Someone, or something, is on an indiscriminate killing and mutilation spree during night-time. Frustrated by the clueless police, the father of the first victim is looking for answers, no matter how far fetched they are.
Directors:
Writer:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| William Devane | ... |
Roy Warner / Steve Dupree
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| Cathy Lee Crosby | ... |
Zoe Owens
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| Richard Jaeckel | ... |
Det. Dave Mooney
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| Keenan Wynn | ... |
Sherman 'Sherm' Moss
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| Warren J. Kemmerling | ... |
Police Captain Speer
(as Warren Kemmerling)
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| Biff Elliot | ... |
Detective Jack Bresler
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| Jacquelyn Hyde | ... |
De Renzey
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| Casey Kasem | ... |
Police Pathologist
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| Vivian Blaine | ... |
Courtney Floyd
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| John Bloom | ... |
The Dark
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Bill Derringer | ... |
Herman Burmeister
(as William Derringer)
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Jay Lawrence | ... |
Jim Hampton
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| Russ Marin | ... |
Dr. Baranowski
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| Vernon Washington | ... |
Henry Lydell
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Mel Anderson | ... |
Policeman
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| John Dresden | ... |
Policeman
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Horton Willis | ... |
Policeman
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| Roberto Contreras | ... |
Max
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Paula Crist | ... |
Stewardess
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Joann Kirk | ... |
Stewardess
(as Jo Ann Kirk)
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Erik Howell | ... |
Mr. Antwine
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Ron Iglesias | ... |
Rudy
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| William Lampley | ... |
Young Man
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Sandra McCulley | ... |
Carhop
(as Sandra Walker McCulley)
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Valla Rae McDade | ... |
Camille
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Ken Minyard | ... |
T.V. Sportscaster
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| Monica Peterson | ... |
Mrs. Lydell
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Penny Ann Phillips | ... |
Zelza
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Jeffrey Reese | ... |
Randy Morse
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| Kathy Hilton | ... |
Shelly Warner
(as Kathy Richards)
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| Philip Michael Thomas | ... |
Corn Rows
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Gary Littlejohn | ... |
Policeman
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Mickey Alzola | ... |
Policeman
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Everett Creach | ... |
Policeman
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| Ernest Robinson | ... |
Policeman
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Robert Sizer | ... |
State Trooper
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Gene McLaughlin | ... |
Policeman
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Mickey Guinn | ... |
Policeman
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Brad Crandall | ... |
Opening / closingNarrator
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John Blessent | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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| Jon Garrison Clark | ... |
Hardhat Worker (uncredited)
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Jerry Jensen | ... |
Bar Customer (uncredited)
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| Anna Marlowe | ... |
Girl in Bikini (uncredited)
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Phillip Mote | ... |
Crowd Protestor #2 (uncredited)
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| Angelo Rossitto | ... |
Angie (uncredited)
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Vern Stierman | ... |
The Narrator (uncredited) (voice)
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Kristephan Warren-Stevens | ... |
Crowd Protester (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John 'Bud' Cardos | ||
| Tobe Hooper | ... | (uncredited) (replaced by John Cardos) |
Written by
| Stanford Whitmore | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| John 'Bud' Cardos | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Dick Clark | ... | producer |
| Igo Kantor | ... | associate producer |
| Edward L. Montoro | ... | producer |
| Derek Power | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Roger Kellaway | ||
Cinematography by
| John Arthur Morrill | ... | director of photography (as John Morrill) |
