Dead of Night

My review was written in February 1988 after watching the feature on Sony video cassette.

"Mirror of Death" is a made-for-video horror film that plays more like a daytime soap with special makeup effects. Team of actresses turned filmmakers displays little sympathy or understanding for the genre.

Julie Merrill tries hard but is miscast as the main protagonist, a young woman battered by her cruel boyfriend (John Reno). She reads an occult book left by a Haitian guy and by burning candles and chanting, manges to conjure up a spirit from a mirror that enters her body and makes her beautiful.

Thus possessed, she becomes a killer, picking up guys at a singles' bar and murdering them in very gory fashion. SWhen her older sister (Kuri Browne) comes home, there is a quite illogical plot twist to outwit the spirit and save Merrill.

Thesps' shrill acting approach is tough to take and the gore will be a turnoff for all but hardcore horror fans. Cliched dialog reduces supernatural goings-on to mere doggerel.