The Night Visitor

source: The Night Visitor

Trailer—The Night Visitor

The Night Visitor

It has been thirty years since I first saw this title, at a drive-in movie theater, with my girlfriend. She and I both had eyes glued to the screen. The "feeling" of the setting still lingers and we could almost experience the cold. But what I remember the most is that The Night Visitor gave new meaning to the old line, "a little birdy told me...". Superb direction and wonderfully twisting ending!

It's awhile since I saw this movie but it really hooked me, especially seeing two old pros like Max Von Sydow and Trevor Howard going head to head. In looking at a few reviews I don't see much reference to his motivation which is what got me in and explains much of what he does. As I recall, an innocent man is found guilty of a murder committed by his unfaithful wife who frames him. To escape the death penalty he has to be certified criminally insane. If he's that way then he's in for life. Either way a no win. How he seeks to get square is ingenious and really tests Trevor Howard as the inspector. A real twist at the end that you will never forget. I haven't after 15 years or so since I last saw it. Terrific movie. Great acting and scenery. Definitely on my 'must have' list of movies.

If Ingmar Bergman had written and directed an episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, it may have looked something like this. Wrongly convicted mental patient Max von Sydow leaves the asylum each night to exact revenge on his nasty family members (who, he believes, set him up). Conniving sister Liv Ullman and weak willed brother-in-law Per Oscarsson are no match for von Sydow's vengeance. There's a lot of moody, stark images captured by director Laslo Benedek (the film was shot in a particularly chilly Norway & Sweden) and the music score (by Henry Mancini!) is very creepy. von Sydow is dynamite and Ullman gives a great performance (rare for a non-Bergman film). Trevor Howard is the cop on the case who very slowly peels the case open. Featuring a great, almost comic, ending!

This film grabs you from start to finish.The clever way that Max Von Sydow,s character Salem executes his plan is engrossing.All the acting in this film is brilliant,but special credit has to go to Trevor Howard,s performance playing an ageing world weary inspector perfectly.It says a lot for the power of this film that although i have not been able to see it for over 10 years due to no dvd or video being available in the UK, it would still be in my top 20 movies ever.The plot was so good that i thought the ending would have to let it down,but instead turns out to be one of the best bits. A forgotten masterpiece that far too few people have seen if the number of people that have voted for it is anything to go by.

Atmospherically set in freezing Jutland, this clever revenge drama starts slowly but will grab your interest as Salem's plan unfolds. The acting is good and the film is well-handled by director Laslo Benedek. Worth a viewing.

Max Von Sydow brilliantly portrays Salem, a patient at an insane asylum. The chilling cinematography of some guy in his underwear running around in the chilling snow fields makes this thriller even more chilling. But wait till you hear the chilling score by Henry Mancini. He wisely uses de-tuned piano notes that set a perfect mood.

I wasn't expecting much when I saw this movie some years ago, but was I pleasantly surprised. This is a highly underrated suspense movie that is one of my favorites. It grabs you from the very opening ("why is that man jogging through the snowy countryside in his underwear?") and delivers a clever plot that deals with a series of murders with a Columboesque twist - you're shown who's doing them at the beginning, yet you're also shown that it's physically impossible for him to be committing them. The story then involves why he's doing them, the cat and mouse interaction between him and the police inspector investigating the cases, and the amazing way he accomplishes the seemingly impossible. Does he get away with it? You'll have to see for yourself. This one won't disappoint mystery fans.