_**Decent slasher taking place at old Inns on the southern coast of New Jersey**_

A Dear John letter during WW2 provokes a veteran to murder in 1945 at a coastal New Jersey hamlet. He was never caught and 35 years later he dons his old soldier garb to kill again at the college dance.

“The Prowler” (1981), also known as “Rosemary’s Killer,” is a slasher/horror in the mold of “Friday the 13th” (1980) and “My Bloody Valentine” (1981). It’s not great like the former and not quite as good as the latter. The protagonist, played by Vicky Dawson, is similar to Alice and Ginny from the first two “Friday the 13th” flicks but, beyond her, the female cast is subpar by comparison; it doesn’t help that the director doesn’t know how to shoot women (not talkin ’bout nudity or sleaze).

The opening sequence from 1945 with the old automobiles is well done and I like the Inn and the estate where most of the movie is shot. Gore-master Tom Savini does the F/X work and it’s convincing. It’s a decent slasher from the early 80s that works up some mood; Christopher Goutman is notable as the deputy in charge, who dates the protagonist. It’s not bad, but not great.

The film runs 1 hour, 28 minutes, and was shot in Cape May, New Jersey (Inn of Cape May & Emlen Physick Estate).

GRADE: B-/C+