being "wacky Halloween fun for the whole family" and actually tries to be a little bit violent, or scary, or even racy. Who knew Levarr Burton could play such a stereotypical horny teen? The overall movie may not stand out in my mind, but these individual moments do (and it's always interesting when a made-for-TV movie tries to find a way around showing blood while still evoking the imagery of blood). The way the movie progressively gets just a little darker, and a little darker, etc. is pretty interesting to watch, too.
In modern times, a lot of things make this movie feel very dated, though. Phil (the protagonist)'s weird Dracula costume, for one, with the bizarre face paint and tinsel wig. That just screams 1985. Two, the movie's obsession with "golden oldie" music; it's been at least a decade or more since all of the oldies stations I know about updated their selection to include songs from the same era this movie was produced in (you have to turn your radio's dial to AM to hear anything made before 1975, these days -- assuming you even still HAVE a radio).
And it's not just that these elements make the movie dated, it's that they're spun in such a way as to be things "modern teens" relate to. Even the way Levarr Burton's character speaks, with that sort of hold-over "jive" slang, feels distinctly 1980's in a way that nobody talks anymore. It feels like an older director was trying to bridge two generations (his and the next), which leaves us in the modern era out of the equation.
Don't get me wrong, it's still enjoyable. The first time I watched this movie was in 2016. But it's important to watch this movie and think about the context it was shown in, because it's a context that doesn't exist anymore.
Come for the fun costumes and special effects, stay the moments where the movie threatens to bend its family-friendly content rules. Just also remember: it was the 80's.
The moments that really stand out in this movie are the moments where it does finally push the boundaries a little bit -- when it stops being "wacky Halloween fun for the whole family" and actually tries to be a little bit violent, or scary, or even racy. Who knew Levarr Burton could play such a stereotypical horny teen? The overall movie may not stand out in my mind, but these individual moments do (and it's always interesting when a made-for-TV movie tries to find a way around showing blood while still evoking the imagery of blood). The way the movie progressively gets just a little darker, and a little darker, etc. is pretty interesting to watch, too.
In modern times, a lot of things make this movie feel very dated, though. Phil (the protagonist)'s weird Dracula costume, for one, with the bizarre face paint and tinsel wig. That just screams 1985. Two, the movie's obsession with "golden oldie" music; it's been at least a decade or more since all of the oldies stations I know about updated their selection to include songs from the same era this movie was produced in (you have to turn your radio's dial to AM to hear anything made before 1975, these days -- assuming you even still HAVE a radio).
And it's not just that these elements make the movie dated, it's that they're spun in such a way as to be things "modern teens" relate to. Even the way Levarr Burton's character speaks, with that sort of hold-over "jive" slang, feels distinctly 1980's in a way that nobody talks anymore. It feels like an older director was trying to bridge two generations (his and the next), which leaves us in the modern era out of the equation.
Don't get me wrong, it's still enjoyable. The first time I watched this movie was in 2016. But it's important to watch this movie and think about the context it was shown in, because it's a context that doesn't exist anymore.
Come for the fun costumes and special effects, stay the moments where the movie threatens to bend its family-friendly content rules. Just also remember: it was the 80's.
A Mid-80's Made-For-TV Halloween Release
dagonseve4 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The Midnight Hour, as my subtitle indicates, was a made-for-TV horror movie (I should probably use that term very loosely here) directed by Jack Bender; unbelievably, the same guy responsible for many episodes of the hit TV show Lost, The HBO original series The Sopranos, and Ally Mcbeal. One could say that's quite a resume for a television director and they'd be right...but when it comes to The Midnight Hour, all I seem to hear are screeching car tires and someone getting thrown out of the passenger seat face first into the asphalt - I was no longer on board.
The premise here is a simple one - a group of kids steal historical relics from the town registry and decide to dabble in black magic; conjuring up the dead accidentally, causing a chain of events that unfold throughout the film's duration. It sounds like fun, right? The Midnight Hour is a title that deserves my favorite format - the checklist! So without further adieu....
