The Toolbox Murders (1977) In the space of two consecutive nights a quiet, though well kept and seemingly secure, apartment complex in Los Angeles becomes the scene of a series of cold-blooded murders that rock the tenants to the hearts of their collective tenancy. Three young women fall victim to a balaclava-clad madman on the first night; one brutally slain with a power drill, the other two mutilated with a claw hammer and screwdriver (respectively). When Police detective Jamison (Donnelly) shows up post first-night murders, caretaker Vance Kingsley (Mitchell) is visibly shaken by the seemingly random killings. Neighbouring family the Ballards, are equally horrified by the brutality of the murders. The following night, the Ballards downstairs neighbour is slaughtered with a nail-gun and 15 year old Laurie Ballard (Ferdin) is abducted by the masked assailant. With the tenants fearing for their safety, and their lives, Det. Jamison determines to get to the bottom of the case, though no vital clues have been uncovered, and no immediate evidence points towards Laurie having been abducted. Dissatisfied with police progress, Laurie's brother Joey (Beauvy) decides to venture a little investigative work of his own, managing to rope in best friend, and nephew of Kingsley, Kent (Eure). In the meantime, Laurie is alive, though maybe not so well, held captive in the home of perpetrator of the bloody murder spree. While Joey and Kent turn up their own leads, Laurie's life begins to descend into a traumatising, living hell. Her captor is clearly mentally unbalanced. | |
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