Death Valley (1982)

Must See Movie...

Just perfect...

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

This was one of the many slashers that kinda came and went during the 1980's. Not one of the remembered ones though and not quite a classic though, but still a decent movie.The storyline is different from the usual fodder instead of featuring a group of thirty year old teenagers, we get a young boy named Billy who goes to visit his mother and stepfather and the three of them decide to take a little holiday to the infamous "Death Valley" where Billy stumbles upon a crime scene and then becomes the target of a serial killer, who then starts to stalk him."Death Valley" really does have a decent story line and interesting characters allowing us time to get to know each of them, but it does lack in the actual slashing department, but it's actually more story driven than most and the killer was actually quite menacing, he wears no mask or anything and no motive which makes things even more creepier. But the pacing of this movie doesn't quite pick up speed and it does get rather tiresome at times, but the scene where the boy is being stalked does keep you at the edge of your seat and creates tension and the twist at the end was pretty decent and came to a total surprise.The acting was really good which is kind of rare for an 80's slasher movie. Peter Billingsley was spot on as the young Billy he was really good. Catherine Hicks was also a real highlight in this movie as well and who I recognize from the first Chucky movie, nice to see her in another horror movie. Paul Lemat was also decent as the stepfather as well and Stephen McHattie who played the creepy serial killer was menacing and really decent also.All in all a decent enough movie, not much in the blood or gore department but still worth a look if you're into forgotten movies.

I really don't think it's as bad as the review in the Leonard Maltin paperback would indicate; it's just not particularly distinguished. It places a child front and centre and in a considerable amount of jeopardy as he runs afoul of a sadistic serial killer in Death Valley. This kid is Billy (Peter Billingsley of "A Christmas Story" fame), an NYC native devoted to his loving dad (Edward Herrmann) who visits his mom (Catherine Hicks) and her new boyfriend (Paul Le Mat) in Arizona. While visiting the site of an abandoned gold mine, he enters an RV and pilfers a necklace that he finds, not knowing that he's obtained valuable evidence that links the killer to the scene of a crime. From then it's sort of a cat and mouse game as the killer sets out to keep Billy quiet. Dick Richards ("Farewell, My Lovely", "March or Die") directs from Richard Rothstein's script, which starts out as if it's going to be told entirely from the childs' perspective as he tries to come to terms with his parents' divorce and with the new man in his moms' life. Soon enough, it edges into slasher film territory, as our killer chops up unfortunate victims. It also attempts to make a substantial character out of our villains' car, which features a vanity plate with the word "hex" on it. The actors do a creditable job; Herrmann shines in what is really a very brief part, and Hicks and Le Mat are likewise very likable. (Le Mat has one standout scene where he's trying to make a connection with Billingsley.) And speaking of Billingsley, he also creates an endearing character and doesn't fall into the trap of being too cute. Good ol' Wilford Brimley is engaging as the local sheriff. But the show is stolen by Stephen McHattie who's as intense as he's ever been, and in fact he has one amusingly off kilter scene where he's intimidating our heroes as he stalks across the roof of his house. Another scene that the viewer will vividly remember is the scene with a corpulent babysitter who does little else besides stuff her face and then pay a big price at the hands of the killer. The thundering music by Dana Kaproff does its best to manipulate us, but what is far and away the biggest asset to the film is the on location shooting. The twist ending just comes off as a little silly. Overall, this is a passable time killer but no more. Six out of 10.

Billy (Peter Billingsley) heads from New York to Arizona with his recently divorced mom (Catherine Hicks) so she can hook up with old high school boyfriend Mike (Paul Le Mat). Along the way, the makeshift family stumbles upon the handiwork of a local serial killer. When they report it to the sheriff (Wilford Brimley), word gets out and the killer comes looking for quasi-witness Billy. This hard-to-find early 80s horror offering is unique in that the person being stalked is a 9-year-old. I doubt you would ever see a major studio film today with a kid being in the line of fire from two killers. Unfortunately, the film has little else going for it.The identity of the killer is given away almost immediately, with a "shock" ending added on that won't surprise you. Stephen McHattie, who was the robber in Cronenberg's A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, plays the set of evil twins and is good. It isn't really a shock because you know right off the bat that his character Hal has a brother. Their motive for killing (keeping people away from Pa's worthless goldmine) is straight outta SCOOBY DOO.Watching the film and its desert locations and creepy set ups, I wondered if Eric Red saw it and thought to himself, "Man, I wonder what this would be like if done right?" before writing THE HITCHER. Edward Herrmann has a completely thankless role as Billingsley's father in one scene. Since he is in it so little, I suspect he might be the killer. I guess not.

Yep - I like this film. I am also happy to finally see a promotional photo for this film , thank you a lot IMDb! I have a copy of this film. I find this film a one-of-a-kind. I like it cause it's early 80s. And I LOVE what happens to the eat-too-much babysitter! LOL I never see this for rental at the video store - I had actually seen it on TV.... Not that this is a marvelous film , but I have definitely sat through more boring , supposed-to-scare-me films. Not exactly gore , not exactly a slasher - Hard to pinpoint this one exactly , but I'll call this a thriller - with a touch of mystery....with a completely 80s-style view. PEACE