1.) Lavar Burton. Yes, the man most people from my generation are familiar with who starred as the host of Reading Rainbow, initially broadcast in June of 1983. If any of you are Star Trek: The Next Generation fans, he also played Geordi La Forge - the blind, visor- wearing Chief Engineering Officer of the Enterprise. His role as Vinnie Davis in The Midnight Hour actually occurred a year before auditioning for the part in Star Trek. I'm not a huge Lavar Burton fan but I thought it was comical that he chose a part in this movie...recognizing a familiar face is always an added bonus. Which leads me to my next point....
2.) Random song and dance routine. Indeed, if this film didn't exude enough 80's energy already, this 3-minute-long sequence definitely pushed things over the edge. It was obvious they were paying tribute to Michael Jackon's video, Thriller, which was released a year prior. Obviously it didn't take long for people to imitate his famous dance scene. What made things even more hilarious is Lavar Burton's dance moves...I had to put things into perspective quickly; otherwise, the shame I felt while watching would've caused me to leap from the balcony to my demise. Since my balcony is only one story high I'm sure all I would suffer is a sprained ankle...left alone to wallow in further humiliation.
3.) 20-something-year-olds who play highschoolers. One could argue that there isn't a huge difference in age...but seriously? I definitely recall that while in highschool, people weren't sporting full facial hair and appearing old enough to be someone's father. This small detail was always so funny to me and I'll never not comment on it.
4.) A good ol' smattering of zombies, vampires, and a werewolf. Why is there always just one Wolfman? Surely some other creature created him in order for him to exist as well, right? Can there be only one? Do they just meet up in an abandon warehouse somewhere and fight it out with swords, with the victor decapitating their opponent in order to remain the "one"? Hey that sounds like a great premise for a set of movies...possibly even a television series....
So after all of these points, how was I left feeling? Disappointed, actually. This film was released on November 1st of 1985 - it's obvious they timed the season of Halloween with it's release. I can imagine families sitting at home watching this...it's appropriate, tame, and lighthearted. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood for something of this nature but normally if it's too family friendly I tend to steer clear. Fans should learn to appreciate horror in many formats but the "safe for TV and grandma" target audience features don't interest me. I compare so many 80's horror films like this one to Fright Night; a film that actually got the balance right.
The premise here is a simple one - a group of kids steal historical relics from the town registry and decide to dabble in black magic; conjuring up the dead accidentally, causing a chain of events that unfold throughout the film's duration. It sounds like fun, right? The Midnight Hour is a title that deserves my favorite format - the checklist! So without further adieu....
1.) Lavar Burton. Yes, the man most people from my generation are familiar with who starred as the host of Reading Rainbow, initially broadcast in June of 1983. If any of you are Star Trek: The Next Generation fans, he also played Geordi La Forge - the blind, visor- wearing Chief Engineering Officer of the Enterprise. His role as Vinnie Davis in The Midnight Hour actually occurred a year before auditioning for the part in Star Trek. I'm not a huge Lavar Burton fan but I thought it was comical that he chose a part in this movie...recognizing a familiar face is always an added bonus. Which leads me to my next point....
2.) Random song and dance routine. Indeed, if this film didn't exude enough 80's energy already, this 3-minute-long sequence definitely pushed things over the edge. It was obvious they were paying tribute to Michael Jackon's video, Thriller, which was released a year prior. Obviously it didn't take long for people to imitate his famous dance scene. What made things even more hilarious is Lavar Burton's dance moves...I had to put things into perspective quickly; otherwise, the shame I felt while watching would've caused me to leap from the balcony to my demise. Since my balcony is only one story high I'm sure all I would suffer is a sprained ankle...left alone to wallow in further humiliation.
3.) 20-something-year-olds who play highschoolers. One could argue that there isn't a huge difference in age...but seriously? I definitely recall that while in highschool, people weren't sporting full facial hair and appearing old enough to be someone's father. This small detail was always so funny to me and I'll never not comment on it.
