THE NIGHT DIGGER, also known as THE ROAD BUILDER, was a movie I read about that sounded interesting. It disturbed me and I never forgot it. Late Night Line Up (BBC2) Beatles ABBEY ROAD LP premiere. Then Maura walks to her house and hears Billy playing a hamonica inside. It seems this young guy is a psycho who also rapes and kills women and buries them in the road. The film is based on a book by Joy Cowley, although there were apparently some changes made to the story (I don't know what since I've not read the book). Awards I am glad that the there are English subtitles so that I can clearly enjoy the dialogue.

The movie has some messy storytelling and most of the elements in the movie don't really work out. Bernard Hermann's score is suitably creepy. Then when Edith suffered an illness which blinded her, Maura returned the favor and has been under her thumb every since (for twenty years or so). Neal's repressed turn really is one of great strength and emotion, while Brown authentically commands the screen as the demanding, disabled mother. Nevertheless, a visually perceptive and intriguing little movie that almost stays the course until the final act, which comes completely apart. [2] The Night Digger was the American title; it was originally released in the United Kingdom as The Road Builder.[3].

BEWARE! Anyway, the story revolves around Maura (Patricia Neal) a spinster whose life revolves taking care of her domineering blind mother Edith (Pamela Brown)in a decaying England mansion. The basic story is pretty good. Many people will say that this film was a botch up job of Joy Cowley's novel, but they would be wrong. Not precisely a horror movie, a murder mystery, a slasher film, OR a domestic tragedy, "The Night Digger," a British film that was initially released in May 1971, yet combines elements of all those genres into one truly sui generis experience.

a bit dated, at this point. I might have given it more stars if the ending made sense. Into their dysfunctional lives, a handsome stranger appears, riding on a motorbike and looking for work as a handyman.

I caught this film on Turner Classic Movies recently.

I was about thirteen or fourteen years-old, watching the TCM channel late one night. Creepy, hugely atmospheric and surprisingly little-known British pot boiler concerning the wicked travails of a rather personable, youthful handy man; a soft spoken soul who once finished with his diligent roof repairs reveals himself to be a demented sex killer (Brilliantly played by a handsome and enigmatic Nicholas Clay).

(As a prurient aside I never quite realized that Bridgit Forsyth had such a killer rack, if you will excuse the appalling pun). Disagreements throughout post-production persisted between Dahl, who was unhappy at dialogue being cut or … This is set-up in an remote country mansion within a small rural town, so town gossip features prominently and is somewhat a driving force for some key plot progressions. A fairly engrossing thriller directed by Alastair Reid with a script by Roald Dahl. Clay is believable as believable as Billy Jarvis the handsome, charming, but odd ball handyman who works his way into the household.

Bond plot holes - any possible explanation? As others have said, this movie was written by British poet/author Roald Dahl as a vehicle for his wife, American actress Patricia Neal. Worth watching for Neal and Brown's performance but be prepared to be let down by the ending. Story by Joy Cowley, who had several of her works made into films.

Only it is pity that the English subtitles from TCM are kind of closed captions that cannot be taken for recording.

I have always been a big Patricia Neal fan.

That was one of the nights when I seen "The Night Digger" aka "The Road Builder". He's that and a whole lot more, as Neal slowly realizes. | The Night Digger was the American title; it was originally released in the United Kingdom as The Road Builder.

She just doesn't want to believe he has anything to do with it, despite knowing he surely does. ** from ****. Produced by the british office of MGM.

The movie builds its suspense at a very deliberate pace, but it's very worthwhile. Released under two different titles (also "The Road Builder"), though barely seen by anybody until the advent of cable movie channels.

Sounded like the recipe for a pretty good thriller to me. The times were changing fast, and film was going right with them. It's almost like they decided to shoot a scary movie and then later tried to turn it into something else altogether. The Night Digger (aka The Road Builder) - Explanation of the Ending?