From Earl Owensby, the North Carolina-based producer / distributor of various independent horror & exploitation pictures of the 70s & 80s, comes this interesting, well-intentioned film. It takes place in a rural town in the 30s, and the local pastor (played by the director, Charles Reynolds) is packing up and leaving because he feels that he's failed to inspire the citizens. And these citizens are a pretty rotten lot, committing some of the seven deadly sins and basically being unpleasant to be around. Then a mysterious character in black begins materializing and punishing them for their sins.
'A Day of Judgment' is more of a melodrama, that spends a lot of time detailing these characters' lives, than true horror film. Touches of supernatural horror only come along at select points, although the finale does get pretty dark. The film is light on gore, although there is one highly amusing decapitation. A good part of the appeal lies in the hope that we will see some of these despicable people get the comeuppance waiting for them: a grouchy old widow (Helene Tryon), a stereotypical, greedy banker (William T. Hicks), adulterers (Larry Sprinkle, Careyanne Sutton), a paranoid drunk (Brownlee Davis) who feels persecuted, etc. The no-name cast is generally pretty good, especially those playing the less-than-honorable individuals. The film is also well-made, and atmospheric, but goes on a little long, losing a little momentum during its final third. It may test the patience of some viewers who hope for more actual horror during the run time. But it IS worth watching, especially for those people who like discovering genre entries like this that are a little more off-the-beaten-path. It's up to the individual viewer how much they respond to the way that the story is resolved.
Jerry Rushing, who plays the Sheriff, was also the coach in the slasher "Final Exam"; in real-life, he helped to inspire the main characters in the feature "Moonrunners" and the subsequent series 'The Dukes of Hazzard'.
Six out of 10.
'A Day of Judgment' is more of a melodrama, that spends a lot of time detailing these characters' lives, than true horror film. Touches of supernatural horror only come along at select points, although the finale does get pretty dark. The film is light on gore, although there is one highly amusing decapitation. A good part of the appeal lies in the hope that we will see some of these despicable people get the comeuppance waiting for them: a grouchy old widow (Helene Tryon), a stereotypical, greedy banker (William T. Hicks), adulterers (Larry Sprinkle, Careyanne Sutton), a paranoid drunk (Brownlee Davis) who feels persecuted, etc. The no-name cast is generally pretty good, especially those playing the less-than-honorable individuals. The film is also well-made, and atmospheric, but goes on a little long, losing a little momentum during its final third. It may test the patience of some viewers who hope for more actual horror during the run time. But it IS worth watching, especially for those people who like discovering genre entries like this that are a little more off-the-beaten-path. It's up to the individual viewer how much they respond to the way that the story is resolved.
Jerry Rushing, who plays the Sheriff, was also the coach in the slasher "Final Exam"; in real-life, he helped to inspire the main characters in the feature "Moonrunners" and the subsequent series 'The Dukes of Hazzard'.
Six out of 10.