4.) A good ol' smattering of zombies, vampires, and a werewolf. Why is there always just one Wolfman? Surely some other creature created him in order for him to exist as well, right? Can there be only one? Do they just meet up in an abandon warehouse somewhere and fight it out with swords, with the victor decapitating their opponent in order to remain the "one"? Hey that sounds like a great premise for a set of movies...possibly even a television series....
So after all of these points, how was I left feeling? Disappointed, actually. This film was released on November 1st of 1985 - it's obvious they timed the season of Halloween with it's release. I can imagine families sitting at home watching this...it's appropriate, tame, and lighthearted. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood for something of this nature but normally if it's too family friendly I tend to steer clear. Fans should learn to appreciate horror in many formats but the "safe for TV and grandma" target audience features don't interest me. I compare so many 80's horror films like this one to Fright Night; a film that actually got the balance right.
Definitely entertaining!
Baby^Luv28 March 1999
Nice horror cheese
nightroses6 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is a pretty film from the 80's with all the usual 80's stuff. Kids from school are played by adults. They steal a box from a museum and find a scroll and use it to raise demons. Most of them are zombies, there is a werewolf and a vampire. One called Sandy is a helpful ghost. The party was silly and the dance scene was funny, because there were zombies crashing that party joining in! The ending was a tragic love story.
No Horror, Just boring spooks
trvwatson24 October 2018
I will hold my hands up and say it was my fault that i thought this 80's Movie centered around Halloween with a scary Title and VHS Cover that looked like walking corpses was going to be anything other than a horror movie,, why wouldn't it be.
Well fool me for not coming here to IMDB and reading that it is rated (unrated)
so that means this movie is none of the above, it has no Horror at all, just boring spooks and lots of costumes, at one stage i thought i was watching an early episode of How i met your mother.
There is no getting away from the Halloween overload, if you love Halloween, then this is spaced out on it.
Other than that, it was no gore no tension and no Horror.
I will make sure i read other reviews next time.
One of my favorites
try_and_stop_me30 May 2002
I was only two years old when this movie first aired on TV and my aunt recorded it for Halloween. I've grown up watching it. I love it! It's got great monsters, Wolfman Jack (who can beat that?!) and great Halloween fun. I have it on tape and watch it every Halloween. I recommend this to anyone who is a lover of the fun Halloween holiday and who has good taste in a classic thriller/comedy/romance. :)
Horror movie for kids really, but does have some redeeming elements
d_m_s23 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The reviews on here are rather gushing of this film and I can only assume nostalgia plays a part because it really isn't THAT good!
Fortunately someone has uploaded it to youtube so I was able to check it out.
On the upside:
As far a TV movies go it's pretty good and seems more like a standard film than something made for TV. It's got pretty decent Halloween atmosphere throughout (it all takes place over one Halloween night), aided by heavy use of smoke. Cinematography is good, lots of nice lighting and the acting was generally good too, especially from LeVar Burton.
Also, there was one excellent scare moment near the end when the horde of zombies/vampires etc are all silently waiting on the stairs for the main characters. It was a very good moment.
Influences from Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' are obvious, as we are given a full-length song & dance routine during the Halloween party, with the characters even singing to camera as if it is actually a music video. A bit odd but fun never the less.
There's also a great use of copious red wine spillage in lieu of bloodshed during a vampire attack early on in the film that was pretty effective.
The storyline is basic but holds together and overall it is a fairly fun and enjoyable watch despite being tame for an adult audience.
A major highlight for me though was the relationship between the Phil and Sandy characters. Sandy (unbeknownst to Phil) is one of the zombies that has risen from the dead though for reasons unexplained she looks like a normal human being whereas all the other zombies are rotting corpses. Anyway, regardless of the fact the film makers avoided any explanation for that one, the relationship that develops and its result is rather sweet, touching and quite sad. Definitely the best aspect of the film in terms of the storyline.
Pacing is good, atmosphere is good, looks good...I've talked myself into giving this a 7 instead of the 6 I originally clicked!
On the downside: I gathered this film was targeted at a younger audience pretty early on when a (rather prolonged) werewolf attack resulted in no gore and little more than a bit of shuffling around.
