[Richard] Backus, an Emmy-winning actor and writer, gets as much use out of his face, and he gives one of the best movie-monster performances I've ever seen. Critically, he never overplays his hand, and it's consistently unnerving.

The story, the return to war and its consequences, the way the story is brought to the screen are why this film has stood the test of time and this is one of those that still has a lot to say 50 years later.

More interesting in theory than in practice.

…Deathdream is a fairly rough and ready low-budget horror in a Pet Sematary vibe, the kind of film where the angry subtext makes it of genuine historical interest…