Gecenin Katili 1980 Perizat, Cetin Basaran, Oya Basak 18 Yesilcam
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Gecenin Katili 1980 Perizat, Cetin Basaran, Oya Basak 18 Yesilcam
Gecenin Katili (The Murderer of the Night) is a 1980 Turkish horror film directed by Semih Servidal and starring Perizat, Cetin Basaran, Oya Basak, Dilber Ay and Sabahan. The film is about a man in a trench coat and hat who kills women due to his perverse thirst. The film is part of the Yesilcam cinema, which refers to the Turkish film industry that was active from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Plot
The film begins with a woman taking a shower in her apartment. She is unaware that a man in a trench coat and hat is watching her from the window. He breaks into her apartment and slashes her throat with a razor. He then leaves a note on her body that reads "Gecenin Katili Ustura" (The Murderer of the Night Razor).
The police are baffled by the murder and assign Komiser (Seyfettin Karadayi) to investigate. He suspects that the killer is a psychopath who has a fetish for blood and razors. He also learns that the victim was a prostitute who worked for Aylin (Perizat), a madam who runs a brothel. Aylin tells him that she has no idea who the killer is, but she is worried for her other girls.
Meanwhile, the killer continues his rampage, killing more women in various locations. He always leaves the same note on their bodies. He also calls Aylin and taunts her, saying that he will kill all of her girls one by one. He seems to have a personal grudge against her, but she does not recognize his voice.
Komiser tries to find a clue that can lead him to the killer's identity. He discovers that all of the victims had something in common: they were all wearing red lipstick. He also finds out that the killer uses a special kind of razor that is imported from Germany. He traces the razor to a shop owned by Çetin (Çetin Basaran), a shady businessman who deals with illegal goods.
Komiser confronts Çetin and accuses him of being the killer. Çetin denies it and claims that he only sells the razors to his customers. He says that he does not know who bought them or what they do with them. He also says that he has an alibi for every murder: he was with his girlfriend Oya (Oya Basak), a singer who works at a nightclub.
Komiser checks Çetin's alibi and finds out that it is true. He also meets Oya and finds her attractive. He starts to have doubts about Çetin's involvement in the murders. He wonders if there is another suspect who could be the killer.
The film ends with a twist that reveals the true identity of the killer and his motive for killing Aylin's girls. The killer turns out to be someone who has a close connection to Aylin and who has been hiding his secret for years. The film also reveals why he always leaves the note "Gecenin Katili Ustura" on his victims' bodies.
Cast
- Perizat as Aylin, a madam who runs a brothel and who is targeted by the killer
- Çetin Basaran as Çetin, a businessman who sells illegal goods and who is suspected of being the killer
- Oya Basak as Oya, a singer who works at a nightclub and who is Çetin's girlfriend
- Dilber Ay as Dilber, one of Aylin's girls who works as a prostitute
- Sabahan as Sabahan, another one of Aylin's girls who works as a prostitute
- Seyfettin Karadayi as Komiser, a police officer who investigates the murders
- Kamer Baba as Kamer, an old man who works at Aylin's brothel
Production
Gecenin Katili was directed by Semih Servidal, who also produced and wrote the film. Servidal was a prolific filmmaker who made over 100 films in various genres, including horror, comedy, drama and action. He was known for his low-budget and fast-paced style of filmmaking, which often involved reusing footage from other films or copying scenes from foreign films.
The film was part of the Yesilcam cinema, which refers to the Turkish film industry that was active from the 1950s to the 1980s. The name Yesilcam means "green pine" and comes from the street in Istanbul where most of the film studios were located. The Yesilcam cinema produced thousands of films that catered to the local audience's tastes and preferences. The films were often influenced by Hollywood, Bollywood, European and Arabic cinema, but they also had their own distinctive features and themes.
The film was released in 1980 and was rated 18+ for its graphic violence and nudity. The film was one of the many horror films that were made in Turkey during the late 1970s and early 1980s, which were inspired by the success of American slasher films such as Halloween (1978) and Friday the 13th (1980). The film was also influenced by Italian giallo films, which were known for their mystery, suspense and gore.
Reception
Gecenin Katili received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some praised the film for its suspense, atmosphere and twist ending, while others criticized the film for its poor acting, editing and dubbing. The film has a rating of 3/5 on Letterboxd, a website where users can rate and review films. The film has also been reviewed by some horror fans on YouTube , who have expressed their opinions on the film's strengths and weaknesses.
The film has become a cult classic among some fans of Turkish horror cinema, who appreciate the film's uniqueness and charm. The film has also been featured in some documentaries and books that explore the history and culture of Turkish cinema, such as Remake, Remix, Rip-Off: About Copy Culture & Turkish Pop Cinema (2014) and Turkish Horror Cinema (2018).
References
- Letterboxd. (n.d.). The Murderer of the Night (1980) directed by Semih Servidal Reviews, film + cast Letterboxd. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from [1]
- IMDb. (n.d.). Gecenin katili Ustura (1980) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from [2]
- The A.V. Club. (n.d.). Gecenin Katili Ustura (1980) - The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from [3]
- YouTube. (2019). Gecenin Katili Ustura (1980) - Turkish Horror Movie Review - YouTube. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from [4]
- YouTube. (2019). Gecenin Katili Ustura (1980) - Turkish Horror Movie Review #2 - YouTube. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from [5]
- YouTube. (2019). Gecenin Katili Ustura (1980) - Turkish Horror Movie Review #3 - YouTube. Retrieved September 2, 2023, from [6]