It's a bit silly at points, not least the 'comedy zombie' that goes around doing daft yet totally un-amusing things.
Lack of blood/gore made the film feel a bit tame and the 'suspense' scenes were totally lacking in suspense.
Most disappointing of all though was that it feels this film had HUGE potential that was no where near fully realised, which is a great shame.
Fortunately someone has uploaded it to youtube so I was able to check it out.
On the upside:
As far a TV movies go it's pretty good and seems more like a standard film than something made for TV. It's got pretty decent Halloween atmosphere throughout (it all takes place over one Halloween night), aided by heavy use of smoke. Cinematography is good, lots of nice lighting and the acting was generally good too, especially from LeVar Burton.
Also, there was one excellent scare moment near the end when the horde of zombies/vampires etc are all silently waiting on the stairs for the main characters. It was a very good moment.
Influences from Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' are obvious, as we are given a full-length song & dance routine during the Halloween party, with the characters even singing to camera as if it is actually a music video. A bit odd but fun never the less.
There's also a great use of copious red wine spillage in lieu of bloodshed during a vampire attack early on in the film that was pretty effective.
The storyline is basic but holds together and overall it is a fairly fun and enjoyable watch despite being tame for an adult audience.
A major highlight for me though was the relationship between the Phil and Sandy characters. Sandy (unbeknownst to Phil) is one of the zombies that has risen from the dead though for reasons unexplained she looks like a normal human being whereas all the other zombies are rotting corpses. Anyway, regardless of the fact the film makers avoided any explanation for that one, the relationship that develops and its result is rather sweet, touching and quite sad. Definitely the best aspect of the film in terms of the storyline.
Pacing is good, atmosphere is good, looks good...I've talked myself into giving this a 7 instead of the 6 I originally clicked!
On the downside: I gathered this film was targeted at a younger audience pretty early on when a (rather prolonged) werewolf attack resulted in no gore and little more than a bit of shuffling around.
It's a bit silly at points, not least the 'comedy zombie' that goes around doing daft yet totally un-amusing things.
Lack of blood/gore made the film feel a bit tame and the 'suspense' scenes were totally lacking in suspense.
Most disappointing of all though was that it feels this film had HUGE potential that was no where near fully realised, which is a great shame.
The dead are raised on Halloween night in a New England hamlet
Wuchakk7 April 2022
In a Massachusetts town, five high school kids inadvertently unleash witches, zombies, vampires and werewolves after reciting a curse from a paper scroll on Halloween.
Originally released to TV, "The Midnight Hour" (1985) came out 23 months after Michael Jackson's hit "Thriller" video and was obviously inspired by it. You get other items relevant to the 80s, like Eric Carr's The Fox makeup when the protagonist dresses up for the Halloween party.
If you're in the mood for a colorful Halloween flick that has spooky elements but isn't very scary, has little gore and zero nudity, it fills the bill. Comparable flicks in tone include "Monster Night" (2006), "Saturday the 14th" (1981), "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark" (1988) and "Monster Island" (2004).
The requirements of a movie like this are obvious: A good assortment of youthful protagonists, from kids to late-teens (e.g. Lee Montgomery, LeVar Burton and Shari Belafonte); an equally good cast of adults (e.g. Dick Van Patten and Kevin McCarthy); a quasi-horror ambiance; a fun, silly spirit; corny, but amusing humor; a simple story with a sense of adventure; an assortment of good-lookin' women, young and older (e.g. Jonna Lee, Dedee Pfeiffer and Cindy Morgan); an energetic and rockin' soundtrack; and a runtime that doesn't overstay its welcome.
It helps that some quality human interest is thrown in with the sympathetic character of Sandy (the winsome Jonna Lee).
The movie runs 1 hour, 34 minutes, and was shot at Universal Studios, Universal City, California, including the Courthouse Square backlot used in flicks like "Back to the Future" (1985) and "Back to the Future Part II" (1989).
GRADE: B-/B.
