Alone in the Dark (1982) User Reviews

Scared the hell out of me the first time I saw it

[preppy-3 · 7/10 · 4 October 2004]

Four dangerous psychopaths (two played by Jack Palance and Martin Landau) easily escape from an asylum run by a VERY liberal doctor (Donald Pleasance) during a blackout. They proceed to terrorize a doctor (Dwight Schultz), his wife, their little daughter, the doctor's sister (who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown) and a stranger. And the electricity is out, the phone lines are cut and the house is completely isolated...

I saw this in a theatre in 1982 and it scared me silly. It had me jumping and two sequences (one involving a baby sitter on a bed and the other with blood dripping on a woman's face) had me cringing. Seeing it over 20 years later, it's not as scary but still is an above average horror film.

The film moves quickly, there are nice directorial touches from Jack Sholder (who went on to direct "Nightmare on Elm Street 2") and it has an above average cast--Pleasance seems a little embarrassed but Palance is good and Landau is clearly enjoying himself. There are quite a few scary moments, a good spooky score and the final half hour is an all out assault on the family. Also it's pretty restrained in terms of gore.

But there are huge gaps in logic which I didn't notice the first time and I really did not need a sequence where it is insinuated that a little girl has been molested. Also the young girl of the family is the most annoying little brat I've ever seen--I was desperately hoping she'd get knocked senseless just to shut her up. And it really has no ending.

Still, if you ignore the plot holes this film really can work on you. Best seen at night, in a dark room...and all alone:)

Different, but a bit plodding for no good reason

[drownsoda90 · 6/10 · 19 June 2007]

"Alone in the Dark" centers on a small New Jersey community, where Dr. Dan Potter is assigned to work as a new doctor at "The Haven", a mental institution outside of town, run by Dr. Leo Bain (Donald Pleasance). The third floor of the institution homes a group of very insane, murderous men, who are under careful watch. But when a blackout occurs and the entire area loses it's electricity, the electrical powering that keeps the men behind closed doors is of no help. The murderous men escape from the Haven, and head towards town, where they begin a murderous rampage before reaching Dr. Potter's new home.

Not to be confused with the 2005 creature horror flick of the same name, "Alone in the Dark" boasts a fairly unique premise that hasn't been used (town crazies let loose to wreak havoc on the city after an electrical shortage). If you ask me, I thought this was a fairly original idea for a horror movie, and a clever one at that; taking into consideration the time this film was made, this was a fresh idea. The problem here is that the film lags quite a bit, and really for no good reason really; one would think character development would fall in place here, but not really. It plods around aimlessly for about 45 minutes before really kicking in, which was a bit of a disappointment, because, if written better, this could have been a much more frightening movie. The idea of lunatics sieging a local house during a blackout is terrifying - it's too bad this film wasn't.

Aside from that, it does have some positives. For one, the acting is quite good. Donald "Dr. Loomis" Pleasance plays the lead doctor of the institution perfectly, in a role that is similar to his in the "Halloween" series, but a bit different. Martin Landau and Jack Palance play a couple of the town psychos flawlessly - they're menacing but strangely funny as well, and this balance works. There are a couple of nice scare sequences (including the babysitter and her boyfriend in the bed ordeal), and above all, this film does manage to be fairly entertaining despite its dragging feet. The ending is also quite quirky, but it flows with the rest of the film's tone and was a nice little laugh to end on.

Overall, "Alone in the Dark" is a slightly above-average horror/thriller that is worth seeing at least once. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the premise, quirky campiness, and decent acting make it a watchable horror movie. It's not your usual slasher flick, and for that I have to give it some credit. Not bad, not great, but just above the usual, if not a little different from. Worth a rental, you may enjoy it. 6/10.

A break through...how did this not get serialized??

[Robert_duder · 7/10 · 7 May 2006]

Alone In The Dark is only unfortunate because it now shares the same name as the Uwe Boll crap-fest from last year. The original Alone In The Dark had nothing to do with the video game and in fact was a unique and well made horror slasher that followed some of the revolutionary horror films that were shaping slasher flicks (ie: Halloween, Friday The 13th) in the early eighties. The killers in the film were a unique and interesting group that I can't believe didn't get serialized to death!! Not only that but two of the actors were main stream big name, great actors!! The film even features a twist at the end the likes of M. Night Shyamalan which you honestly don't see coming. I mean the film at times is typical and a little predictable but isn't that what slasher films are all about??

