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:

Chase | Alien | City | Laser Beam | Creature

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 Richards	...	Shelly Warner
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
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)
Steve Neill	....	special effects makeup

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

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
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 Neuhausen	....	production assistant
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)
• CBS Television (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Media Home Entertainment (1982) (USA) (VHS)
• Simitar Video (USA) (VHS)
• BijouFlix Releasing (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Impulse Video (video)

Also Known As:

The Mutilator

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 (theatrical rating) (cut) | 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:

Sherman Moss: I'm not afraid of the dark; I'm afraid of what's in it.

Movie Connections:

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

It's grey, Scoob. Yikes!

Years ago while watching this picture on TV for the first time, I figured about half way through 'Hey, this ain't a sci-fi alien-on-the-rampage flick! It's an occult zombie movie hastily re-edited in a fever of post-production panic to cash in on the popularity of the same year's Alien'. Phew. What a literal thinker I was. Looking at IMDB's 'trivia' section, I see I was right. Wasn't I clever way back then? No. It really IS that obvious.

Disjointed, silly B movie. Not without some pleasures though. Keenan Wynn's fearful walk through a darkened underground car park worked for me, and there are a few unintended laughs here and there eg. William Devane's rather strange reaction to the sight of his dead daughter lying on a mortuary slab: he burps, and somewhat skittishly too. I wonder what Lee Strasberg would have thought of that. Perhaps William was expressing his heartfelt feelings toward the movie he found himself in. Actors get up to these tricks, you know.

And then there's Casey Kasem's police pathologist who is asked by a cop what colour the murderer's (still assumed to be human) skin is. Shaggy Kasem's reply of 'It's grey' is pleasantly creepy and recalls similar moments from Kolchak: The Night Stalker. In fact, Carl Kolchak's shadow looms large over this picture, even down to the unexpectedly spectacular denouement featuring a growling monster throwing cops bodily in all directions. VERY Kolchak.

Actually, damn it, I recommend this movie. It's enjoyable trash if you're in the right mood. But be warned - thanks to/in spite of post-production re-cutting (complete with inept Ed Wood type voice-over to fill in the plot holes) IT MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. Might be part of it's idiotic charm.