Nightmare (1981): Cast & Plot
Nightmare is a 1981 horror film directed by Romano Scavolini, starring Baird Stafford as George Tatum, Sharon Smith and Kim Patterson. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 39m (99 min)
- Director
- Romano Scavolini
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Goldmine Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Nightmare About?
The premise of Nightmare without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The Dream You Can’t Escape ALIVE! A drug-treated schizophrenic plagued by horrible nightmares is released from the hospital and goes on a killing spree.
Nightmare Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- escaped psychiatric patient
- serial killer
- slasher
- psychopathic killer
- grindhouse film
- cult film
- female nudity
- babysitter in peril
- female star appears nude
- daytona florida
- video nasty
- splatter
+38 more Show fewer
- insane man
- sleazy giallo
- stalker
- giallo
- slasher horror
- male rear nudity
- year 1980
- body count
- disturbing
- homicidal maniac
- attempted murder of a child
- bloody body of a child
- american horror
- serial murder
- breaking the fourth wall
- winking at the camera
- looking at the camera
- maniac
- peep show
- rough sex
- prank
- stripper
- male underwear
- bare chested male
- white briefs
- briefs
- man wears white briefs
- child abuse
- twin towers
- suspense
- murder of a child
- dead woman
- dead child
- dead body in a chair
- dead body in a car trunk
- dead body with eyes open
- car radio
- yacht
Nightmare Cast & Characters
Baird Stafford leads the cast as George Tatum, with Sharon Smith as Susan Temper and Kim Patterson as Kim Temper. Directed by Romano Scavolini; 16 actors are credited in all.
- Director Romano Scavolini
- Baird Stafford as George Tatum
- Sharon Smith as Susan Temper
- Kim Patterson as Kim Temper
- Tammy Patterson as Tammy Temper
Also Starring in Nightmare
· 12 more- C.J. Cooke C.J. Temper
- Mik Cribben Bob Rosen
- Danny Ronan Kathy the Babysitter
- William Kirksey George's Father (as William S. Kirksey)
- Bill Milling Paul Williamson (as William Milling)
- Christina Keefe George's Mother
- Kathleen Ferguson Barbara
- Scott Praetorius Young George
- William Paul Steve
- Tommy Bouvier Joe
- John L. Watkins Man With Cigar
- Tara Alexander Woman in Booth
Nightmare Plot Summary
What happens in Nightmare from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
George Tatum, Baird Stafford, has spent many years incarcerated in a New York City psychiatric facility after sexually mutilating and murdering a family in Brooklyn. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, amnesia, and epilepsy, he undergoes an experimental procedure that reprograms his brain, reforming him into an upstanding citizen. Yet hazy nightmares of the childhood violence linger, hinting at a past he cannot fully escape.
Upon his release, George visits a peep show in Times Square, triggering vivid flashbacks to his father’s murder. The pull of those memories shadows his every step as he navigates a world that wants to see him as a reformed man rather than a danger still simmering beneath the surface.
Full summary
The whole story of Nightmare, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Nightmare?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the protagonist who undergoes an experimental brain‑reprogramming procedure?
Cars in Nightmare
13 cars on screen, including the 1978 Dodge Magnum XE and the 1976 Ford Maverick.
-
1978 Dodge Magnum XE Important role -
1976 Ford Maverick Important role -
1974 Pontiac Grand Safari Important role -
1975 Chevrolet Bel Air Minor role
Nightmare Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “Nightmares in a Damaged Brain” and “Nightmare in a Damaged Brain”.
- Also known as
-
- Nightmares in a Damaged Brain
- Nightmare in a Damaged Brain
- Cauchemars à Daytona Beach
- Blood Splash
- Flucht aus gnadenloser Hölle
- Violencia se escribe con sangre
- Pesadillas de una mente enferma
- Pesadilla - La última
- Baño de sangre
- Pesadelo
- ナイトメア
- 噩梦
+3 more Show fewer
- Pesadilla mortal
- סיוט
- Кошмары больного мозга
Seen Nightmare?
Movies Like Nightmare
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Nightmare Beach, Nightmare and Nightmare Cinema.
Nightmare FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Nightmare, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Nightmare?
Nightmare runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).
When was Nightmare released?
Nightmare was released on October 23, 1981.
Who directed Nightmare?
Nightmare was directed by Romano Scavolini.
More films by Romano Scavolini Who is in the cast of Nightmare?
Nightmare stars Baird Stafford as George Tatum, Sharon Smith as Susan Temper and Kim Patterson as Kim Temper, among 16 credited actors.
Does Nightmare have a post-credit scene?
No. Nightmare has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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