Crime,Drama,Thriller
United States of America
The film 10 to Midnight was directed by J. Lee Thompson and released in 1983. It stars Charles Bronson as Detective Leo Kessler and Gene Davis as Warren Stacy. The film is loosely based on the real-life murders committed by Richard Speck in 1966.
The story begins with Warren Stacy, a young man with a history of bizarre behavior, stalking and harassing several women. When one of these women reports him to the police, Stacy is confronted by Detectives Leo Kessler and Paul McAnn. However, they have no evidence to arrest him and he is released.
Frustrated by his inability to attract women, Stacy begins a killing spree, targeting young women who reject him. He always approaches them while nude and stabs them to death. Despite Kessler's suspicions, Stacy eludes capture until he is caught throwing a knife away after a murder.
At trial, the defense manages to get Stacy acquitted on a technicality, much to Kessler's anger and frustration. Stacy then makes direct threats against Kessler and his family, leading Kessler to plant evidence to get him behind bars. When Stacy is released again, he breaks into Kessler's home and attacks Kessler's daughter.
Kessler is forced to take matters into his own hands and confront Stacy on his own. The film ends with an intense confrontation between the two men, resulting in Stacy's death.
10 to Midnight received mixed reviews upon release, with some critics praising Bronson's performance and the tension-filled climax, while others criticized the film's violence and misogyny. Nevertheless, it has since become a cult classic and is considered one of Bronson's better films of the 1980s.
