Released in the US as Dead of Night, this low-budget British horror is a surprising gem. Set in an isolated island lighthouse, it follows an escaped serial killer hunting down survivors of a wrecked prison ship. Although the film is ambitious, it never exceeds its capabilities. Instead, it relies largely on atmosphere and old-fashioned suspense techniques to deliver a highly effective spinetingler. Shooting entirely at night, director Simon Hunter makes full use of shadows and gloom, creating some wonderful finger-chewing set pieces. The final hook, however, is Judge Dredd's Chris Adamson. He has no dialogue, yet oozes such menace as head-lopping psycho Leo Rook that he entirely steals the show.

A prison ship on its way to a remote island prison runs aground on rocks and sinks. Mixed survivors of cons and prison guards struggle ashore, only to discover to their horror that another survivor got there first - the murderous & psychotic Leo Rook. Stranded, with no means of escape or call for help, the survivors must face a night of terror as they struggle to survive.