Visiting Hours (1982)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary:

Controversial speaker & journalist, Deborah Ballin unintentionally triggers a
mentally disturbed employee during the filming of a television program.
The taped segment shows Deborah discussing a polarizing case, involving a battered
housewife charged with murdering her husband. The woman claims her actions were in self defense.

Except Deborah's boss refuses to air the taping, on grounds that showing it live would only
enrage millions of viewers. Preferring instead to just enrage one person...Deborah.
Who storms out of the studio, and heads back to her home. Only to find a nice little
surprise in the form a hulking, knife wielding psychopath draped with her jewelry...

The unknown assailant attempts to kill her. Instead he only wounds her in a scuffle before
her battered body is found by a neighbor, and she is taken to a hospital, where she
still feels uneasy about her potential burglar.Who's agenda is definitely more personal.
Now that he's venturing into the hospital after visiting hours, brandishing his trusty blade.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Decision:

Slasher film fans have seen this man before. Rendered impotent, prior disturbances and
trauma caused by his parents. Most notably his mother, reducing him to an
emasculated being that can only attain release by penetrating his female victims with
some sharp, phallic object. Yet despite being the typical slasher film stereotype, our killer
still exudes creepiness.

I also think that this film contains one of the most horrifying on screen demises.
Involving an innocent bed ridden elderly woman, having a tube supplying her with
vital oxygen sliced. While her killer sits on her bed, taking photographs as she slowly
succumbs to a painful demise. That is why I was filled with such a child like glee when
our woman in peril ends up being the one that penetrates.

Highly recommended!

----
Availability: The original pressing of this title has been out of print for quite some time.
However, in 2011 a double feature with this film & Bad Dreams (1988)
was released from Shout! Factory, and is still in print!

Price: 9-12$

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Screen Captures: (No copyright infringement intended.)