10 To Midnight Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1983

10 to Midnight was a cop-thriller starring the inimitable Charles Bronson as a world-weary cop that is tired of the system letting the citizenry down and the criminals run the street. This is Death Wish with a twist, though, since the movie focuses on a brilliant nutcase that carves women up when they reject him. With the distinctive, excessive 80's flair, this film promises plenty of violence, nudity and cheesy style.

After his performance in the original Death Wish, Charles Bronson became synonymous with the working class hero that would pick up where the criminal system left off, meting out hard justice to those who were a blight on society. 10 to Midnight is another of these films, but it rises above the generic nature of some of his prior vigilante attempts and actually serves as a cop-thriller and borderline horror film all wrapped up into one pleasing package.

The film doesn't take a lot of time defining the characters; in fact such details are explained by Leo Kessler's (Charles Bronson) own mouth quickly and efficiently. At the start of the film a reporter asks him for details about a murder case, at which point Kessler rejects his request and explains, "I'm a mean, selfish S.O.B." With those few words, we know that Bronson is a tough, driven cop. Quick and efficient, eh?

While heading to the parents of a recent murder victim (who happened to be friends of Kessler), Kessler bemoans the state of the neighborhood to his new partner, Paul McAnn (Andrew Stevens). He explains in depth how the criminal system let society down when a cold-blooded murderer was allowed to plead insanity, receiving a 6-month stay in an institution until he was released back on the streets, where he ended up killing again. And with that, you'll have all the background you need for this psychological thriller. Kessler is tough and angry.

Gene Davis plays the role of Warren Stacy, a disturbed young man that has a penchant for slaughtering beautiful young women that reject his awkward advances. Oh, and he does it in the nude. Why? Who knows… he's crazy, remember? In his spare time Stacy also dishes out obscene calls to women, playing the role of an oversexed Mexican. Everyone needs a hobby, right?

Although Warren Stacy may be crazy, he's also brilliant and masterfully covers up his tracks with an airtight alibi. Kessler is certain he has discovered his man, but the system must set him free due to the alibi. But Kessler isn't one to take the release of a killer sitting down, particularly after Stacy starts targeting his daughter with his obscene phone calls.

Planting some blood on Stacy's clothes, it looks as if Kessler will finally bring the killer to justice. Watching Stacy explode into a fit of rage after being charged with murder was amusing, for he knows without a shadow of a doubt Kessler planted the evidence. He never wears clothes, after all!

At any rate, eventually Kessler's illegal planting catches up with him when the abuse is discovered. Stacy is freed and Kessler is kicked off the force. But he's not about to let Stacy go, and begins a game of cat and mouse as he taunts the young killer in hopes of making him snap. And snap he does… but not quite in the manner Kessler intended, for Stacy's next target will be Kessler's own daughter.

All in all, 10 to Midnight was a fun film to watch. Charles Bronson was one of acting's best – he was highly skilled at playing the role of a bitter vigilante that takes justice into his own hands. Where some actors would become hammy with such a role, Bronson lends his characters a subdued realism (as much realism as an action movie allows, anyways).

Equally captivating was Gene Davis' performance as Warren Stacy, the chiseled nutcase that spends nearly as much screen time nude as he does clothed. The underlying insanity glimmers inside his eyes, and he seems to enjoy toying with the police, confident in his ability to cover up his ghastly crimes. Without him the film wouldn't have been nearly as entertaining, for he's the perfect nemesis for Bronson's hard-edged cop. Watching the two opposites clash and battle for the upper hand is thoroughly satisfying.

10 to Midnight isn't the smartest thriller to have ever been released, and some would say its nudity and violence borders on gratuitous. Maybe it does, but it's a guilty pleasure driven by the on-screen chemistry of its actors and the taunt suspense offered by the storyline. If you want to see a fun thriller created during a time when films weren't neutered as badly by political correctness and the MPAA as they are today, 10 to Midnight should fit your bill.

Movie rating: 8 stars

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