Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Killer's Delight Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 2, 2021

1978’s “Killer’s Delight” (titled “The Sport Killer” on the Blu-ray) is a Ted Bundy story before everyone understood exactly who Ted Bundy was. The saga of the serial killer and his fondness for murdering helpless women has been explored in numerous movies and T.V. shows, but writer Maralyn Thoma and director Jeremy Hoenack are basically the first in line with “Killer’s Delight,” though the picture only takes a vague inspiration from the crime story. The production is more of a detective tale with a few exploitation interests, and while the feature arranges a series of deadly encounters and some sleuthing, Hoenack doesn’t exactly crank up the tension with this manhunt adventure, keeping things oddly slack as deadly games are played.

Traveling around the San Francisco area in a van is Danny (John Karlen), offering to help young women in need of rides or roadside aid, encouraging them to join him. These riders always end up murdered, creating a case for detectives Vince (James Luisi) and Mike (Martin Speer), who set out to predict the madman’s next move, chasing clues and leads with limited success. As frustrations mount, nothing stops Danny, forcing Vince to use his girlfriend, Carol (Susan Sullivan), as bait, searching for something to entice the killer out into the open so he can be stopped.

“Killer’s Delight” makes an immediate statement, opening with a shot of Danny literally tossing his latest victim into the wild in broad daylight, crudely disposing of a dead body before he gets back to work, eventually finding a new target in a hitchhiker with a dog just looking for a quick ride. The killer is fond of these ladies, who aren’t aware of their vulnerability, simply aiming to get from here to there in a hurry, and sometimes Danny plans out his moves, on display later in the movie when he sabotages the engine of a community pool employee’s car, forcing her to accept a ride from a kindly stranger. “Killer’s Delight” isn’t too graphic when it comes to crime scenes, as Thoma and Hoenack aim for a more procedural viewing experience with the detectives and their quest for justice. However, this picture remains drive-in entertainment, and it’s not above gratuitous nudity and scenes of torment to help reach its target demographic.

Missing from “Killer’s Delight” is forward momentum, as Hoenack tries to build a cop story with weak banter between Vince and Mike, keeping things strangely casual between the men while Danny roams the area. Vince takes the mission personally, becoming the main character as he searches for any possible lead, eventually creating potential chaos after making the decision to put Carol in the line of fire. It’s a great hook for the material, but it takes a long time to get there, making pit stops for banal conversations with potential witnesses, and there’s even a hypnosis sequence.

Killer's Delight Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) is sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative. Detail is excellent throughout the viewing experience, with "Killer's Delight" displaying fibrous textures with polyester outfits and cheap disguises. Skin particulars are equally crisp, surveying weathered cop and killer faces and the youthful appearance of the victims. Hair is also distinct. Location distances are dimensional, with the production periodically taking to the air to survey San Francisco. Colors keep period hues, finding interior decoration most pronounced with bight yellow walls. Clothing is also vivid. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Killer's Delight Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides decent dialogue exchanges, with a comfortable appreciation of performances. Argumentative behavior isn't shrill. Scoring cues are clean, offering decent instrumentation with the jazzy score, and a more electronic sound at times. Nightclub performances are warmly defined.

Killer's Delight Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Jeremy Hoenack.

• "Playing a Dead Body" (22:51, HD) is a video conference interview with screenwriter Maralyn Thoma, who charts her relationship with director Jeremy Hoenack during the 1970s, with the pair looking for a story to inspire their first movie production as a team. Financing and casting are recalled, with Thoma using a favor system to get talent to work for free, even stepping in front of the camera multiple times to play nude corpses. The interviewee analyzes her interactions with Hoenack, and her move into soap operas after the release of "Killer's Delight." The whole experience was a family endeavor, with Thoma sharing how much her children were involved in the shoot and post-production. She doesn't mince words when describing film distributors as "the lowest of the low," and chalks up the whole "Killer's Delight" event as a major educational opportunity when the feature did not make money, released under many titles.

• Interview (10:29, HD) is a slightly scattered chat with actor/art director Martin Speer, who was once in a relationship with screenwriter Maralyn Thoma, only to watch her move on to director Jeremy Hoenack, soon getting an acting job on their debut picture as a couple, "Killer's Delight." Speer discusses the evolution of the script and shares unhappiness with his performance, admitting he's basically playing himself, not a character in the feature. Early awkwardness with Hoenack eventually faded away, allowing Speer to step up as the art director for "Killer's Delight," immersing himself in the creation of backgrounds for limited sets.

• Interview (11:28, HD) with cinematographer Arthur Botham explores the incredible crew and time restrictions on "Killer's Delight," with the interviewee's experience in the industry helping the feature through some long days. Botham worked to set up different realities with victims and the killer, and he admits the violent content of the movie made him a bit squeamish. Praise is shared for director Jeremy Hoenack, who worked fast and was open to experimentation. Botham shares an amusing anecdote about working inside a helicopter to capture shots of San Francisco, and his details his contribution to the story, persuading Hoenack to switch a sequence from an ice rink setting to a swimming pool.

• Interview (12:52, HD) with director Jeremy Hoenack details the helmer's early inspiration to make a movie, using a magazine article about Ted Bundy as a starting point for "Killer's Delight," hoping the feature would boost his employability. Financing the production himself, Hoenack banged out the endeavor in 21 days, using his imagination and connections to cast the picture, also accepting advice from Melvin Van Peebles. Helicopter stories are shared, and Hoenack supplies some memories of managing disasters during the shoot. Scoring cues are analyzed, and while an orchestra was hired, a synthesizer was used to pad out the music. Hoenack offers pride in parts of "Killer's Delight," but admits to being amused by bad reviews.

• Still Gallery (2:02) collects press kit pages, a magazine letter, film stills, poster art, scoring notes, newspaper ads, and a snap of the crew t-shirt.

• Silent Outtake Scenes (5:16, HD) are offered.

• And a T.V. Spot (:34, HD) is included.

Killer's Delight Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Killer's Delight" isn't a nail-biter, and it's definitely not "Zodiac," but Hoenack at least makes an attempt to get inside the murderer's mind, exploring mental illness that drives his actions. Vince also gets a personal POV for his cop duties, even though he's something of a creep himself. There's a mild thriller in the making of "Killer's Delight," but it never reaches its potential as something more pressurized, giving viewers a proper ride as law enforcement sets out to capture a monster, and one who was just beginning his rise to notoriety.