Fiend (film)

Fiend is a 1980 American B movie science fiction horror film directed and written by low-budget filmmaker Don Dohler, shot in Perry Hall, Maryland and starring Don Leifert, Elaine White, Richard Nelson, and George Stover.[1][2][3] The film had U.S. theatrical release in September 1980.[4][5]

Fiend
VHS coverart
Directed byDon Dohler
Produced by
Written byDon Dohler
Starring
Music byPaul Woznicki
Cinematography
  • Richard Geiwitz
  • Don Dohler
Edited byDon Dohler
Production
company
Force Video
Distributed byCinema Enterprises
Release date
September, 1980, USA Theatrical
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6,000 (est.)

Plot

An evil spirit enters a graveyard and reanimates the corpse of music teacher Eric Longfellow (Don Leifert). However, in order to stay alive, he has to wrap his hands around his victims' throats to absorb their life essences. When he moves to the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, his neighbor Gary Kender (Richard Nelson) begins to suspect something just is not right with Mr. Longfellow.[6]

Main cast
  • Don Leifert as Eric Longfellow
  • Elaine White as Marsha Kender
  • George Stover as Dennis Frye
  • Richard Nelson as Gary Kender
  • Del Winans as Jimmy Barnes
  • Kim Dohler as Kristy Michaels
  • Debbie Vogel as Helen Weiss
  • Pam Dohler as Jane Clayton
  • Greg Dohler as Scotty
  • Richard Geiwitz as Fred
  • Lydia Vuynovich as Angie
  • Steve Frith as Steve
  • Anne Frith as Katie

Release

The film had U.S. theatrical release in September 1980. Later release included on U.S. VHS as Deadly Neighbor and in West Germany as Angst der Verlorenen.

Reception

Having years previously read an article in Amazing Cinema about the making of Fiend, author Scott Phillips had wanted to see the film but had not been able to locate a copy. When later as a staff writer at Monsters at Play, he found a copy and wrote [sic] "So was it worth the 20+ -year wait? Two words: Holy Freakin' Hell, Yes. Any movie that delivers this kind of cheese-slathered drive-in goodness is gonna get the big thumbs-up from this li'l reviewer, you can count on that - and Fiend serves it up big",[7] and went on to praise, plot, effects, lighting, and acting. He noted the film benefited from writer/director Don Dohler avoiding gore in favor of atmosphere, doing "a great job of delivering some creepy moments, one of which - involving a little girl behind Longfellow's house - will have you squirming in your seat. It gets goofy in places, but that's part of what makes it so enjoyable."[7] The film is recommended for anyone loving old-school, late-nite horror films. The DVD transfer of the original 16mm film was good considering the age of the original film stock, and includes a blooper reel, a still gallery, and the "gratuitous George Stover gallery" (there's also a great photo of the lovely "Miss Kim" (Fred Olen Ray's wife) on the Retromedia website link)."[7]

Contrarily, when re-released and co-featured with The Alien Factor on DVD in 2005, DVD Talk compared the two films, and in finding T.A.F. almost likable, felt that Fiend was "an almost complete failure, primarily because it is much more dependent on Dohler's storytelling and direction, and his skills aren't up to the task in either department," concluding it was "little more than a backyard movie not worth anyone's time."[1]

References
  1. Galbraith IV, Stuart (December 10, 2005). "The Alien Factor / Fiend: The Don Dohler Collection". DVD Talk. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  2. Weldon, Michael (1996). The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film. Macmillan. pp. 144–145. ISBN 0312131496. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  3. Video Watchdog (Issues 15-20 ed.). Tim & Donna Lucas. 1993. p. 8. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  4. Sindelar, Dave (December 5, 2011). "FIEND (1980)". Scififilm.org. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  5. Goldsmith, Leo (October 26, 2008). "Fiend". Not Coming. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  6. staff (October 18, 1987). "Monday Movie: Fiend". New Straits Times. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  7. Phillips, Scott (xxxx). "Fiend (1980) DVD Review". Monsters At Play. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
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