One of the big reasons to watch the film is the character played by the late great Donald Pleasance, a Halloween Alumni and so many other terrific horror and drama films. This was an interesting role for Pleasance as Dr. Leo Bain, a revolutionary doctor who was determined not to put a tag on the inmates at his asylum. He calls them Voyagers who are just an a journey back to sanity. He allows them to get away with things, and doesn't really treat them any differently than any normal person. Bain is almost a villain in some ways. He's casual and a bit of a hippie with a free spirited attitude, completely different from Pleasance's role as Dr. Sam Loomis in Halloween. Pleasance does a great job and although he doesn't carry the film his role is quite good. Dwight Schultz plays the lead as new doctor to the asylum Dan Potter. He's moved his wife and daughter for this job and is determined to do his best. Of course Schultz is best known for his role as the slightly deranged "Howling Mad" Murdock of the A-Team, however his role as Dan Potter is far more calm and together. Like Pleasance this role is a very different one for Schultz and he does a good job in it. Although a little placid for being the lead character he's still good at leading man status on the big screen. Deborah Hedwall, Lee Taylor-Allan, and Elizabeth Ward do a good job as Schultz's family Nell, Toni, and Lyla Potter. His young daughter played by Ward is stronger than almost any other character when the psychos are attacking them in their home. She's almost too strong for a little girl but it's a very different side of things. Now the real stars of the films...the psychos. Oscar Winner Jack Palance plays the self imposed leader of the killers Frank Hawkes. Hawkes is quite and disturbed, a strong man with a thirst for eliminating anything in his way. Palance has an incredible ability to make you see a quiet psychosis in his character. You almost feel for his completely morally corrupt character. Fellow Oscar Winner Martin Landau plays The Preacher, Byron Sutcliff who has a knack and thirst for burning things to cleanse their sins. Landau is completely deranged and probably the worst of all of them. His wild eyed, disturbing portrayal of The Preacher is excellent. Erland van Lidth plays Fatty, the brutally strong and large child molester who thumps around and destroys everything in his path. He too shows a more quiet and disturbing psychosis and his scene opposite Elizabeth Ward when he tries to get her to go upstairs with him is completely disturbing. Finally you have The Bleeder...I can't tell you who plays The Bleeder...it would ruin the film but I can say although you don't see him often as The Bleeder that when he shows himself your jaw will drop. He also is infamous for grabbing a hockey mask during his escape to get out of the asylum...this film was released the same year as another famous psycho was grabbing a hockey mask in Friday The 13th 3. So who came first?? Technically Jason Voorhees as Friday The 13th Part 3 was released in August of 1982, whereas Alone In The Dark was November of 1982.

Alone In The Dark breaks a lot of the horror film mold set in stone by others. First of all there isn't a lot of really gory kills, in fact some of it is more implied than it is shown. Second of all the main characters don't get killed off one by one. They are decently smart, and fight back and WIN!! The horror in the film is more based on the fact that a family is trapped in their own home, no electricity with a foursome of deranged killers stalking them from the outside. Director Jack Sholder made a different kind of slasher flick. He also went on to direct one of the Nightmare On Elm Street installments. Alone In The Dark drags a little more than it should and is very low budget, low budget to the point where special effects are almost non existent. It's nothing spectacular but for an early eighties horror gem...you have gotta see it!! 7/10

Overall, quite good.

[WritnGuy-2 · 15 December 1999]

I don't know why I hesitated with this one. I guess I just always said I would rent it and didn't. Finally, a few nights ago, I just got it. And I must say, I liked it.

Set in New Jersey, my lovely state, a power outage in town releases four psychotic inmates of a mental institution, held in their own floor by electricity-controlled doors. Interesting twist. Before that, they had formed a grudge against their new doctor, Dan Potter, who they have convinced themselves as the killer of their old, beloved doctor, who has actually just transferred to somewhere else.

Also, Dan's slightly wacky younger sister Toni comes to stay with the family, and had recently recovered from a breakdown. Nonetheless, she is quite an interesting character, and joins the Potter family as the innocents in the attack towards the end of the movie.

The movie has a good setup, and some very creepy moments, especially when the child victimizer shows up at the home and pretends to be the daughter, Layla's, babysitter. Later on, of course, the real babysitter, Bunky, shows up, as does her boyfriend, and are taken out in some quite suspenseful scenes.

The best part of the movie, though, is when the psychopaths show up and attack the Potter home, and all inside. This includes a detective, Dan and his wife Nell, Toni and Layla, and a man Toni and Nell met at a protest and invited to stay for dinner. There is a very scary jump-out-of-your-seat moment, where some of Toni's old "ghosts" from her past haunt her once again. And, in one very good scene, is a scene of retaliation of the family, and shows a very interesting scene where Nell is struggling to get herself to stab the attacking killer, while Dan hollers at her, "Stab him!" Not to mention the fact that Nell has a really great scream. And she isn't the scream queen type. But her scream is perfect.

