Violent Midnight
Violent Midnight is a 1963 American exploitation slasher film directed by Richard Hilliard and starring Lee Philips, Shepperd Strudwick, and Jean Hale. It focuses on a small New England town plagued by a series of slashing murders focused around a women's college. The film was initially titled Black Autumn, but released as Violent Midnight, premiering in Hartford, Connecticut in May 1963. It was later re-released under the title Psychomania in 1964. Plot Elliot Freeman, a war veteran with a family history of mental illness, becomes a pariah in his small town after his wealthy father suspiciously dies in a hunting accident with Elliot present. As a result, Elliot resides in isolation at his familial manor, and works as a portrait artist. While painting a model, Dolores Martello, Elliot is visited by his attorney, Adrian Benedict. Adrian presents paperwork for Elliot to sign regarding the payment of his sister Lynn's tuition. Later at the local tavern, Elliot and Dolores's boyfriend Charlie get into a fight. Dolores leaves with Elliot, and in private she professes her love for him, recalling a previous sexual encounter they had six months prior. Elliot declines her, and she responds by telling him she is pregnant with