Originally released to TV, "The Midnight Hour" (1985) came out 23 months after Michael Jackson's hit "Thriller" video and was obviously inspired by it. You get other items relevant to the 80s, like Eric Carr's The Fox makeup when the protagonist dresses up for the Halloween party.
If you're in the mood for a colorful Halloween flick that has spooky elements but isn't very scary, has little gore and zero nudity, it fills the bill. Comparable flicks in tone include "Monster Night" (2006), "Saturday the 14th" (1981), "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark" (1988) and "Monster Island" (2004).
The requirements of a movie like this are obvious: A good assortment of youthful protagonists, from kids to late-teens (e.g. Lee Montgomery, LeVar Burton and Shari Belafonte); an equally good cast of adults (e.g. Dick Van Patten and Kevin McCarthy); a quasi-horror ambiance; a fun, silly spirit; corny, but amusing humor; a simple story with a sense of adventure; an assortment of good-lookin' women, young and older (e.g. Jonna Lee, Dedee Pfeiffer and Cindy Morgan); an energetic and rockin' soundtrack; and a runtime that doesn't overstay its welcome.
It helps that some quality human interest is thrown in with the sympathetic character of Sandy (the winsome Jonna Lee).
The movie runs 1 hour, 34 minutes, and was shot at Universal Studios, Universal City, California, including the Courthouse Square backlot used in flicks like "Back to the Future" (1985) and "Back to the Future Part II" (1989).
GRADE: B-/B.
some Halloween fun
SnoopyStyle20 June 2021
It's Halloween in the small town of Pitchford Cove, formerly called Pitchfork Cove. Some 300 years ago, former slave witch Lucinda brought back the dead to destroy the town. Five local teens decide to steal some costumes and historical artifacts from the museum. They are going to a big party. They also unknowingly raise the dead and other monsters.
This was aired on November 1985. Michael Jackson's Thriller video premiered on December 1983. I'm not saying that anything got copied but there is a lot of inspiring going on. The movie even has a music video in it. It has a few names. The monsters are a bit random. The monster makeup varies from pretty good to store bought. All in all, it's a bit Halloween TV fun from the 80's.
This was aired on November 1985. Michael Jackson's Thriller video premiered on December 1983. I'm not saying that anything got copied but there is a lot of inspiring going on. The movie even has a music video in it. It has a few names. The monsters are a bit random. The monster makeup varies from pretty good to store bought. All in all, it's a bit Halloween TV fun from the 80's.
Saw this many moons ago. Still lame.
mm-3912 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Saw this many moons ago. Still lame. Went over to Tony's back in the day, and we watched The Midnight Hour over Halloween and Tony said lame. Many years latter, The Midnight Hour is made for T V lame. What works there is comedy of the monsters at a Halloween party. Vampire bites and a curse hits the town. The special effects are surprisingly good. What is lame. The Midnight Hour stars out slow, teenage misplacement, cool kids and slow character development. The middle has a strong start as the dead rises from the grave with special effects and humor as the ghouls meet the party guests. The end tie up a problem with the usual quick fix made for t v movie style. Lame and sappy. Well acted and direct but there is little spark from the script. 5 stars.
Excellent Made For TV Horror Film *SPOILER*
Amorican9 June 2002
Warning: Spoilers
I have seen it twice, the last time being about 10 years ago. It wasn't extreme in any form, but it did leave a lasting impression on me. The thing that I remember the most is the end, when the spell is reversed and all of the dead are sent back from whence they came, I remember the sense of loss that the hero experienced when he realized that the cheerleader (Jonna Lee) with whom he fell in love with, was one of the undead herself and had to return to the afterlife.
They should have made a sequel.
They should have made a sequel.
One of the more memorable TV movies of it's day & still worth revisiting every Halloween!
SSS-198415 October 2023
Released in 1985, "The Midnight Hour" may have been a television movie made for ABC it's still charming, fun & frankly crazy enough to entertain audiences of all ages. For an 80's "High School Horror" this is far too tame to really compete with it's more comparable contemporaries. But since it was made for television it's easier to overlook that, sit back & just settle with what the film has to offer. And what it has to offer is more than you'd expect from the average television movie!
