10 to Midnight

Infobox Film
name = 10 to Midnight


image_size = 200px
caption = VHS Cover Sleeve
director = J. Lee Thompson
producer = Lance Hool
writer = J. Lee Thompson
narrator =
starring = Charles Bronson
Geoffrey Lewis
Kelly Preston
James Keane
music = Robert O. Ragland
cinematography = Adam Greenberg
editing = Peter Lee Thompson
distributor = Cannon Films
released = March 11, 1983 (USA)
runtime = 101 min
country = USA
language = English
budget = $4,520,000 (USA)
gross = $7,175,592 (USA)
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:49039
imdb_id = 0085121

"10 to Midnight" is an action-crime-thriller film directed by J. Lee Thompson from a screenplay originally written by William Roberts. The film stars Charles Bronson in the lead role with a supporting cast that includes Lisa Eilbacher, Andrew Stevens, Gene Davis, Geoffrey Lewis, and Wilford Brimley. "10 to Midnight" was released by City Films, a subsidiary of Cannon Films, to American cinemas on March 11, 1983.

"10 to Midnight" is a drama that mixes elements of police and slasher films. It portrays the homicidal behavior of Warren Stacy (played by Gene Davis), a young office equipment repairman who kills women after they reject his sexual advances. Two Los Angeles police detectives, Leo Kessler (played by Charles Bronson) and Paul McAnn (played by Andrew Stevens) are in the process of investgiating his murders. Stacy avoids prosecution by constructing sound alibis and assaulting his victims while naked, thus minimizing evidence. Later, his partner refuses to go along when Kessler plants evidence in order to frame Stacy. Stacy then goes on another rampage, and when caught, stark naked in the street, states how he'll say all the things that will "prove" that he's crazy: he hears voices telling him to do things, etc., and that one day, he'll get out, and he'll kill Kessler and his entire family. Kessler tells him, "no you won't," and shoots him through the forehead.

Modeled after the infamous Richard Speck and Ted Bundy murders, "10 to Midnight" uses a screenplay originally named "Bloody Sunday." According to producer Pancho Kohner, Cannon Films chairman Menahem Golan and Kohner named the film "10 to Midnight" despite having no connection to the plot. Golan and Kohner had intended to film an adaptation of the R. Lance Hill novel "The Evil That Men Do," which fell through before an upcoming visit to the Cannes Film Festival. Golan and Kohner agreed to market a different film with Charles Bronson as its star, using "10 to Midnight" as its working title.

The music for "10 to Midnight" was composed by Cannon Films mainstay Robert O. Ragland and the film was recorded by cinematographer Alan Greenberg. "10 to Midnight" also features actor Robert F. Lyons and actress Kelly Preston (listed as Kelly Palzis) in smaller roles.

Violent and with unseemly subject matter, "10 to Midnight" drew scathing reviews from film critics, including a 'zero stars' rating from Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times." The film did receive positive feedback from others, such as Ebert's colleague Gene Siskel of the "Chicago Tribune." The film has maintained a sizeable cult following through home video releases and heavily-edited broadcasts on television.

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