The Dark (1979)

Director:

John 'Bud' Cardos
(more)

Writer:

Stanford Whitmore (writer)

Release Date:

27 April 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

After fear...beyond terror...there is THE DARK!

Plot:

An alien mutilator stalks and kills human prey during the night.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Laser Beam | Police | City | Murder

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

William Devane	...	Roy Warner / Steve Dupree
Cathy Lee Crosby	...	Zoe Owens
Richard Jaeckel	...	Det. Dave Mooney
Keenan Wynn	...	Sherman 'Sherm' Moss
Warren J. Kemmerling	...	Police Captain Speer (as Warren Kemmerling)
Biff Elliot	...	Detective Jack Bresler
Jacquelyn Hyde	...	De Renzy
Casey Kasem	...	Police Pathologist
Vivian Blaine	...	Courtney Floyd
John Bloom	...	The Dark
Bill Derringer	...	Herman Burmeister (as William Derringer)
Jay Lawrence	...	Jim Hampton
Russ Marin	...	Dr. Baranowski
Vernon Washington	...	Henry Lydell
Mel Anderson	...	Policeman
John Dresden	...	Policeman
Horton Willis	...	Policeman
Roberto Contreras	...	Max
Paula Crist	...	Stewardess
Joanna Kirk	...	Stewardess
Erik Howell	...	Mr. Antwine
Ron Iglesias	...	Rudy
William Lampley	...	Young Man
Sandra McCulley	...	Carhop
Valla Rae McDade	...	Camille
Ken Minyard	...	T.V. Sportscaster
Monica Peterson	...	Mrs. Lydell
Penny Ann Phillips	...	Zelza
Jeffrey Reese	...	Randy Morse
Kathy Hilton	...	Shelly Warner (as Kathy Richards)
Philip Michael Thomas	...	Corn Rows
Gary Littlejohn	...	Policeman
Mickey Alzola	...	Policeman
Everett Creach	...	Policeman
Ernest Robinson	...	Policeman
Robert Sizer	...	State Trooper
Gene McLaughlin	...	Policeman
Mickey Guinn	...	Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anna Marlowe	...	Girl in Bikini
John Blessent	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Jon Garrison Clark	...	Hardhat Worker (uncredited)
Jerry Jensen	...	Bar Customer (uncredited)
Angelo Rossitto	...	Angie (uncredited)

Directed by
John 'Bud' Cardos
Tobe Hooper		(uncredited) (replaced by John Cardos)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Stanford Whitmore		writer

Produced by
John 'Bud' Cardos	....	producer
Dick Clark	....	producer
Igo Kantor	....	associate producer
Edward L. Montoro	....	producer
Derek Power	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Roger Kellaway

Cinematography by
John Arthur Morrill

Film Editing by
Martin Dreffke

Casting by
Marvin Paige

Production Design by
Rusty Lipscomb

Set Decoration by
William Strom		(as Bill Strom)

Costume Design by
Eva Paulette Frye
Valerae

Makeup Department
Kathy Agron	....	assistant hair stylist
Kathy Agron	....	assistant makeup artist
Steve Neill	....	special effects makeup
Ve Neill	....	hair stylist
Ve Neill	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Igo Kantor	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ray Clevenger	....	second unit director
Willard Kirkham	....	assistant director
Herb Willis	....	assistant director (as Herbert Willis)

Art Department
George Anderson	....	graphic artist
Steve Rostine	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Irwin Cadden	....	sound effects
Bob Dietz	....	sound mixer (as Robert Dietz)
Beau Franklin	....	boom operator
Christopher Ishii	....	sound effects (as Chris Ishii)
Paul Vitello	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Robbie Knott	....	special effects (as Robby Knott)

Visual Effects by
Peter Kuran	....	special animation effects
Harry Moreau	....	special animation effects

Stunts
Bobby Clark	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
James Avery	....	key grip
Allen Blaisdell	....	second assistant camera (as Allen Lee Blaisdell)
Jeffrey Brown	....	electrician
Jeffrey Brown	....	grip
James Clark	....	electrician
James Clark	....	grip
Hedy Dietz	....	still photographer
Lee Frost	....	camera operator: second unit
Fred Goodich	....	assistant camera: second unit (as Frederic Goodich)
Fred Goodich	....	director of photography: additional photography (as Frederic Goodich)
Andrew G. La Marca	....	assistant camera: second unit (as Andy La Marca)
Dennis Lowry	....	electrician
Dennis Lowry	....	grip
Michael Montoro	....	electrician
Michael Montoro	....	grip
Ian Morrison	....	electrician
Ian Morrison	....	grip
Toby Mussman	....	electrician
Toby Mussman	....	grip
Spike Nannarello	....	gaffer
James O'Donnell	....	electrician
James O'Donnell	....	grip
Bruce M. Pasternack	....	assistant camera: second unit (as Bruce Pastarnack)
Bruce M. Pasternack	....	still photographer (as Bruce Pastarnack)
Steve Savage	....	electrician
Steve Savage	....	grip
Joe Solis	....	assistant camera: second unit
Norman Pete Stevens	....	best boy
Tim Wawrzeniak	....	first assistant camera (as Timothy Wawrzeniak)
Jonathan Woolf	....	best boy grip