"The Midnight Hour" would make a terrific double bill with another "family friendly" 80's Horror film, "The Monster Squad" (1988). Both films feature a close knit circle of youths battling creatures of the night & both work as much as homage to Horror cinema of old as they do "totally 80's" fright flicks!
Where they really differ in terms of content is in the types of "creatures" our young protagonists encounter. "The Monster Squad" took a more post-modernist approach & paid tribute to the movie monsters of vintage Universal Horror (such as Count Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Wolfman & The Mummy).
"The Midnight Hour" on the other hand has is filmed in the spirit of 50's & 60's drive-in theatre (though still wrapped in "totally 80's" trimmings), while the monsters themselves are drawn as much from mythology as they are the movies themselves. We get witches, werewolves, vampires, zombies & even demonic dwarves. And whereas "The Monster Squad" was very much a straightforward "kids vs monsters" spin on "The Goonies" (1985), "The Midnight Hour" has more in common with "Return Of The Living Dead" (1985) in that any number of characters can be "turned" into whatever creature they come into fatal contact with.
The film is filled with references to the Horror films which preceded it (particularly those of the early 80's). These include "The Evil Dead" (1981) & "A Nightmare On Elm St" (1984), but the most noteworthy aspect of the entire production is arguably the appearence of, well, "the grave dancers" from John Landis' 1982 music video for Michael Jackson's "Thriller". The makeup work for the various zombies & ghouls is clearly influenced by Rick Baker's incredible work on those from said music video. And if "The Midnight Hour" deserves an award for anything it's absolutely for those truly awesome makeup jobs! Even for a television movie the makeup could match a decent budget studio production from the period. And the same could be said of the surprisingly diverse soundtrack. Radio hits of the 50's & 60's somehow sit beside more contemporary 80's New Wave selections. But the most surprising song inclusion of all is undoubtably The Smiths' 1985 classic, "How Soon Is Now" (which plays over what is arguably the standout scene of the entire film).
"The Midnight Hour's" young cast is mostly comprised of future television stars. Levar Burton ("Star Trek:The Next Generation") & Peter Deluise ("21 Jump Street") are the two most will notice, though there is also an early appearence from Michelle Phieffer's sister, Dedee (one year before 1986's "Vamp"), as well as a small scene stealing role for Kurtwood Smith as a cop (two years before he's portray one of cinema's most memorable criminals in 1987's "Robocop").
The cast all work well together even if much of their material they're working with could be considered cliched & their characters stereotypical. It's a testement to the game cast & the talent behind the camera that "The Midnight Hour" rises above what is admitedly a very average screenplay.
Brad Fiedel's score (his first since 1984's "The Terminator") is well-suited to the tone of the film, while the obligatory '80's dance sequence" is as wonderfully awful as the song which plays over it ("Get Dead" by actress/singer Shari-Lynn Belafonte). The humour does work, but there isn't a joke here you'd not have heard before. This doesn't make the film any less fun however! It's no classic by any means, but for a 1985 "Halloween special" from ABC? It's better than it should be!
S. S. S.
"The Midnight Hour" would make a terrific double bill with another "family friendly" 80's Horror film, "The Monster Squad" (1988). Both films feature a close knit circle of youths battling creatures of the night & both work as much as homage to Horror cinema of old as they do "totally 80's" fright flicks!
Where they really differ in terms of content is in the types of "creatures" our young protagonists encounter. "The Monster Squad" took a more post-modernist approach & paid tribute to the movie monsters of vintage Universal Horror (such as Count Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Wolfman & The Mummy).
"The Midnight Hour" on the other hand has is filmed in the spirit of 50's & 60's drive-in theatre (though still wrapped in "totally 80's" trimmings), while the monsters themselves are drawn as much from mythology as they are the movies themselves. We get witches, werewolves, vampires, zombies & even demonic dwarves. And whereas "The Monster Squad" was very much a straightforward "kids vs monsters" spin on "The Goonies" (1985), "The Midnight Hour" has more in common with "Return Of The Living Dead" (1985) in that any number of characters can be "turned" into whatever creature they come into fatal contact with.