I don't want to give away too much, but see this movie. All the performances are good, and the characters are likable. A fun movie, too, especially towards the last quarter of the movie, during the attack. I recommend not hesitating like I did and getting this.

'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' meets 'Halloween' with a dab of 'Friday The 13th'

[kclipper · 7/10 · 17 July 2011]

Jack Sholder constructed this ambitious addition to the slasher genre with such a wonderfully demented sense of humor by combining off-beat dialog with the standard body count formula. Donald Pleasence runs a liberal home for the insane where the patients are "free" to walk about with very little restraint except for the walls and doors themselves. Dr. Dan Potter (Dwight Shultz) is a new doctor who's hired as a replacement for the last head-shrinker who moved to Philadelphia. The patients of the 3rd floor (Martin Landau in a hilarious performance as Boyd The Preacher, who set fire to churches, Jack Palance as a paranoid schizophrenic ex-colonel, and Erland van Lidth as an obese child molester), believe that Potter murdered his predecessor, and after a full-scale power-outage ensues, the wackos take advantage of their opportunity to escape and launch an assault on Potter's family.

The first half of this twisted tale is played out for laughs as we're introduced to the patients at the institute by Donald Pleasence (who's character is as crazy as they are). Landau, Palance and Lidth are great as the murderous band of nut cases, but then this becomes just another "trapped-in-the-house" slasher film that effortlessly lags, at least until the power comes back on, and then the film meets an unsatisfying and abrupt cut-off ending. Nonetheless, this is funny and entertaining for genre fans as well as Landau and Palance completists.

Dr. Loomis Lets Three Fly Over the Cuckoo's Nest During the Night of the Living Dead

[BrandtSponseller · 6/10 · 24 July 2006]

That high concept title tells you a lot of what you need to know about this film.

Alone in the Dark has a great cast that's strangely underused, and its derivativeness and slight lack of spark make it an eternal underling to much better films, but it's still worth seeing for many reasons.

Donald Pleasance--the one of three stellar cast members who is almost not underused--turns in a typically, wonderfully goofy performance as a famed psychiatrist. He's heading an asylum, he's a bit crazy himself, he's fond of smoking weed, and he has experimental techniques, which turn out to be dangerous considering that he has a criminally insane ward. The two very underused actors are Martin Landau and especially Jack Palance, who are both members of the aforementioned ward.

Problems begin when the New Jersey town that houses the asylum experiences a blackout, allowing the patients to escape--if Donald Pleasance as a psychiatrist isn't strong enough to suggest a Halloween film, this scene of escaping loonies certainly is. This leads to the Night of the Living Dead-styled scenes, which are a lot of fun.

I suppose I can see how someone would find this film a mess--it does change gears frequently and doesn't worry very much about continuity or even coherence, but anyone who is a fan of these actors, or asylum films, or any of the many horror films referenced (including some playful jabs at the Friday the 13th films) should get a lot of enjoyment out of Alone in the Dark. There's a high camp factor throughout, including the scenes of going to a club to see a band called The Sick F*cks.

In some ways, it almost feels like producer Robert Shaye and director Jack Sholder--the same team that brought us A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 a couple years later--got a hold of this cast, some money and some time and just started making things up on the spot, seeing how much fun they could have and how crazy they could get while still producing a marketable horror/thriller film. While that's not likely to produce a masterpiece, and it certainly didn't, it did result in a film that's a hoot to watch, especially late at night or on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

You'd think the hospital would have had a backup system in case something like this occurred!!!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 6 June 2018]

When the story begins, Dr. Dan Potter (Dwight Schultz) arrives at a psychiatric hospital to begin his new job. The place is run by Dr. Bain (Donald Pleasance) and he seems, at times, to be as weird as the inmates. His relationship with the patients sure reminded me of the Poe story "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether" and the movie based on it, "Stonehurst Asylum". But the story goes a different direction. There is a huge power outage and the security system at the hospital goes out...and the inmates find the alarms and doors no longer function properly. Soon a group of dangerous psychotics leave to go on a killing spree...all the while Dr. Bain seems amazingly chill. What's next??

This is a slasher film at heart, but it has more depth and more story to it than a Friday 13 or Halloween-type movie. It also helps that there was an impressive cast--with Jack Palance and Martin Landau playing two of the super-dangerous psychotic escapees. Now this does NOT mean the film is especially brilliant, as like other films in the genre, it has some cliches--such as the identity of the fourth slasher as well as how the psychotics all attack one at a time instead of at once (thus making them easier to beat).

