Bloodrage (1979)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Joseph Zito

Writer:

Robert Jahn (writer)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

If he wants you.... he'll get you

Plot:

A sexually frustrated young man kills hookers.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | 42nd Street | Psychopath | Prostitution | Independent Film

Cast

James Johnson	...	Ryan
Judith-Marie Bergan	...	Beverly
Jerry McGee	...	Charlie
Ian Scott	...	Richard
Patrick Hines	...	Gus
Buddy Basch	...	Motor Inn Desk Clerk
Harry Linton	...	Times Square Desk Clerk
Pelati Pons	...	Street Murder Victim
Jimi Keys	...	Killer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barry Bernstein	...	2nd Cop at Street Murder
Erle Bjornstad	...	Eastside Bar Patron
Clee Burtonya	...	Pimp in Hallway
Copper Cunningham	...	Prostitute in Elevator
Tony DeCarlo	...	Cop in Police Station
Ed DeLeo	...	Karl
Susan Doukas	...	Myrna
Rachel Dunn	...	Richard's Dance Partner
Rita Ebenhart	...	Candice
Henry Ferrentino	...	Cab Driver
Lee Ford	...	Eastside Bar Patron
Bernie Friedman	...	Abe
Barbara Grace	...	Madeline
Shanton Granger	...	Hometown Police Captain
Jerome Greene	...	1st Cop at Street Murder (as Jerome Green)
Jery Hewitt	...	Junkie in Police Station
Jessie Hill	...	Prostitute in Police Station
Wally Hughes	...	Cowboy
Mario Jensen	...	2nd Bartender
Irwin Keyes	...	Pimp in Hallway
Molly King	...	Hostess
Carol Kosma	...	Eastside Bar Patron
Susan Lawrence	...	Go-Go Dancer
Billy Longo	...	Super in West Side Bar
Ray Martucci	...	Cop in Police Station
Ralph Monaco	...	1st Bartender
Jon Oppenheim	...	Eastside Bar Patron
Eve Packer	...	Eastside Bar Patron
Christine Pedricaro	...	Go-Go Dancer
Tom Pierce	...	Byron
Carl Pistilli	...	Cop in Police Station
Ramon Rafuir	...	Bones
Betsy Ranlow	...	Nancy
Daniel Revusky	...	Tenant
William Richardone	...	Freddy
Larry Ridell	...	Eastside Bar Patron
Raynor Scheine	...	Fred
Dan Seymore	...	Pimp in Elevator
Kristen Steen	...	Stevie
Wally Stern	...	News Dealer
Leo Tepp	...	Joe Monroe
Ruth Terner	...	Eastside Bar Patron
Lawrence Tierney	...	Malone
Blair Trigg	...	Lucy
Richard Triggs	...	Cop in Police Station

Also Known As:

Never Pick Up a Stranger (video title)

Runtime:

UK:78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Norway:18 (1982)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Picture Company of America

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The American Nightmare (2000)

Forgotten misogynist slasher.

The synopsis on the back of the ancient VHS cover box describes the plot of "Bloodrage" as reminiscent to "Taxi Driver" and "Death Wish" and the director's styles and methods for creating tension as "Hitchcockian". You can unquestionably guess without even seeing the movie for yourself that these generous comparisons are just *slightly* exaggerated, but it's nevertheless a decent and overlooked psycho-shocker that comes recommended to the selected group of avid fans of this type of obscure and grim exploitation cinema. Director Joseph Zito's predecessor to the much more known and infamous "The Prowler" is clearly inspired by the success of "Taxi Driver", since it's more or less also a portrait of the sleazy and pauperized streets of New York's red light district, but it definitely benefices most from it's atypical serial killer protagonist. Unlike Travis Bickle, the psychopath here – Ritchie – is a seemingly shy and introvert young lad; barely out of his teenager years and presumably from a decent social background. Ritchie visits prostitutes but ends up barbarically killing them because they aren't like he expects them to be … whatever that may be. Even when he meets a "normal" girl, she turns out to be an infidel nymphomaniac and Ritchie gradually sinks deeper into misogynist rage and madness. Meanwhile, the secret lover of one of Ritchie's prostitute victims – a ruthless copper – follows the trace to New York and hunts him down like an animal. Particularly the opening fifteen minutes – covering Ritchie's first murder prior to his escape to the big city – are immensely powerful and shocking. You really don't see this fragile kid capable of murdering but he is and, moreover, remains stoically focused throughout the entire process. Ritchie's odyssey in the rancid streets of New York is far less exciting, mainly because we're on more familiar territory here, but the murder sequences nonetheless remain harsh and ultimately brutal to look at. With is lurid atmosphere, copious amounts of gratuitous nudity, grainy and cheap looking photography and uncompromising violence against women, "Bloodrage" perfectly fits in the late 70's/early 80's trend of misogynist slasher pictures, like "Don't Go in the House", "Maniac", "Hitch Hike to Hell" and "Don't Answer the Phone". And if you really wonder where the connection lies with "Death Wish", you just wait until the downright fan-tas-tic end scene!