The film is filled with references to the Horror films which preceded it (particularly those of the early 80's). These include "The Evil Dead" (1981) & "A Nightmare On Elm St" (1984), but the most noteworthy aspect of the entire production is arguably the appearence of, well, "the grave dancers" from John Landis' 1982 music video for Michael Jackson's "Thriller". The makeup work for the various zombies & ghouls is clearly influenced by Rick Baker's incredible work on those from said music video. And if "The Midnight Hour" deserves an award for anything it's absolutely for those truly awesome makeup jobs! Even for a television movie the makeup could match a decent budget studio production from the period. And the same could be said of the surprisingly diverse soundtrack. Radio hits of the 50's & 60's somehow sit beside more contemporary 80's New Wave selections. But the most surprising song inclusion of all is undoubtably The Smiths' 1985 classic, "How Soon Is Now" (which plays over what is arguably the standout scene of the entire film).
"The Midnight Hour's" young cast is mostly comprised of future television stars. Levar Burton ("Star Trek:The Next Generation") & Peter Deluise ("21 Jump Street") are the two most will notice, though there is also an early appearence from Michelle Phieffer's sister, Dedee (one year before 1986's "Vamp"), as well as a small scene stealing role for Kurtwood Smith as a cop (two years before he's portray one of cinema's most memorable criminals in 1987's "Robocop").
The cast all work well together even if much of their material they're working with could be considered cliched & their characters stereotypical. It's a testement to the game cast & the talent behind the camera that "The Midnight Hour" rises above what is admitedly a very average screenplay.
Brad Fiedel's score (his first since 1984's "The Terminator") is well-suited to the tone of the film, while the obligatory '80's dance sequence" is as wonderfully awful as the song which plays over it ("Get Dead" by actress/singer Shari-Lynn Belafonte). The humour does work, but there isn't a joke here you'd not have heard before. This doesn't make the film any less fun however! It's no classic by any means, but for a 1985 "Halloween special" from ABC? It's better than it should be!
S. S. S.
romantic horror for the family
trashgang2 May 2010
Halloween, some kids break into the local witch museum to steal some stuff from centuries ago. For fun they go to the cemetery were they open a manuscript and are reading a spell without knowing it. Guess what, it's midnight hour, the demons arise! Zombietown it will be. And of course the legend of the witch comes alive. So far the story of this unfindable movie. When there is a version that pops up on the Net on VHS or even on (official) DVD it goes for more than 100 Euro's or even Dollars. Typical for the movies from that era they were released in several countries mostly with several titles. When you are into horror and a real freak you know you sometime have to do some research about the other titles and guess what. You can obtain this movie for less than 20 euro's but with his second title Return of the Living Zombies. If you do a bit of research you can still catch it on the X Rated Kult label. People into horror will know the label, they come in collectible hard boxes with beautiful artwork. Anyway, is it worth searching? Yes and no. Yes because it's an OOP, no because it isn't quite a real horror. The most important thing is the relationship between a human and a zombie. Still, people are searching this flick due the presence of Kevin McCarthy (invasion of the body snatchers main lead from 1956). The blood never flows in a disgusting way. There isn't any gore or nudity (escential for that era). In fact it is one to see with the whole family on Halloween night. Around the midnight hour...
Excellant Halloween Flick
aesgaard4112 February 2001
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILER INCLUDED: To start with, the kids in this movie must have way too much time on their hands if they have time to rob a wax museum and stop off at the cemetary to literally raise the dead before they go on to their friend's Halloween party. Filled with numerous recognizable faces from LeVar Burton to Shari Belafonte to Dick Van Patten, this movie contains references to the occult, ghosts, vampires and even serial killers so that there is enough material to please every horror fan there is. The short drive by the hero and heroine through the cursed town is hauntingly atmospheric and very well done. The musical score is acceptable as is the music video two/thirds of the way through even with the semi-annoying voice of Wolfman Jack screaming from radios every ten minutes. Lovely Jonna Lee from "Otherworld" lends herself to a new twist on the old "Ghostly Hitchhiker" legend as the whole movie ends rather anti-climactically back in the cemetary with the old voodoo witch ridiculously flapping her cape over the car as the zombified and vampirized kids fight to get into it. She looks as if she is trying to fly off with the car. On the whole, the entire flick is almost like a movie version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video only much more enjoyable. This is a must for any fan of Halloween.
