An early example of the serial killer features that would eventually proliferate, "Killer's Delight" takes its inspiration (apparently) from the crimes of the notorious real-life Ted Bundy. A disguise-happy creep (John Karlen, 'Dark Shadows') rides about in a yellow van and regularly abducts, tortures, and slaughters attractive young women. A police detective named DeCarlo (James Luisi, "The Hidden") realizes that these murders are the work of one person, and is coldly determined to stop him, no matter what he has to do.

"Killer's Delight" (also known as "The Sport Killer" and "The Dark Ride") goes through its exploitative paces adequately, with suspense, titillation, and very little in the way of gore. Here, screenwriter Maralyn Thoma and director Jeremy Hoenack try to maintain a balance between following the actions of the psycho, and the actions of the cop. It has time for some humor, as DeCarlo pals around with fellow detective Mike Mitelman (Martin Speer (Wes Cravens' "The Hills Have Eyes"),who was also the art director on this show). The film is sufficiently entertaining, if not exemplary in any way. Its biggest plot twist occurs in the final third when DeCarlo asks his paramour, psychiatrist Carol Thompson (lovely TV veteran Susan Sullivan, 'Falcon Crest' and 'Dharma & Greg'),to act as the bait in a trap for the creep.

With other familiar faces like Hilarie Thompson ("Nighthawks"),Anne-Marie Martin (the original "Prom Night"),and Buck Flower ("They Live"),in a cameo as a distraught witness, it's easy enough to watch "Killer's Delight", especially as it works to create a constant sense of creeping dread. Karlen is a standout as the murderer, the kind of character one feels filthy just watching.

Overall, a decent procedural / body count thriller, somewhat obscure these days but which die hard fans of the genre may want to seek out.

Six out of 10.

Cruel and cunning misogynistic serial killer Danny (superbly played with creepy intensity by John Karlen of "Dark Shadows" and "Daughters of Darkness" fame) preys on nubile young lady hitchhikers in a small San Francisco town. It's up to tough, determined Detective Vince De Carlo (a fine and convincing performance by James Luisi) and his easygoing partner Mike (a solid Martin Speer; Dee Wallace husband in Wes Craven's horror classic "The Hills Have Eyes") to nab the foul fiend. Director Jeremy Hoenack, working from a tight and gripping script by Maralyn Thoma (amazingly, Thoma has gone on to a hugely successful career as a head writer for various daytime TV soap operas!),relates the grim and absorbing story at a steady pace, maintains a gritty, serious tone throughout, and develops a considerable amount of nerve-wracking suspense. Moreover, Hoenack admirably eschews for the most part the standard graphic sex and violence route of typical trashy 70's drive-in exploitation fare to focus more on the plot and characters. However, the violence against women is still pretty ugly and upsetting stuff, with the movie reaching its harrowing zenith with a gut-wrenching sequence depicting Danny brutalizing two frightened gals in back of his van. This film further benefits from credible acting by a sturdy cast: Luisi and Speer make for likable protagonists, Karlen excels as one memorably vicious and depraved mother-fixated wacko, plus there's neat supporting turns by Susan Sullivan as helpful psychologist Carol, Hilarie Thompson as the sweet Annie, and the ubiquitous George 'Buck' Flower as old-timer witness Pete. Arthur R. Botham's pretty polished cinematography adds an impressive sense of scope with its occasional breathtaking aerial panoramic shots of San Francisco. Bryon Olson's shuddery score likewise hits the shivery spot. The startling downbeat ending packs a wicked punch. A real sleeper.

San Francisco serial killer(John Karlen, in a chilling performance),in a yellow van, who assumes various disguises, stalks pretty young women, mostly hitch hikers, and it's up to Sargeant Vince De Carlo(James Luisi) to catch him. Not only is this fiend a sexual sadist, but he snaps bones, wears fake wigs and mustaches, and we get a glimpse at how bug-eyed crazy he can be during the act. Bodies piling up, including a college girl who was about to graduate that De Carlo knew personally(in correspondence with other films before, during, and after this particular movie, we see this girl almost get away running into the woods near the road off the freeway),the detective desperately needs extra manpower. With little help besides the minuscule number of cops already helping him, De Carlo, with some assistance from Detective Mike Mitelman(Martin Speer),will personally/doggedly pursue the psychopath. Susan Sullivan is a doctor who could be a potential victim(she is also having an affair with the married De Carlo)as she agrees to work as a girl to seductively draw him into a situation which would implicate him as the one responsible for the rash of killings by his hand.

While director Jeremy Hoenack doesn't dwell too much on the actual handiwork of Danny, he does allow us to enter that van on one particular occasion just to see how vicious a deviant he could be, breaking a finger back, ripping the shirt from the victim's body while smiling with a Satanic grin that sends shivers down your spine. Hoenack mentions in an interview that Danny came to fruition as Ted Bundy(who wasn't caught at the time)was killing girls in Seattle. Hoenack shot exclusively in San Francisco, and there are a couple of impressive shots from a helicopter. He includes a disturbing crime scene photograph of one such victim, bones protruding from her legs and arms. And, Hoenack shoots a creepy opening scene featuring Danny chucking a dead naked body over a cliff. It's established that Danny has "mommy issues" which contribute psychologically to his night prowling, kidnapping, and execution of girls who remind him of her. Girls are sluts just like mom and he has to make sure they are unable to do what she did to his father. George Buck Flower(missing teeth)has a cameo as a citizen whose son finds a victim while fishing in a lake nearby. KILLER'S DELIGHT(titled THE SPORT KILLER on the DVD version I watched, released by Code Red)just proves that the 70's had lots of beautiful girls to gawk at, it's just tragic that many of them fall at the hands of this movie's wacko.