AllMovie

A classic horror anthology, Dead of Night still has the ability to deliver chills, even this many decades after its release. It's an enthralling omnibus, one that continues to work year after year, viewing after viewing, in spite of the fact that so many of its surprises have become familiar to viewers over time. The best segment is inarguably the final one, the finest exploration of the creepy relationship between a ventriloquist and his perhaps-otherworldy dummy ever put on film. Again, this is a setup that has been done many times, but never so effectively as here, thanks in large part to Alberto Cavalcanti's superb direction and Michael Redgrave's enthralling performance. Cavalcanti also directs the least effective episode, involving a very young Sally Ann Howes and a ghost; but though less effective, it still makes an impression. Director Charles Crichton's macabre humor works well with actors Naunton Wayne and Basil Redford in the droll golfing segment, and Robert Hamer's smooth direction of the mirror sequence is equally effective. Basil Dearden does well directing the hearse sequence, but he does even better creating the "wraparound" that frames the stories, especially in the climactic déjà vu montage that is surprisingly chilling. Blessed with a strong cast, several strong directors, and solid scripting, Dead of Night is a classic of the genre.