Casting Department
Marti Litis	....	extras casting
Patricia Ruskin	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eva Paulette Frye	....	wardrobe
Valarae	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Oliver Katz	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Stephen Bushelman	....	music editor (as Steve Bushelman)

Transportation Department
Bruce Hendrix	....	driver
Bert Lolley	....	driver
Don McCarthy	....	transportation chief
Donald Robinson	....	driver
Leonard Spears	....	driver
Michael Warnecke	....	driver

Other crew
Kathy Agron	....	production secretary
Scott Corser	....	production assistant
Ken Disque	....	production accountant
Paul Heslin	....	location manager
Michael Hoover	....	stand-in
Richard Jaeckel Jr.	....	stand-in
Lou Marches	....	stand-in
Karen Mattingly	....	script supervisor
Joy McManus	....	production secretary
Jeffrey Mintz	....	production assistant
Joann Montoro	....	production secretary (as Joanne Montoro)
James H. Neuhausen	....	production assistant (as James Neuhausen)
Jim Packer	....	production consultant
Karen Reid	....	script supervisor
Delilah Shank	....	stand-in
Dale Tate	....	title designer
Marion C. Tittle	....	production accountant
Garrison True	....	dialogue coach

Production Companies

• Film Ventures International (FVI)

Distributors

• Film Ventures International (FVI) (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• New World-Mutual (1979) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Media Home Entertainment (1982) (USA) (VHS)
• Simitar Video (USA) (VHS)
• BijouFlix Releasing (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Impulse Video (video)

Special Effects

• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI) (photographic effects) (as CFI)

Also Known As:

The Mutilator

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 (theatrical rating) (cut) | UK:18 (pre cert VHS) | Australia:M | Norway:18 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Film Ventures International (FVI)

Trivia:

Director John Cardos replaced Tobe Hooper during production.

Quotes:

Zoe Owens: I will do it, until I get it right.
Sherman Moss: That is the way you learn! What do you think I sent you to Beverly Hills for those roadshows? Why do you think I sent you to Pasadena for those swim suit shows?
Zoe Owens: It's hard to describe how full filling Rose Gardens can be!
Sherman Moss: Well you've only been with us exactly six months!
Zoe Owens: Look at the ratings!
Sherman Moss: Well of course. Half of the male population of LA is staying up all right trying to figure out a way to get into your pants!

Movie Connections:

Edited into 42nd Street Forever, Volume 2: The Deuce (2006) (V)

In the Dark, a Giant Zombie-Alien!

One thing about The Dark, it has a combination of themes never quite duplicated - but this may not be a good thing. As any familiar with this monster pic know, this was intended as a giant zombie monster-on-the-loose horror picture, or monster ripping heads off people. The monster is played by John Bloom, an actor who was around 7 feet tall in real life; it's usually too dark to see much of him/it, but there is a fairly exciting clash with police at the end and you get to appraise the zombie make-up then. With the sudden success of science fiction just after "Star Wars"(77), the producers decided to add a sci-fi angle before releasing this. What an odd and laughable mixture resulted - now the monster is supposedly a visiting outer-space alien? You sort of get a feeling throughout watching this that someone can't make up their minds. Yet, this may be why I've seen this more than once, and probably will again now that a new DVD version is coming out in widescreen.

William Devane plays a fortyish hippie father of the first victim, bugging the police about getting the killer; his expression throughout is a combination of self-satisfied (getting a good paycheck) and mortified (what am I doing in this mess?). Crosby is a TV reporter kind of above it all, until the end, that is. Jaeckel is the detective on the case, annoyed with everyone and not getting any answers (is it a zombie? an alien? damn it!). Wynn has the best scene in a dark garage, where some actual suspense builds; it looks like he's had it for a few seconds. Many of the scenes are TOO dark; it's difficult to see much of anything. The filmmakers also used a weird device on the soundtrack, a chorus of voices whispering 'the da-aaa-ark...' during scenes where the monster may be stalking a potential victim. This supposedly added to the suspense. I don't think this was ever used again, probably with good reason. But do wait until the very end when the narration kicks in, explaining mankind's first encounter with aliens; it's good for another laugh.