Alone in the Dark (1982)

[MaDMaNMaRz]

This film is a slasher gem! It's a really good film......one of the better 80's slashers, IMO.

Alone in the Dark stars Jack Palance, Donald Pleasance, and Martin Landau.....who all give great performances. Dr. Leo Bain(Pleasance), runs an experimental mental institution. Dr. Dan Potter is a psychiatrist, who recently transfered there. He is introduced to the patients, although Dr. Bain refers to them as "Voyagers"......of which include Palance and Landau. Dr. Potter was hired as a replacement for their previous one, Dr. Merton. The Voyagers believe that it was Dr. Potter that murdered Dr. Merton.......it turns out he actually transfered to a different job.

One night, there is a power outage. The Voyagers escape, and start their search for Dr. Potter, and his family.

Thoughts on this film?

[Brett H.]

I still am confused as to why New Line licensed this film to Image, yet released Man's Best Friend themselves...

[kramerfan]

This is a great film.Cast is great.I love the locations.Winter setting is cool.

[MaDMaNMaRz]

For anyone that hasn't seen this yet, and is interested in doing so, IFC is showing it in a couple hours or so. Check it out. :)

[NETRA]

Thanks for the "heads up" Mad. I've seen it before but wouldn't mind seeing it again. Too bad I caught your post about an hour too late. :(

[The Tall Man]

My favorite part was when Martin Landau is wandering the grounds looking for a match. An orderly tells him, that he's not allowed to have matches. He later finds Pleasance and the following exchange occurs:

LANDAU: Leo, can I have a match?
PLEASANCE: Match? Uh, sure. Here. Keep the pack.

Brilliance.

Did anyone notice that they kept mentioning a nearby town... SPRINGWOOD? This could very easily have four Freddy host segments edited into it and be re-released as "Freddy's Nightmares: The Movie."

T.M.

[sCabbOy]

Great movie. The tone and atmosphere is what makes this movie work. Once they are at the doctor's house it seems like an old fashion slasher, although it's not a slasher per se.

[Grizzlyman]

I saw the film last night on IFC. For being one of New Line Cinema's first theatrical films, I found it semi-enjoyable, with good tone and atmosphere, as well as some whitty dialogue.

Jack Palance makes an impressive performance as the leader of the psychopaths. My favorite line "There are no crazy people doctor, we're all just on vacation!" Donald Pleaseance takes a rather slightly bizarre, though interesting take as the doctor of the hospital, and of course Martin Landau in a convincing role as a troubled creepy mental patient. I did find it odd to see these three veterans actors in one little slasher film. For his directorial debut, B-movie director Jack Shoulder maintains tension in a few scenes.

Although I found the ending disappointing with Palance walking into the typical 80's hard rock club as a female tries to slightly comfort him and the gun Palance is carrying. I think the ending was meant to be Palance's reaction as a patient dealing with the modern generation of crazy drunk teenagers, although I guess I was expecting something different. Regardless, I enjoyed the film.

[sCabbOy]

Palance was the star of the movie, IMO. He made Landau and Pleasance almost unnecessary in the movie. I remember DeadPit.com has this "if horror would be nominated for Oscars" segment, and I think Palance should have been mentioned.

[MaDMaNMaRz]

I agree. Jack Palance was definitely the star of the film. He really did a great job as the leader of the "Voyagers".

[WesReviews]

My favorite part was when Martin Landau is wandering the grounds looking for a match. An orderly tells him, that he's not allowed to have matches. He later finds Pleasance and the following exchange occurs:

LANDAU: Leo, can I have a match?
PLEASANCE: Match? Uh, sure. Here. Keep the pack.

Brilliance.

Did anyone notice that they kept mentioning a nearby town... SPRINGWOOD? This could very easily have four Freddy host segments edited into it and be re-released as "Freddy's Nightmares: The Movie."

T.M.

lol... You could, Tall! How on earth did I miss this thread?

Love this movie. One of the best ensemble horror casts of the 80s for sure. The 1-sheet artwork (also used for the original VHS release) is one of the best of all the early 80s slashers.

I've tried (unsuccessfully) to find an MP3 of "Chop Up Your Mother". Ah... Early New Line. Such a brazen attitude you once had. :sniffle:

[God of Thunder]

Hey Wes, try Amazon. I think you'll find it. ;)

[WesReviews]

Hey Wes, try Amazon. I think you'll find it. ;)

Err uh... wow. I guess I must not have been trying very hard! lol wow. I thought it was so rare, it surely wouldn't have been available at Amazon. It never even occurred to me. I had previously only tried the um... other methods. Thanks, man!

[MaDMaNMaRz]

Love this movie. One of the best ensemble horror casts of the 80s for sure. The 1-sheet artwork (also used for the original VHS release) is one of the best of all the early 80s slashers.

I agree! It's one of my all-time favorite covers too. The cast really is great.....Jack Palance, Donald Pleasance, Martin Landau, Dwight Schultz all in one movie together = GOLD!

I've talked with some people that don't consider this film a slasher because it doesn't take place in the woods, and they don't hide the identity of the killer (in this case, killers. Well, except The Bleeder.) This is a slasher! And one of the greatest and well made IMO.

[God of Thunder]

Err uh... wow. I guess I must not have been trying very hard! lol wow. I thought it was so rare, it surely wouldn't have been available at Amazon. It never even occurred to me. I had previously only tried the um... other methods. Thanks, man!

No problems my friend, I bumped into by accident myself. :)

As for this film.... it's good, but... I don't know, it never really catches on with me. I think I looked at the cover for so long and expected a slashfest, and what's in the movie is.... not quite that.

I will say the arrow kill and the throat ripping was cool, and Jack Palance was great in it, but... I guess I went into it expecting something much different (and to be fair, the cover art doesn't really represent the film too well)

[WesReviews]

Also, the bleeder was likely the inspiration for the killer's "nosebleed" in Valentine. A very cool nod.