Fade to Black [Blu-ray]

Overview

An interesting, introspective variant on the '80s slasher formula, this low-key psychological thriller details the troubled life of obsessed movie junkie Eric Binford (Dennis Christopher), whose love of old movies extends far beyond his job at a film distributor's warehouse and endless late-night film screenings in his bedroom. His singular obsession eventually rounds the bend into psychosis after he crosses paths with a Marilyn Monroe look-alike (Linda Kerridge), who becomes the physical embodiment of his cinematic desires. When stood up on what he believed would be their first date, Eric becomes homicidally unbalanced, transforming himself into a gallery of classic movie characters -- including Dracula, The Mummy, Hopalong Cassidy, and Norman Bates -- and sets out to destroy his oppressors, starting with his crotchety wheelchair-bound Aunt Stella (Eve Brent Ashe), then targeting a boorish co-worker (a very young Mickey Rourke), and eventually working his way toward Kerridge. The film begins with a groovy concept, but loses something in the execution -- the horror and comedy elements fail to gel completely, and Christopher's performance is too creepy to generate much empathy.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/26/2021
UPC:	0814456023069
Original Release:	1980
Source:	Vinegar Syndrome
Language:	English
Time:	1:42:00
Sales rank:	15,324

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Dennis Christopher	Eric Binford
Linda Kerridge	Marilyn O'Connor
Tim Thomerson	Jerry Moriarty
Morgan Paull	Gary
Hennen Chambers	Bart
Marya Small	Doreen
Eve Brent Ashe	Aunt Stella
Bob Drew	Rev. Shick
Gwynn Gilford	Anne,Officer Anne Oshenbull
John Steadman	Sam
Mickey Rourke	Richie
Melinda Fee	Talk Show Hostess
Jane Wiley	Gofer
Peter Horton	Joey
Norman Burton	Marty
James Luisi	Gallagher
Anita Converse	Dee Dee
Marcie Barkin	Stacy
Gilbert Lawrence Kahn	Counterman
Al Tafoya	Newscaster
Bruce Reed	Franco
Teddi Siddall	Jill
Sharon Schlarth	Mail Girl
Marilyn Staley	Starlet
Craig Safan	Composer

Technical Credits

Vernon Zimmerman

Vernon Zimmerman	Director,Screenwriter
George G. Braunstein	Producer
Ron Hamady	Producer
Sylvio Tabet	Executive Producer,Producer
James Wayne	Special Effects
Irwin Yablans	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

This unusual effort attempts to bring some psychological and emotional depth to the slasher genre but ultimately falls short of the mark. The key problem with Fade To Black is that its ambitions exceed its grasp on both artistic and technical grounds. The idea of a movie-obsessed soul losing touch with reality is a great one but writer Vernon Zimmerman buries it under a numbing mass of underdeveloped characters and stilted dialogue. The script also devotes too much time to preaching about the psychological effects of cinematic violence, a point that ultimately rings hollow because the film ends up halfheartedly dabbling in that sort of violence. Fade To Black's overall effect is further hampered by Zimmerman's weak direction, which awkwardly juggles the film's thriller and dramatic aspects and delivers the film's suspense setpieces in a depressingly pedestrian manner. The actors struggle valiantly with the material but the sloppy, often cartoonish characterizations ultimately do them in: Dennis Christopher bravely pours emotion into a protagonist that's ultimately too creepy to be sympathetic and Linda Kerridge is charming as his love interest but also unfortunately saddled with a character who behaves illogically at every turn. Unfortunately, their work is overshadowed by the universally shrill and overdone performances of the supporting cast: Tim Thomerson in particularly unconvincing as a 'police psychologist' who must be seen to be dis-believed. In the end, Fade To Black fails both as horror film and a drama because it lacks the chops and consistency to make either aim work.

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