Night of Fear

Night of Fear

Year: 1973

Runtime: 54 mins

Language: English

Director: Terry Bourke

HorrorThriller

After an afternoon of tennis and a brief affair, she is knocked off the road by a truck and finds herself stranded on a deserted dirt road. Her car slides into a ditch, and she becomes the target of a deranged, drooling psychopath who lives among a swarm of rats, turning her night into a relentless nightmare.

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Timeline & Setting – Night of Fear (1973)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Night of Fear (1973). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Rural countryside, Cabin in the woods, Bamboo grove

The action unfolds across a remote rural landscape with backroads leading to a secluded cabin. A bamboo grove near the cabin anchors the eerie atmosphere and hints at hidden dangers within a seemingly ordinary environment. The setting’s isolation heightens vulnerability as a predatory character stalks his victims.

🌳 Rural setting 🚧 Backroad danger 🕯️ Isolated cabin

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:32

Main Characters – Night of Fear (1973)

Meet the key characters of Night of Fear (1973), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Horse Girl (Briony Behets)

A woman on horseback opening the film, whose serene ride is abruptly disrupted by the Man. She displays a mix of independence and vulnerability that foreshadows the invasion of danger into pastoral life. Her encounter sets the tone for the film’s intrusion of brutality into everyday settings.

🐴 Horse rider ❗️ Victim 🧭 Foreshadowing

The Lover (Mike Dorsey)

A secondary figure whose presence hints at romantic or interpersonal dynamics but remains peripheral to the central chase. His role adds texture to the social backdrop surrounding the main conflict.

💘 Lover 🧩 Supporting 🕴️ Ambiguous

The Man (Norman Yemm)

The deranged predator at the heart of the film’s horror. He stalks, abducts, and torments his victims, manipulating his environment with hidden devices. His actions reveal a disturbed, compulsive need to dominate others.

🔪 Villain 🧠 Psychopathic 🗝️ Manipulator

The Client (James Moss)

A peripheral figure who appears during the pursuit, representing the ordinary world intruding on the terror. He contributes to the tense atmosphere without driving the plot.

👤 Client 🧭 Peripheral 🧩 Connector

The Woman (Carla Hoogeveen)

The film’s central protagonist who drives to safety, evades the Man, and endures a harrowing night. She demonstrates resilience, quick thinking, and a determination to survive despite overwhelming danger.

🚗 Protagonist 🧭 Survivor 🫶 Determined

The Truckie (Peter Armstrong)

A practical vehicle operator who briefly intersects the woman’s journey on the backroad. His presence adds tension between danger and the possibility of aid.

🚚 Driver 🕵️ Witness 🧭 Intermittent

Garage Attendant (Curt Jansen)

A minor character who works at a service location and provides a touchpoint for the ordinary world amid the chase. His role reinforces the sense that danger can arrive anywhere.

🧰 Worker 🗝️ Minor 🕳️ Catalyst

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:32

Major Themes – Night of Fear (1973)

Explore the central themes of Night of Fear (1973), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💀 Horror

The film converts a peaceful pastoral scene into a nightmare through a predatory madman. Brutal acts—ranging from animal cruelty to the assault on the woman—drive the sense of fear and danger. Nightmarish imagery, including a skull motif, reinforces the horror atmosphere.

🧭 Survival

A relentless pursuit forces the Woman to improvise and endure under pressure. The rural setting with limited escape routes pushes quick, resourceful decisions. The pursuit culminates in a tense encounter with authorities closing in, underscoring a fragile sense of safety.

🧠 Madness

The Man embodies a disturbed psychology, blending violence with perverse fixation. Secrecy and ritualistic actions—like the hidden power box and disturbing visions—reveal a warped mind striving to control others. The film’s imagery signals a descent into psychological instability.

🔒 Confinement

Spaces become traps: a locked room, a trap-laden cabin, and hidden mechanisms that unleash danger. The antagonist uses a concealed device to flood the cabin with rats, turning ordinary spaces into weapons. The final bamboo-cage image hints at a broader pattern of captivity and control.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:32

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Unlock the Full Story of Night of Fear

Don't stop at just watching — explore Night of Fear in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Night of Fear is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Night of Fear Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Night of Fear, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Night of Fear Summary

Night of Fear Timeline

Track the full timeline of Night of Fear with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Night of Fear Timeline

More About Night of Fear

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More About Night of Fear