A great Halloween Movie
obiemookie6 November 2003
I am a huge horror movie fan...and normally "Made for TV Movies" based on Halloween or horror usually stink (either because of lack of money, lack of real scares and/or gore...lack of plot...etc)...The Midnight Hour, on the other hand, is a great little Made for TV Horror movie!
I remember seeing this film when it first aired in 1985...and just falling in love with it. At that point, I had just discovered "Dawn of the Dead", and was really into the whole "Dead coming back to life" type of movie...and this one really hits the mark. Admittedly, it's tame compared to movies released with an R rating...but it's an incredible movie that both kids and adults can enjoy! And, it's VERY creepy in parts...especially when the two leads are driving through the town square, which has become inhabited by the living dead.
After seeing it the first time in 85, I watched for it every year afterwards...only seeing it rarely. Kind of a disappointment that it wasn't on a lot...but it did make it more special when it WAS on. How happy was I when, about 5 years ago, I found a VHS copy of it in the local video store! I bought a copy, and now get to watch it whenever I want (well...at Halloween anyway).
Let's face it...this movie can probably be seen as kind of cheesy in that it was made in the 80's...we really didn't know how to dress back then! But it has great music (especially the song "How Soon is Now" by The Smiths. Its inclusion happens at a very cool part of the movie), some really good scares...and is a pretty cool movie to watch after coming home from trick or treating on Halloween! If you're looking for a movie where people get ripped apart, swear a lot, show nudity...this isn't going to be the one for you. But if you'd like a fun movie, that is creepy, and has a good story (well, aside from the whole werewolf thing...THAT kind of throws me every time I watch it)...then pick up this one!
I remember seeing this film when it first aired in 1985...and just falling in love with it. At that point, I had just discovered "Dawn of the Dead", and was really into the whole "Dead coming back to life" type of movie...and this one really hits the mark. Admittedly, it's tame compared to movies released with an R rating...but it's an incredible movie that both kids and adults can enjoy! And, it's VERY creepy in parts...especially when the two leads are driving through the town square, which has become inhabited by the living dead.
After seeing it the first time in 85, I watched for it every year afterwards...only seeing it rarely. Kind of a disappointment that it wasn't on a lot...but it did make it more special when it WAS on. How happy was I when, about 5 years ago, I found a VHS copy of it in the local video store! I bought a copy, and now get to watch it whenever I want (well...at Halloween anyway).
Let's face it...this movie can probably be seen as kind of cheesy in that it was made in the 80's...we really didn't know how to dress back then! But it has great music (especially the song "How Soon is Now" by The Smiths. Its inclusion happens at a very cool part of the movie), some really good scares...and is a pretty cool movie to watch after coming home from trick or treating on Halloween! If you're looking for a movie where people get ripped apart, swear a lot, show nudity...this isn't going to be the one for you. But if you'd like a fun movie, that is creepy, and has a good story (well, aside from the whole werewolf thing...THAT kind of throws me every time I watch it)...then pick up this one!
Classic
carla_nearing31 January 2005
This movie was a classic in my house as a child, you see my Dad taped it off of the TV, and we watched it every Halloween. We watched it so much in fact that we wore out the tape! Everyone in my family LOVED this movie. The funny part is, it took us years to find out the name of it, as when my Dad taped it he missed the opening credits, we called it the "Phil Movie" for years. So when we were finally able to get the title of the movie, the search was on to find the DVD, and we finally did!So all that hunting should tell you how good a movie this really was! If you are looking for gore and horror, keep in mind that this was a TV movie. This was the family version of all those "horror" movies of the 80's. A parody of sorts, if you haven't seen it, I suggest you do!
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