By the way, although Dwight Schultz is not a household name, Star Trek fans will likely recognize him as the extremely nervous and geeky Lt. Broccoli.

Surprisingly good 80's horror

[jellopuke · 7/10 · 17 July 2019]

Wasn't expecting much here, but this was actually quite good. Some creepy synth vibes, some gory kills, some crazies, some punk music, and possibly the first hockey mask wearing killer? Definitely a hidden gem!

"Not A Bad Horror Flick!"

[gwnightscream · 5/10 · 16 January 2014]

Jack Palance, Donald Pleasence, Martin Landau, Dwight Schultz, Erland Van Lidth and Phillip Clark star in this 1982 horror film. Schultz plays Dan Potter, a doctor who comes to work at a mental hospital with Dr. Leo Bain (Pleasence) and gets to know his unbalanced patients, Frank Hawkes (Palance), Byron 'Preacher' Sutcliff (Landau) and Ronald 'Fatty' Elster (Van Lidth). Soon, the 3 patients escape during a power blackout that occurs all over town and go after Potter because they think he got rid of their former doctor. Potter learns of their deadly intentions and tries to protect his family when they arrive at his house. Clark plays Tom Smith who is revealed to be other escaped patient, Skaggs. This isn't a bad horror flick with a good cast I recommend.

Insightful entertainment – great cast

[manuel-pestalozzi · 7/10 · 1 February 2007]

This here is one more American horror movie that reflects social issues and behavior patterns of a certain era (a truly interesting genre), in this case the early nineteen eighties. The main ‚target' is a small young family in New Jersey. The father is a psychiatrist, who just started working at a lunatic asylum. He is some kind of bleeding heart liberal, down to driving a vintage Swedish SAAB model. The head of the asylum is even more ‚liberal', he does not want to put the really dangerous cases in his custody behind bars. They can't help it being dangerous, they are not insane, but voyagers, is his credo.

Due to an incident in a nearby nuclear power station the wife and sister of the psychiatrist protested against (finding themselves promptly behind bars), the four most dangerous inmates can escape from the asylum. They get after the psychiatrist, because they think he killed his predecessor. Why? Just because they are insane. They set siege to his house, and from there the movie resembles Assault on Precinct 13.

The story may sound simple and dumb, but it works very well. This is not least due to the first rate cast with many venerable thespians. Alone in the Dark is definitely a must-see for fans of Martin Landau. Here he found one of the only too rare occasions to show off his range as an actor. He plays a mad preacher with rolling eyes, swinging around a burning jacket or wielding a sharp instrument. At one point he appears at the doorstep of the psychiatrist's house with a mailman's cap on his head, saying he wants to deliver a telegram. His facial expression just conveys sheer insanity, an unforgettable moment.

Basically, Alone in the Dark is a comedy or a social satire. There are some moments of gore, the suspense aspect is handled very well and in a rather parodic way. The movie and has a good rhythm of tension and subsequent relaxation. It contains a message which is pretty direct and comes through nicely: Some people are just dangerous and have to be kept away. It's OK to search for the reasons of their condition and find possible ways for a cure, but they have to be kept away first.

Dull and overrated

[Groverdox · 5/10 · 22 April 2019]

"Alone in the Dark" is one of those movies that always shows up on the "best movies you've never heard of" lists.

By those who have heard of it, it is thoroughly overrated.

You might ask how a movie with Jack Palance, Martin Landau and Donald Pleasence could go wrong, and well you might. But here we are.

I think the problem was something at the screenplay or direction level. The movie just doesn't come together properly. It feels loose and disjointed, which is anathema to a thriller. Pleasence and Landau do what they can in their roles but they are at sea in a baggy and pointless film.

An 80's Slasher but different

[acidburn-10 · 9/10 · 28 August 2007]

The story = Dan Potter (Dwight Shultz) is a new doctor at an asylum run by the wacky Dr. Leo Bain (Donald Pleasence). Inmates Hawkes (Jack Palance), Preacher (Martin Landau), Fatty ( the late Erland van Lidth), and the Bleeder (Phil Clark) believe Potter killed their old doctor and vow revenge. The gang escapes when a massive blackout strikes New Jersey. As the Potter family prepare for a quiet candle lit dinner with friends, the psychopaths move in for the kill.

In Alone In The Dark the director Jack Sholder creates a great deal of suspense, tension and action in this slightly odd slasher, All of the characters are either oddballs, lunatics, or both. The script (written by Sholder, