10 to Midnight

Serial killers ... mostly weirdos aren't they? At least in movies. That doesn't mean that they are easy to get. Quite the opposite - even if the viewer and maybe the characters involved do know who the culprit is. Those in the movie may only be guessing (right), but as viewers we know for sure who does it in this case. We watch with our own eyes ... despicable acts of murder, quite vividly taking place. And a lot of nudity thrown in for good measure.

If you have issues with these things (for whatever reason, I'm not judging), you probably shouldn't watch this movie. And yes while some who watch it may call it entertaining, in the end it is a movie. With a questionable moral compass and an even more in your face ending ... not for the faint of hearted that's for sure!

But shouldn't we do the same with adults? I'd like to hop into the way-back machine to the start of the eighties to sit down for a heart-to-heart with Charles Bronson. I'd like the opportunity to say to him that, considering his body of work, the great movies he's made--and the awful ones in which he'd shined through--he should retire immediately and enjoy the years he had left with wife Jill Ireland. "Mr. Bronson, please don't make crap."

There is no way-back machine, his beloved wife died too young from cancer, and Bronson is almost better known now for his garbage movies from the 80s and 90s than his earlier work. It's sad that a man who radiated a primal fury on screen, with a glowering physicality that made him an almost-superstar, would decide to make some of the most awful and ridiculous pieces of nonsense one can find mouldering in the backs of video stores today.

J. Lee Thompson's 10 to Midnight is so awful that one has to wonder why Bronson agreed to make it. Since we can't ask him, we must assume the worst, that he did it for the money or he honestly thought Golan and Globus would restore his career.

I watched this movie on cable over twenty years ago and hated it then. I just sat down to watch it again on Hulu. I actually felt a sadness overtaking me as I got about 15 minutes or so into 10 to Midnight.

Not for the time I was wasting, but the fact that no one ever made a way-back machine.

Cannon greatness starring Chuck Bronson and directed by Bronson's frequent collaborator J. Lee Thompson. Bronson plays a grizzled detective out to nab a psycho that killed a woman for rejecting him. The problem is the killer covered his tracks well so Bronson has to resort to less-than-legal means of getting him. When this backfires, Bronson's own daughter becomes the psycho's next target.

One of Charles Bronson's best movies from the '80s. As with most of his output that decade, it's sleazy and violent but it's also undeniably fun in a cheesy sort of way. Bronson gives his usual one-note performance. If you've seen his Death Wish movies, you know what to expect here and whether you'll like it or not. Gene Davis makes for a memorable pervert psycho. He also appears naked quite a bit, as do many other people (women and men). Lots of T&A in this one. Lisa Eilbacher is Bronson's pretty daughter and does well. Andrew Stevens holds up his end as the young detective who can't condone Bronson's methods. The rest of the cast includes Geoffrey Lewis, Wilford Brimley, Ola Ray, and a young Kelly Preston. The lady playing Davis' boss takes the honors for worst performance. Her "Betty's dead!" scene should be taught in acting schools.

It's a fun movie if you're not the type who takes everything seriously and gets easily offended. The cheesy elements will please many, as will the voyeuristic stuff. Bronson takes it all very seriously which makes it all the more enjoyable when he's spouting lines like "You know what this is for, Warren? It's for jacking off!" This is a great '80s thriller with a lot of things going for it, including a terrific ending.

10 to Midnight (1983) was another one of old stone face's exploitation films that he seemed to crank out every other month during the 80's. The two Chucks (Norris and Bronson) seemingly released a film like every other week. That's what we need, bi-weekly cheesy action whitesploitation movies. Well Charlie was up to the task in this one and Cannon was ready to foot the bill.

A sexual confused serial killer is stalking co-eds. The killer has Charlie stumped. Along with a new partner, he stalks the streets looking for Mr. Goodbar er... the mad manic maniac!! Old Chuck seems to be on the right trail but the law that he's sworn to upheld swing both ways.

Pure sleaze. If you're looking for a good movie look elsewhere, this is grade z Charles Bronson. Slumming for a paycheck whilst losing any creditability he had as a serious actor. But their are folks who actually dig Mr. Emotion earning his pay acting in terrible films. I happen to be one of those. I can't tell by his "acting" but Mr. Bronson seems to dig his new role in Hollywood.

For fans only.

It's easy to forget that in the 80s, action movies were every bit as violent as horror films and 10 to Midnight is pretty harsh. It feels like they're attempting to make both a Friday the 13th and a Death Wish movie AT THE SAME TIME!

Charles Bronson plays a tough cop dedicated to his job. He stumbles onto a serial sex killer and obsessively hunts him down only to have the system fail him leading to a truly shocking bloodbath at the finale.

10 to Midnight is Cannon film, thus it's over-the-top with lots of sex and violence. It's also through and through a Bronson film so there's a lot of tough guy grandstanding and complaints about a broken legal system that values the rights of the accused over those of the victim.

The positives of this movie are that it has a truly solid cast. Bronson actually seems to care about his performance (not always the case in his later films), the villain is creepy and frightening (he likes to attack his lady victims while he is totally nude), and the kills are intensely effective.

The negatives are that the movie is just a little too slow. There are too many cop movie cliches and I didn't care at all about Bronson's partner. Honestly, I feel that this movie would have worked much better as a straight forward giallo film.

This is a cop movie that occasionally turns into a slasher film which leaves a movie that can't find a consistent tone. Fans of slashers and cop flicks are both likely to be put off by the movie but it is unique enough that I get why it has a cult following. It's an above average latter day Bronson film and probably at least worth a look for fans that don't mind a little (or a lot!) of bloodshed.