The film is a skillful blend of mystery, romance, suspense, and hard boiled detective/film noirgenre elements - especially embodied inThe Maltese Falcon (1941)(by director John Huston who acts in this film) andThe Big Sleep (1946).He presents his first lesson to the boy: "Don""t ever trust anybody until you know ""em" - advice that will be remembered during he final conflict between them:Dunson: Don""t ever trust anybody until you know ""em.Gettin"" the facts to the public.Testifyin"" for what you know is right against what you know is wrong.Now what""s ratting to them is telling the truth for you.Now can""t you see that? Can""t you see that?The meeting is suddenly broken up when rocks shatter he church windows.Into the searing sun elsewhere walks a weakened and dehydrated Shears.Vultures begin to gather above him as he crawls hrough a parched wilderness.A vulture""s shadow turns into a colorful kite (of a red-headed bird), the playtoy of some local village boys - he is rescued.Film Notables (Awards, Facts, etc.)With a production budget of approximately $2.2 million, and box-office gross revenues of $21.9 million (domestic).With the tagline: "If Jason still haunts you, you""re not alone...".The slasher film was distinguished by its ""who-dun-it"" premise and major plot twist.There were a record number of killings of peripheral characters in this film - almost two dozen (until the 9th and 10th films when the numbers soared further), and more female nudity than any other film up to this point.