Night Wars (1988)
A cult late-1980s action-horror hybrid where Vietnam veterans' nightmares become lethally real, blurring the boundary between sleep and survival.
Night Wars - Movie Information
- Original Title: Night Wars
- Release Year: 1988
- Directed by: David A. Prior
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi, War
- Runtime: 1h 28m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 1, 1988 (United States)
- Alternative Titles: Night Wars - Tödliche Träume (DE), Oi polemistes tis nyhtas (GR), Combate Nocturno (PT), Nattens krig (SE), Pesadelos da Guerra (BR), Nightwars (US), Noční války (CZ)
- Production Companies: Action International Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Night Wars - Plot
Two Vietnam Veterans have realistic nightmares about the war. So real are these nightmares that they start getting injured in them, and bringing things back that they had in the dream. They then buy weapons and go in to try and get one of their friends out that originally died in a POW camp during the Vietnam war. This is made harder by a traitor from the US Military Corps.
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Night Wars - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- David A. Prior
Main Cast
- Dan Haggerty
- Brian O'Connor
- Cameron Smith
- Steve Horton
- Chet Hood
- Jill Foor
- Mike Hickam
- David Ott
- Kimberley Casey
- Tim Aguilar
Writers
- David A. Prior
- Ted Prior
- William Zipp
Producers
- Bruce Lewin
- Fritz Matthews
Night Wars - FAQs
Where can you stream Night Wars (1988)?
Night Wars (1988) is available to stream for free on Amazon Prime Video (with ads), Tubi TV, and Fawesome. No subscription is required for these ad-supported options. Check JustWatch for the most up-to-date streaming availability in your region.
What is Night Wars (1988) about?
Night Wars follows two Vietnam veterans plagued by nightmares so vivid they sustain real physical injuries and can bring objects back from their dreams. Determined to rescue a friend who died in a POW camp, they arm themselves and enter the dream world, facing a treacherous military traitor along the way.
Is Night Wars based on a true story?
No, Night Wars is not based on a true story. It is an original fictional screenplay written by David A. Prior, Ted Prior, and William Zipp. The film blends Vietnam War themes with supernatural horror and science fiction elements, drawing on the cultural anxiety surrounding veterans' trauma rather than any specific real events.
Who are the main actors in Night Wars?
Night Wars stars Dan Haggerty as Dr. Mike Campbell and Brian O'Connor as Trent Matthews, the two central Vietnam veteran protagonists. The supporting cast includes Cameron Smith, Steve Horton, Chet Hood, Jill Foor, Mike Hickam, David Ott, Kimberley Casey, and Tim Aguilar.
Does Night Wars have a supernatural or sci-fi premise?
Yes. Night Wars blends war action with supernatural horror and science fiction. Its central conceit — that characters can be physically wounded inside their dreams, and can retrieve tangible objects from them — gives the film a distinctly fantastical edge unusual for low-budget 1980s Vietnam-era action movies.
Who directed Night Wars and when was it released?
Night Wars was directed by David A. Prior, a prolific filmmaker known for low-budget action and horror films. It was released on March 1, 1988, in the United States, and was produced by Action International Pictures.
How long is Night Wars?
Night Wars has a runtime of 88 minutes (1 hour and 28 minutes), making it a compact, fast-paced genre film typical of the Action International Pictures catalog from the late 1980s.
What are some movies similar to Night Wars?
If you enjoy Night Wars, you might also explore Mannigan's Force (1988), another late-1980s action film with a similar low-budget aesthetic, as well as Somniphobia (2021) and Dual (2009) for their shared themes of psychological dread and identity crisis rooted in fear and altered states of consciousness.
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