The Black Panther (1977)

Such a frustrating disappointment

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

"The Black Panther" is the sad story of a man who should have stayed in the Army, as he needs to live in a military environment (see the 360° panoramic sequence in his private room full of weapons and military accessories - his wife and daughter do not seem to know what's happening inside, the movie doesn't say clearly). That killer needed to be in the infantry charging on the enemy, but definitely not being a burglar awakening everybody doing so much noise, getting mad and killing without reason. He fails everything he does, he wants to steal but succeeds only to kill. Fantastic performance by Donald Sumpter as the killer. And bright direction by Ian Merrick who directed only one other movie which seems forgettable.

The victim of a hysterical proto-sadist video press campaign which killed its initial theatrical run, The Black Panther is actually anything but the insensitive exploitation piece is was labelled as which damned it so long to distribution limbo.Charting the bizarre killing spree of wannabe criminal mastermind Donald Neilson, this insightful, intelligent thriller feels chillingly authentic in the way it is constructed. No avant- garde pretensions or sensationalist hyper reality to be found here unlike its accused grindhouse brethren. Director Ian Merrick is to the point with his direction and only benefits the film with his "lack of adventure" should i say, but major credit goes to Michael Armstrong who's minute detail script does what the journalists at the time couldn't be bothered with and lays out fully the whole grim affair to the best the evidence available could suggest. Donald Sumpter is fearless as Panther. A little theatrical for some maybe, but you have to consider that this was no ordinary serial killer. A house thief that turned to armed robbery, then kidnap for ransom, this was no clueless man-child or crusading zealot, he really thought himself as a criminal genius and so would be full of himself, yes? Sumpter understood this and his portrayal of Neilson as the tragic fool gives great clarity to the events on top of the well researched script. Overall a horrific, challenging and truthful dramatisation that is a masterclass in true life crime filmmaking, a hidden gem.

Living in the surrounding area of where the crimes took place I was pleased to find that the film followed the truth of what actually happened very closely.I enjoyed the film immensely,I thought it was well acted and well shot.

A very close account of Army fanatic Donald Nielson. A man who wants the best for his family but tries robbing post offices and ends up killing due to poor planning. He then sets his sights higher and kidnapps a local wealthy man's daughter and then asks for a ransom which due to one reason or another he never receives. The daughter is found 3 months later in a sewage pipe hanged. I am not spoiling the plot, this is a very well known and brutal crime and the film documents this very well right up to his capture! This film is extremely hard to find and i had to send away to the states to get it.(it was made in the UK!)