Terror By Night (1983 film)

Terror By Night is a 1983 American supernatural horror film directed and co-written by Stephen Melis (in his feature directorial debut). The film stars Ken Monaghan, Helena Johns, John Shannon and Rita Ronstrom. The story focuses on four college students who stay in a out-of-the-way motel while on a road trip, and are faced with supernatural occurrences, forcing Adam Robins (Monaghan) to take on an onslaught of monsters and demons.

Melis, producer Frank J. Halsey and Monaghan made the short film Adam Robins' Road Trip in 1978 as a proof-of-concept film to secure funding for the project from potential investors, and managed to secure $90,000 in funding. Principal photography took place at a motel near, , , in a difficult filming process which proved challenging for the cast and crew; the film's extensive prosthetic makeup effects and practical effects were created by artist Alan Karvonen.

After a premiere in on January 4, 1983, the film was screened at the 1983 Hollywood Film Festival, where it won the Golden Chick in an upset victory over Constant Bourcier's Gerald's Family. After its showing at the Hollywood Film Festival, a bidding war for the film's distribution rights ended in RKO Pictures picking up the international distribution rights to the film, giving it a wide American release on October 10, 1983.

Early and later reception of the film was unanimously positive; and it became one of the most profitable low-budget films of all time, grossing $21.4 million in the United States alone. It launched the careers of Melis, Halsey, Monaghan and Shannon; all of whom have worked together subsequently.

The film launched a extensive media franchise, with sequels soon following.