Coming out during the influx of the slasher craze, "Death Valley" could be seen as one of those unlucky films that got lost in the crowd and was pushed aside with those lesser imitations. Unfortunately if that's the case it's undeserved (sadly no DVD release either),as it's a lot more accomplished than its rancid shockers. One thing though, it was one of those video cases that always drew me to its strikingly cool artwork.

Billy and his recently divorced mother leave New York for a vacation to California to meet up with her new boyfriend. For Billy it's hard seeing his mum with another man, but it's the less of his worries. As on their vacation to "Death Valley", Billy stumbles across an empty RV and picks up a necklace. Later they come across this RV again, but it was in an accident or so it seems. Unknowingly to them, there have been brutal murders in "Death Valley" and killer now has Billy in his sights.

"Death Valley" is like a second-rate Hitchcock-like thriller that decently grows on bone-rattling suspense, taking time to let the characters and circumstances unfold that when the threatening tic-tack-toe nature breaks out we're put in an act of alarm and desperation. It really puts the characters on the spot and breathing down an ominous air, the material doesn't do much to hide the killer's identity and the surprise twist is easy to figure out. The rural California locations do it wonders, as the secluded landscapes are harsh and vast with it being truly alienating --- nowhere to hide and help is a long way. Dick Richards directs with panache and vision, orchestrating the unhinged sounds (a suspenseful music score) and observatory imagery (moody camera angles and slow-motion) with the foreseeable one-track story. While slow-winding, as it's slowed up by passages involving family issues --- Billy accepting his mother's new boyfriend, but this does give it a grounded sincerity to the character's relationships and dynamics. These moments are broken up by the heighten tension and an odd nasty jolt that's well-timed by throwing you off with false bumps.

Performances are agreeable. Peter Billingsley (whose massive glasses are somewhat distracting) is likable as the know-all Billy and Catherine Hicks is simply delightful (although she does some questionable actions in the film's climax) as Billy's mother. Paul Le Mat is sturdy, but does look quite bemused more often. Wilford Brimley is hardy as the suspicious sheriff and Stephen McHattie is suitably random and menacing. There's also a minor part for Edward Herrmann at the beginning as Billy's father.

Nothing special, but a diverting, fine old-fashion thriller with the modern unpleasantness.

I had never heard of this film and as a huge horror buff and even more of an 80's horror buff, I was instantly intrigued. The fact that this introduced A Christmas Story's "Ralphie" was kind of neat and the story sounded like a good old fashion slasher flick. Well I wouldn't even classify this as a slasher flick although a few times it does certainly try. I would say the story is much more of a thriller and even that is pushing it simply because the pacing of the movie is very slow. They could have really edited this down as it spends a whole lot of time establishing the main youngster. Its sort of like you're watching home videos of his entire vacation and then at the tail end a killer shows up. As expected from a low budget 80's horror movie the kills are a little cheesy and the blood is so light red that it looks like strawberry ice cream syrup. (This isn't a complaint because this is just true 80's, just an observation.) There is also a completely unnecessary and forced scene of topless-ness that made me laugh out loud because it was so blatantly pushed into the scene. Again, this isn't a complaint just an observation of a classic low budget 80's move.

As I mentioned Peter Billingsley makes his big screen debut as Billy. He is really the quintessential youngster. He looks adorable, he loves cowboys and guns and he is a good actor! He is believable and fun and you really root for him partially because of his performance and partially because they spend so much time focusing on developing his character. Catherine Hicks is the perfect 80's horror movie Mom. She reminded me a lot of Andy's Mom in Child's Play and that's a compliment. She is perfect in her role and helps support Billingsley's performance. Paul Le Mat is the new man in Hicks' life that Billy has to warm up to. He does a good job and plays his role well. He and Hicks have very good chemistry and...attempting to not give anything away...I was relieved at how they ended the film. Somehow you become attached to his character as Billingsley's character becomes attached to him. Veteran actor Wilford Brimley's name is all over this film but he has barely more than a cameo in the film as the old Sheriff. He is basically a B character to be fodder for our killer. Jack O'Leary is our crazed killer and he's good but very cheesy and campy. He overplays his scenes and the final scene when he battles with Le Mat is so hokey that you'll be howling with laughter. It is so choreographed and just really overplayed.

Director Dick Richards does an adequate job as director. However, he should have took a harder look at editing the film. The pacing is far too slow and the killer is far too hokey. On top of that, the story is about as deep as a hillside. There is no rhyme or reason to the killer's spree and the thinnest of reason behind him stalking little Billy. The entire concept of the killer coming after him because he found his necklace in an RV is ludicrous. All the shortcomings of the film are overcome by a solid lead in Billingsley, and the fact that this was a low budget 80s thriller and that automatically allows for some wiggle room in the camp department. Horror fans will enjoy it, but it is certain to not blow anyone away. 7/10

I really don't think it's as bad as the review in the Leonard Maltin paperback would indicate; it's just not particularly distinguished. It places a child front and centre and in a considerable amount of jeopardy as he runs afoul of a sadistic serial killer in Death Valley. This kid is Billy (Peter Billingsley of "A Christmas Story" fame),an NYC native devoted to his loving dad (Edward Herrmann) who visits his mom (Catherine Hicks) and her new boyfriend (Paul Le Mat) in Arizona. While visiting the site of an abandoned gold mine, he enters an RV and pilfers a necklace that he finds, not knowing that he's obtained valuable evidence that links the killer to the scene of a crime. From then it's sort of a cat and mouse game as the killer sets out to keep Billy quiet. Dick Richards ("Farewell, My Lovely", "March or Die") directs from Richard Rothstein's script, which starts out as if it's going to be told entirely from the childs' perspective as he tries to come to terms with his parents' divorce and with the new man in his moms' life. Soon enough, it edges into slasher film territory, as our killer chops up unfortunate victims. It also attempts to make a substantial character out of our villains' car, which features a vanity plate with the word "hex" on it. The actors do a creditable job; Herrmann shines in what is really a very brief part, and Hicks and Le Mat are likewise very likable. (Le Mat has one standout scene where he's trying to make a connection with Billingsley.) And speaking of Billingsley, he also creates an endearing character and doesn't fall into the trap of being too cute. Good ol' Wilford Brimley is engaging as the local sheriff. But the show is stolen by Stephen McHattie who's as intense as he's ever been, and in fact he has one amusingly off kilter scene where he's intimidating our heroes as he stalks across the roof of his house. Another scene that the viewer will vividly remember is the scene with a corpulent babysitter who does little else besides stuff her face and then pay a big price at the hands of the killer. The thundering music by Dana Kaproff does its best to manipulate us, but what is far and away the biggest asset to the film is the on location shooting. The twist ending just comes off as a little silly. Overall, this is a passable time killer but no more. Six out of 10.