The Clairvoyant (1982 film)
A detective and an artist pursue a handcuff killer.
The 1982 American psychological horror film *The Clairvoyant*, directed by Armand Mastroianni, features Perry King, Norman Parker, and Elizabeth Kemp. Its story centers on a New York City detective and his friend, who track a killer known for handcuffing his victims; they are aided by an artist who draws the murders before they happen. Originally bought by 20th Century Fox for distribution, the studio released it straight to video in 1985 under the alternate title *The Killing Hour*.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Armand Mastroianni
- Producer
- Robert Di Milia · Edgar Lansbury
- Writer
- Armand Mastroianni · B. Jonathan Ringkamp
- Starring
- Perry King / Elizabeth Kemp / Kenneth McMillan / Jon Polito
- Music
- Alexander Peskanov
- Editing
- David E. McKenna
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Principal photography took place in New York City in 1981. The film was originally purchased by Twentieth Century Fox in 1982, but ultimately did not distribute the film. It did receive a limited theatrical release, opening in Muskegon, Michigan on August 12, 1983, through Jensen Farley Pictures. It also received a theatrical release in France. The film was released in the United States in 1985 on home video by CBS/Fox under the alternative title The Killing Hour, and was later released on DVD in a never-before-seen director's cut by Anchor Bay Entertainment in 2000. The DVD was reissued by Blue Underground under the alternate title The Killing Hour on May 20, 2008.
Reader's Guide
The Clairvoyant is notable for its place in the video nasty panic in the United Kingdom, where it was seized and confiscated under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959, though it was not prosecuted for obscenity. Film critic John Kenneth Muir praised the film as a 'surprisingly solid suspense film with some elaborate horror sequences,' and compared it favorably to The Eyes of Laura Mars (1977). The film's plot, involving precognitive drawings of murders, and its direct-to-video release under an alternative title, reflect trends in early 1980s horror distribution and censorship. Its limited theatrical release and subsequent home video history illustrate the shifting landscape of film exhibition during that era.
Did You Know?
- Despite its notoriety, the film was not among the 72 titles prosecuted under the Video Recordings Act 1984 or seized under the Obscene Publications Act during the video nasty panic.
- The film received a theatrical release in France in October 1982.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed The Clairvoyant (1982 film)?
Armand Mastroianni helmed this American psychological horror picture, which features Perry King, Norman Parker, and Elizabeth Kemp in the principal roles.
What is the plot of The Clairvoyant (1982 film)?
A New York City detective and his friend chase a serial killer who handcuffs each victim, while an artist who can sketch the murders before they actually occur serves as their crucial guide.
Why was The Clairvoyant (1982 film) never released in theaters?
20th Century Fox purchased the picture but opted to bypass a theatrical window entirely, shipping it straight to the rental shelves in 1985 under the alternate title The Killing Hour.
What is The Clairvoyant (1982 film)'s alternative title?
Fox marketed the film to video stores as The Killing Hour, and that is the label most home-video collectors and fans still use when tracking down a copy.
Why is The Clairvoyant (1982 film) important in video-nasty history?
As a low-budget horror that leapt directly onto the VHS rental racks without ever getting a cinema run, it became a textbook example of the straight-to-video horror wave that shaped late-1980s home-video culture.
More in Video nasties 1-24
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