Editing by
| Martin Dreffke | ||
Editorial Department
| Oliver Katz | ... | assistant editor (as Olivier Katz) |
Casting By
| Marvin Paige | ||
Production Design by
| Rusty Lipscomb | ||
Art Direction by
| Rusty Rosene | ||
Set Decoration by
| William Strom | ... | (as Bill Strom) |
Makeup Department
| Kathy Agron | ... | assistant hair stylist / assistant makeup artist |
| Steve Neill | ... | special effects makeup |
| Ve Neill | ... | hair stylist / 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 / grip |
| James Clark | ... | electrician / grip |
| Hedy Dietz | ... | still photographer |
| Lee Frost | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Fred Goodich | ... | assistant camera: second unit (as Frederic Goodich) / director of photography: additional photography (as Frederic Goodich) |
| Andrew G. La Marca | ... | assistant camera: second unit (as Andy La Marca) |
| Dennis Lowry | ... | electrician / grip |
| Michael Montoro | ... | electrician / grip |
| Ian Morrison | ... | electrician / grip |
| Toby Mussman | ... | electrician / grip |
| Spike Nannarello | ... | gaffer |
| James O'Donnell | ... | electrician / grip |
| Bruce M. Pasternack | ... | assistant camera: second unit (as Bruce Pastarnack) / still photographer (as Bruce Pastarnack) |
| Steve Savage | ... | electrician / 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 |
Location Management
| Paul Heslin | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Stephen Bushelman | ... | music editor (as Steve Bushelman) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Karen Mattingly | ... | script supervisor |
| Karen Reid | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Bruce Hendrix | ... | driver |
| Bert Lolley | ... | driver |
| Don McCarthy | ... | transportation chief |
| Donald Robinson | ... | driver |
| Leonard Spears | ... | driver |
| Michael Warnecke | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Kathy Agron | ... | production secretary |
| Dick Clark | ... | presenter |
| Scott Corser | ... | production assistant |
| Ken Disque | ... | production accountant |
| Michael Hoover | ... | stand-in |
| Richard Jaeckel Jr. | ... | stand-in |
| Lou Marches | ... | stand-in |
| 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 |
| Delilah Shank | ... | stand-in |
| Dale Tate | ... | title designer |
| Marion C. Tittle | ... | production accountant |
| Garrison True | ... | dialogue coach |
| Michael F. Hoover | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Film Ventures International (FVI) (1979) (United States) (theatrical)
- New World-Mutual (1979) (Canada) (theatrical)
- CBS (1982) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- Media Home Entertainment (1982) (United States) (VHS)
- Simitar Entertainment (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- Met Film (1982) (Turkey) (theatrical)
- Astral Video (1982) (Canada) (VHS)
- BijouFlix Releasing (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Code Red DVD (2017) (World-wide) (Blu-ray)
- Guild Home Video (1983) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- HGV Video Productions (1990) (Canada) (VHS) (LP Mode)
- Multicom Entertainment Group (2012) (World-wide)
- On-Line Video (1990) (United States) (VHS) (as "The Mutilator")
- Roadshow Home Video (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Télé Monte Carlo (1991) (Italy) (tv)
- Video Treasures (1990) (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
- Consolidated Film Industries (CFI) (photographic effects)
Other Companies
- Deluxe Entertainment Services (color)
- Panavision (filmed in)
- Production Systems Inc. (location equipment)
- Sunwest Recording Studios (post-production services)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
At night the Mangler stalks the streets of Los Angeles, killing and mutilating random victims. On the trail are a TV reporter, the father of one of the victims, and a police detective, but despite their efforts only the mysterious psychic DeRenzy knows what the killer is and how to stop it.
Written by Jeremy Lunt |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | After fear...beyond terror...there is THE DARK! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $2,700,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | From the screenplay stage and all the way through to production, The Dark (1979)'s antagonist was an abused, autistic child who had been locked in an attic for his entire life. In the original script, his house burned down, allowing him to escape and take vengeance on the outside world. Toward the end of the shoot, the film's producers decided to capitalize on the success of Alien (1979) and demanded extensive re-shoots to change the killer into an extra-terrestrial. See more » |
| Goofs | The murders occur in Santa Monica. Yet the police are driving black & white Los Angeles police cars, bearing L.A.'s "Protect and Serve" motto. They should be driving Santa Monica police cars, which at the time were blue & white. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Rifftrax: The Dark (2018). See more » |
| Quotes |
Sherman Moss:
I'm not afraid of the dark; I'm afraid of what's in it. See more » |