Dark Intruder

Moviecut—Dark Intruder

source: Dark Intruder

Dark Intruder

This movie has haunted me for most of my life. I saw it when I was a teenager. I am now 69. I haven't seen it since it was released in 1965. I would like to see it again. I've searched for it. It's not anywhere. There are so many 1950 style B movies that are available. Dark Intruder is so much better than the material being offered on channels like Crackle. If someone had the power, please make this movie digitally available.

This takes place in 1890 San Francisco. A series of vicious murders has been happening with a mystical statue is left next to each of the victims. The police call in Brett Kingsford (Leslie Nielsen) an occult expert to help them. This was originally a pilot for a TV series but no one bought it. So they added some footage to make it a short (59 minutes) but feature length movie and released it theatrically. It LOOKS great--beautiful sets and costumes and plenty of eerie atmosphere. Also Nielsen is great in his role. However the script is heavy-handed and convoluted with some truly questionable plot twists. However it's been praised to the high heavens by many critics. Use your own judgment.

Atmospheric TV movie about a Sherlock Holmes type (Leslie Nielson) who occasionally assists the San Francisco police with serious crimes. Set in 1890, the whole thing feels very Jack the Ripper-ish, and there is a Mr. Hyde styled monster running loose in town seemingly killing people at random. Nielson's breezy private detective eventually puts two and two together, and realizes the creature has something very specific in mind with each murder. Mark Richman plays a troubled acquaintance who may hold the key to the mystery, and Werner Klemperer of all people plays the Mr. Hyde-ish killer. Tame by today's standards, this low-budget but fanciful tale still packs a punch. Later released theatrically. Too bad it wasn't shot in color. Nielson, whose hair was still dark in those days, is an absolute hoot.

Dark Intruder is directed by Harvey Hart and written by Barre Lyndon. It stars Leslie Nielsen, Gilbert Green, Charles Bolender, Mark Richman, Judith Meredith and Werner Klemperer. Music is by Lalo Schifrin and cinematography by John F. Warren. A murderous fiend is terrorising San Francisco 1890, so supernatural expert Brett Kingsford (Nielsen) takes special interest in the crimes. A pilot for a TV show that wasn't picked up, Dark Intruder is a whole bunch of spooky fun. Clocking in at just under an hour in length, the pic makes up for what it lacks in mystery inventiveness, with sheer schlocky shenanigans. Moody courtesy of the period setting, complete with lots of fog, shadows and gaslights, the narrative indulges us in gods, oriental mysticism and Sumerian demons, whilst a dwarf, a sinister fortune teller and a mandrake plant all add quirky qualities to the play. There's even a kicker at the finale, so as to not rest on its laurels. Recommended for sure. 6.5/10

As a second feature in 1965, this arrived with little fanfare and was probably dismissed by most viewers. Since it was a discarded pilot for a series called " The Black Cloak'' that was never picked up, the studio probably figured they could a make a buck or two on it. But then when people saw it they realized that like the 1966 Chamber of Horrors ( which had some similar plot elements) , this was a little masterpiece of moody economical horror. Mark Richmond and Leslie Nielsen are terrific as the villain and hero. The creepy black and white photography is atmospheric and the tone is one of dread and impending doom. I saw this once in the theater 41 years ago and I would love to see it again. Why not release this on DVD ?

It's 1890 San Francisco and a killer is on the loose. Brett Kingsford (Leslie Nielsen) is a rich Sherlock-like sleuth and an expert in the supernatural. Nikola is his diminutive man-servant and Evelyn Lang is his fiancée. Brett follows the tiny figurines found at the murder sites to an oriental demon. His friend Robert Vandenburg (Mark Richman) is disturbed with surprising connections to the murders. This theatrical movie is only an hour long. It does feel shortened as a full length movie. It's too bad because I was going along on the ride. It turns out that it may have been a pilot for a never-developed show. I can absolutely see it as a modern supernatural mystery series. Nielsen is great as a Sherlock Holmes like character. It's set up for an intriguing early supernatural TV show and a missed opportunity.