I actually saw THE DARK at a drive-in when the movie was released in 1979. I remember being unimpressed. Years later when it was released on VHS I watched it again and felt the same. Time has passed and the movie is coming out on blu-ray from MVD. Over the years I became more acquainted with the work of director John “Bud” Cardos. The movie still isn’t the greatest film ever made but I did find it more entertaining this time around.
An alien crash lands on Earth as the film opens. He (I assume it’s a he) then goes on a killing spree and removing the heads of the victims he kills. The police are baffled by the killer since he shows no method to his madness with no ties between the victims. Just headless corpses tossed about by a creature strong enough to do so with his bare hands.
Among those victims is a young woman whose father Roy (William Devane) is a well-known author. Not only that, he is an ex-felon long since released and no friend to the lead detective Mooney (Richard Jaeckel). The two are confrontational throughout the film. If their paths cross so do words, more often from Jaeckel. Devane wants answers and the police are unable to provide any so he begins investigating on his own.
News reporter Zoe (Cathy Lee Crosby) is hot to get hold of this story herself. Tired of doing puff pieces for the news she pushes her boss Moss (Keenan Wynn) to let her have this one. He agrees and she sets out to find the killer as well, now tagged as The Mangler by the press. Along the way she meets Roy and the two share ideas and theories and strike up a romance along the way.
The Mangler continues killing people in more gruesome fashion each time, eventually shooting rays from his eyes as well. Each death brings the police no closer to discovering who he is. But Roy and Zoe have followed clues the police turned down, including information from a psychic who went to the police to tell them she saw the murders occurred and knew that a young actor would be the next victim. With little to go on, it seems that they will be the ones to break the case.
So what we have here is a movie that began as one thing and eventually became another due to interference by those who were producing the film. The extras here include an interview with Cardos and he talks about the fact that the movie was originally supposed to be directed by Tobe Hooper of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE fame. A disagreement at the last minute resulted in his leaving the film and it being offered to Cardos. Having not had a long term investment in the film he was willing to go with whatever they wanted. That’s where the mistake was made.
What was originally supposed to be a horror film with ties to the occult changed in midstream to an alien film. This was due to the fact that space films were popular at the time so the producers changed the direction of the film. All involved gave it their best effort but alas the film itself shows the effects of a group of non-creative people becoming too involved in a production.
In spite of that the film is entertaining enough and does have some fun elements. The gore effects are pretty good for a low budget film. The acting by some big names shows they can make the best of a bad situation. And while the story is terrible and cheesy it makes it a bit of a laugh in the end.
Over the years the film has developed a bit of a cult following.
Those fans will be glad to see it get this blu-ray release with a few extras
tossed in. They’ll want to make sure this one ends up on their shelf. For
everyone else, see if they’ll let you borrow it for a night. It’s at least
worth that.
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