The Dark (1979)

Director:

John 'Bud' Cardos
(more)

Writer:

Stanford Whitmore (written by)

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
Phillip Mote	...	Crowd protestor #2
John Blessent	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Jon Garrison Clark	...	Hardhat Worker (uncredited)
Jerry Jensen	...	Bar Customer (uncredited)
Angelo Rossitto	...	Angie (uncredited)
Kristephan Warren-Stevens	...	Crowd Protester (uncredited)

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

Writing credits
Stanford Whitmore		(written by)

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		(director of photography) (as John Morrill)

Film Editing by
Martin Dreffke

Casting by
Marvin Paige

Production Design by
Rusty Lipscomb

Set Decoration by
William Strom		(as Bill Strom)

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	....	graphics
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
Rick Taylor	....	animation camera operator (uncredited)

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
Paulette Pasternack	....	wardrobe (as Eva Paulette Frye)
Valerae	....	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
Dick Clark	....	presenter
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
Edward L. Montoro	....	presenter
Joanne Montoro	....	production secretary
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)

Other Companies

• Deluxe  color
• Panavision  filmed in
• Production Systems Inc.  location equipment (as PSI)
• Sunwest Recording Studios  post-production services (as Sunwest)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Film Ventures International (FVI)

Trivia:

This was originally to be a zombie movie. After poor screenings, the studio tried to repackage it as science fiction by removing much of the zombie footage, freeze-framing the monster during attacks and adding laser beams emanating from its eyes.

Quotes:

Zoe Owens:Come on Sherman, I want to do this story.
Sherman Moss:Why?
Zoe Owens:Because this is the first impact on my career.
Sherman Moss:Why the hell do you think I sent you to do those swim suit shows? You've been with us exactly seven months.
Zoe Owens:Well look at the ratings!
Sherman Moss:Well of course! Half the male population of L.A. is staying up all night trying to get in your pants!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Times Square (1980)

Dick Clark presents-a really bad Horror cheapie

An alien being that fires lasers from it's eyes terrorizes Los Angeles. On it's trail is a T.V. Reporter (Cathy Lee Crosby), a vengeful father (William Devine), and a policeman (Richard Jaeckel). Also, Casey Casem shows up for some reason, and Dick Clark produced this travesty.

Released in 1979, "The Dark" is a reminder that, no matter how nostalgic you may wax about 70's horror, not all of them were gold. Yeah, there were some gems and guilty pleasures, but there were some serious duds too. Now that I think about it, every decade is like that when it comes to movies.

In spite of a seemingly fun cast of character actors, "The Dark" is a real chore to get through. It takes at least 80 Minutes until we finally get to see the monster, and while I'm all for waiting to see the monster, the script, acting, pacing, and directing all fall flat. It also doesn't help that the monster itself is about as threatening as newborn puppy, and as interesting as watching grass grow. Actually, watching grass grow is more fun than sitting through this.

Interestingly, Tobe Hooper was originally supposed to direct this, but he chose good judgment by deciding not to, instead handing directorial duties to John "Bud" Cardos (who also directed the fun nature gone amuck Shatner vehicle "Kingdom of the Spiders.") In the end, a bad experience is had by all, and one is left wondering "Why did Dick Clark produce this?"