The Dark (1979)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1979
Running Times: 92 mins
Format: colour     35mm     Panavision (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: mono

CREDITS

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Film Ventures International
Executive Producer: Derek Power
Producers: John 'Bud' Cardos, Dick Clark, Edward L. Montoro
Associate Producer: Igo Kantor

SCRIPT
Script: Stanford Whitmore

DIRECTION
Directors: John 'Bud' Cardos; Tobe Hooper (uncredited (replaced by Cardos))
2nd Unit Director: Ray Clevenger
Assistant Directors: Herbert Ellis, Willard Kirkham

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: John Arthur Morrill
Additional Photography: Frederic Goodich
2nd Unit Camera Operator: Lee Frost
Key Grip: Michael Montoro
Lab: DeLuxe

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Martin Dreffke

MUSIC
Music: Roger Kellaway; Jerry Goldsmith (from Back There (uncredited))

SOUND
Sound Mixer: Bob Dietz
Sound Editor: Paul Vitello
Sound Effects: Christopher Ishii, Irwin Cadden

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Make Up / Hair: Ve Neill
Costume Designers / Wardrobe Supervisors: Eva Paulette Frye, Valarae

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Effects Make Up: Steve Neill

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Robbie Knott

VISUAL EFFECTS
Special Effects Animators: Peter Kuran, Harry Moreau

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Rusty Lipscomb
Set Decorator: Bill Strom

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Karen Mattingly
Production Consultant: Jim Packer
Production Assistant: Joann Montoro
Dialogue Coach: Garrison True

LOCATIONS
Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Bobby Clark

CASTING
Casting: Marvin Paige

CAST
William Devane (Roy Warner / Steve Dupree)
Cathy Lee Crosby (Zoe Owens)
Richard Jaeckel (Detective Dave Mooney)
Keenan Wynn (Sherman Moss)
Warren Kemmerling (Police Captain Speer)
Biff Elliot (Detective Jack Bresler)
Jacquelyn Hyde (DeRenzy)
Casey Kasem (police pathologist)
Vivian Blaine (Courtney Floyd)
John Bloom (The Dark)
William Derringer (Herman Burmeister)
Jay Lawrence (Jim Hampton)
Russ Marin (Dr Baranoski)
Vernon Washington (Henry Lydell)
Mel Anderson, John Dresden, Horton Willis, Gary Littlejohn, Mickey Alzola, Everett Creach, Ernest Robinson, Gene McLaughlin, Mickey Guinn (policemen)
Roberto Contreras (Max)
Paula Crist, Joanna Kirk (stewardesses)
Erik Howell (Mr Antwine)
Ron Iglesias (man in alley)
William Lampley (young man)
Sandra McCulley (carhop)
Valla Rae McDade (Camilla)
Ken Minyard (himself)
Monica Peterson (Mrs Lydell)
Penny Ann Phillips (Zelza)
Jeffrey Reese (Randy Morse
Kathy Richards (Shelley Warner)
Philip Michael Thomas (Corn Rows)
Robert Sizer (State Trooper)

Stand In: Richard Jaeckel Jr

PLOT SUMMARY

Each night, a brutal serial killer known only as The Mangler stalks the streets of Los Angeles, mutilating his victims. But is the killer really all that it seems?

AVAILABILITY

Canada
Theatrical Distributors: New World-Mutual

USA
Theatrical Distributors: Film Ventures International
Video Distributors: Media Home Entertainment; Simitar Video; Impulse Video
DVD Distributors: BijouFlix Releasing

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Australia
Rating: M

Norway
Rating: 18

UK
Rating: 15

USA
Rating: R

AWARDS

1980
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA (Saturn Awards)
Best Supporting Actress (Jacquelyn Hyde) - nominated

TIMELINE

1979
April
27: USA - theatrical release

May
15: Philippines - theatrical release

POSTER TAGS

A Chilling Tale of Alien Terror

ALTERNATIVE TITLES

The Mutilator
Pimeys - Finnish title

REFERENCES

BOOKS

Creature Features Strikes Again by John Stanley p.92
credits, review

Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.90
credits, review

Horror and Science Fiction Films Volume II by Donald C. Willis pp.78-79
credits, review

KEYWORDS

aliens, chases, journalists, lasers, monsters, police, reporters, serial killers

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009