10 To Midnight Blu-ray Review

“You know what this is for? It for jacking off!!” that’s definitely one of my favorite lines in film history.  Yelled by Charles Bronson while he’s holding a fisting device and yelling at a murder suspect. No it’s not from any of the Death Wish films, it’s from his most overlooked classic, 10 to Midnight.  Made in 1983 by the fine folks at Cannon the film was panned by critics for its hard violence, nudity, and language. The film is one of the harder thrillers of its time dealing with a sexual predator.

Bronson stars are Leo Kressler a tough as nails no nonsense cop who is investigating a double homicide. In the beginning we meet a very creepy young man named Warren Stacey.  He keeps hitting on a lady at work who just blows him off. He doesn’t take kindly to that so that night he follows her and her boyfriend out into the woods where they are having sex and kills both of them. Bronson and his partner are not exactly stumped as, well, he’s Bronson.  He figures things out pretty quickly but Warren is an incredibly intelligent man. Committing his crimes with gloves and usually naked he’s always able to keep his prints off everything and even smart enough to establish an airtight alibi.

Bronson is still Bronson and he won’t let a crazed naked serial killer use simple red tape to get away.  No, Warren does push Bronson to the edge culminating in Bronson simply breaking into his apartment and planting evidence. That however doesn’t stick and leads to the final confrontation between Bronson and Warren after Warren targets daughter.

This is one of the best cat and mouse serial killer films made.  Bronson is at his best.  He’s dirtier than Dirty Harry in this as Leo Kressler.  I personally think it could be his best work.  Sure Death Wish 3 is great fun, but Bronson shines as a cop who will break the law to bring a killer to justice.  Gene Davis shines as Warren.  He is one of the creepiest serial killers I’ve seen.  The fact that he’s actually a good looking guy, combines with sexual predator give him a Ted Bundy quality that he plays to perfection.

The film is very hard R. the violence is graphic there are sexual situations, and lots of nudity.  It rarely plays on cable and is heavily edited to the point it makes no sense on regular television.  It was panned by critics when it was first released due to the graphic violence, but it was a huge rental hit.  It’s developed a cult following over the years and now it is getting the Scream Factory treatment.

This is a beautify Blu-ray. The night elements of the film look fantastic.  They don’t suffer from that dreaded blue tint that some transfers get.  No, this is stunning in both video and audio.  Scream Factory was even able to load it up with special features.

NEW 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative
NEW Charlie’s Partner – An Interview With Actor Andrew Stevens
NEW Producing Bronson – An Interview With Producer Lance Hool
NEW Remembering Bronson – An Interview With Actor Robert F. Lyons
NEW Undressed To Kill – An Interview With Actress Jeana Tomasina Keough
NEW Audio Commentary With Writer/Historian Paul Talbot (Author Of Bronson’s Loose! And Bronson’s Loose Again!)
Audio Commentary With Producer Pancho Kohner, Casting Director John Crowther, And Film Historian David Del Valle
Theatrical Trailer
Radio Spots
Still Gallery

One of my favorite films of all time this is the treatment it deserves.  If you have never seen this now is the time.  You will not be disappointed.  Pick it up today.
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Overall 4.5 out of 5 Stars!