Inn of the Damned (1975)

Director:

Terry Bourke

Writer:

Terry Bourke (written by)

Release Date:

13 November 1975 (Australia)

Genre:

Horror | Western | Thriller

Tagline:

Murder... Mystery... Madness...

Plot:

A sheriff investigates why the guests at a local hostelry check in, but never check out. |

Plot Keywords:

Blood | Wine | Australian Outback | Bounty Hunter | Inn

Cast

Judith Anderson	...	Caroline Straulle
Alex Cord	...	Cal Kincaid
Michael Craig	...	Paul Melford
Joseph Fürst	...	Lazar Straulle
Tony Bonner	...	Trooper Moore
John Meillon	...	George Parr
John Morris	...	Martin Cummings
Robert Quilter	...	Biscayne
Diana Dangerfield	...	Mrs. Millington
Carla Hoogeveen	...	Beverley
Don Barkham	...	Sgt Malone
John Nash	...	The Colonel
Phillip Avalon	...	Alfred
Lionel Long	...	Search Horseman
Gordon Glenwright	...	Squire Grimstead
Nat Levison	...	Undertaker
Louis Wishart	...	Arnold
Reg Gorman	...	Coach Driver
George Pollack	...	Mad Mick Marriott
Linda Broan	...	Peaches
Anna King	...	Coach Passenger
Hilary Bamberger	...	Mrs. Bennett
Graham Ware	...	Coachdriver
Graham Corry	...	Andrew Millington
Jack Allan	...	Villager
Josie Mackay	...	Villager
Colin Drake	...	Villager
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Terry Bourke Jr.	...	Hans Straulle
Geoffrey Burton	...	Urchin Boy
Melissa Chappell	...	Heidi Straulle
Dave Proudman	...	Harry

Directed by
Terry Bourke

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Terry Bourke		written by

Produced by
Terry Bourke	....	producer
Rod Hay	....	producer

Original Music by
Bob Young

Cinematography by
Brian Probyn

Film Editing by
Rod Hay

Production Design by
Gary Hansen

Production Management
Patrick Clayton	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Egerton	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Yoram Gross	....	graphic artist

Sound Department
Dave Cooper	....	boom operator
Bob Hayes	....	sound recordist
Phil Judd	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin Kearney	....	boom operator
Tim Lloyd	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Clarson	....	best boy electric
Peter James	....	camera operator
Richard Wallace	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Les Fiddess	....	assistant editor

Production Companies

• Terryrod

Distributors

• Roadshow Entertainment (1975) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Paragon Video Productions (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Cheezy Flicks Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Death Hunter (Europe: English title) (video title)

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:15 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Bringelly, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Terryrod

Trivia:

Joan Bennett was offered and accepted the lead role. The trades announced it as her comeback film. She dropped out after a difference of opinion with the Director on the character, and was replaced with Judith Anderson. Many sources still list this film as one of Miss Bennett's credits, even though she never filmed any scenes.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)

oddball Aussie western/horror/thriller is somewhat interesting

This film begins with some rousing Aussie spaghetti-western music which recurs throughout the film, and if the movie was as good as the music I'd love it. I do like at least some of it, but I thought it was overly long for what it is and it gets a bit confusing at times too. It looks GREAT, though. Seems that folks are disappearing at an inn that caters to wayfarers, and there's a trooper searching for some kind of sex offender guy too. The innkeeper and his wife are fairly creepy & the guests think something's wrong but they never get to tell anyone about it, because they don't check out on their own terms. There's lots of beautiful scenery and somewhat of a coherent story but I was losing track of who was who at times. It has its share of thrills & scares but it has rather long time periods of rousing music and little going on, too, unless you like people racing after each other on horses. Worth seeing at least once, not a bad western for Australia, either. The Cheezy Flicks DVD is adequate. 6 out of 10.