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.

Night of Fear (1973) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Night of Fear (1973) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the waning light of an ordinary day, a young woman drives away from a fleeting flirtation and a leisurely tennis match, only to find her car careening off the highway and into the obscurity of a solitary dirt road. The landscape is stripped of any sign of civilization, the night pressing in as the vehicle slips into a ditch, leaving her alone, disoriented, and exposed to the raw elements that dominate this remote stretch of countryside.

The isolation is magnified by the presence of a nameless, unsettling figure who lingers just beyond the fringe of the trees—The Man—a gaunt, drooling presence that seems as much a part of the wilderness as the rats that scuttle at his feet. Though the world around her is silent, an undercurrent of menace pulses through the air, turning every rustle of foliage and distant howl into a potential threat. The atmosphere is dense with a claustrophobic dread, as the night becomes a living, breathing entity that amplifies every nervous heartbeat.

Against this backdrop, the film spins a tense, atmospheric tableau where the ordinary collides with the uncanny. The stark contrast between the protagonist’s everyday concerns and the surreal, almost ritualistic threat that stalks her creates a relentless sense of unease. Light, shadow, and sound are wielded to keep the audience perpetually on edge, hinting at deeper horrors without ever revealing them outright. In this stark, nocturnal arena, survival hinges not just on physical escape but on confronting the primal fear that the darkness itself seems to embody.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:01

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies of rural terror and female survival like Night of Fear

Stories of isolation and pursuit against a deranged antagonist in the wilderness.If you liked the relentless pursuit and rural isolation of Night of Fear, explore more movies where female protagonists fight for survival against sadistic threats in the wilderness. These films share a high-intensity, bleak tone and a focus on raw, brutal survival horror.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow a simple, direct premise: a woman becomes isolated in a rural location and is systematically hunted by a deeply disturbed or inhuman antagonist. The narrative is a straightforward fight for life, with escalating brutality and minimal hope of rescue or escape.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a specific type of survival horror: a female victim, a remote and menacing setting, and a relentless, physically brutal antagonist. They create a cohesive vibe of primal fear and helplessness against overwhelming odds.

Movies with bleak psychological torment like Night of Fear

Films that deliver a straightforward, brutal narrative of psychological collapse.For viewers who appreciated the disturbing themes and bleak ending of Night of Fear, this section features similar stories of straightforward psychological horror. These films share a heavy emotional weight, a dark tone, and a focus on the terrifying collapse of sanity and safety.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is one of inevitable decline. A character is placed in a situation of extreme psychological pressure, often involving confinement, torture, or pursuit, with the story moving steadily towards a devastating and hopeless conclusion without complex subplots or redemption.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their commitment to a simple, powerful, and bleak emotional experience. They share a specific mix of high intensity, dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a straightforward plot that leads to a conclusion of psychological or physical destruction.

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

Characters, Settings & Themes in Night of Fear

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Night of Fear. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Night of Fear

More About Night of Fear

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Night of Fear: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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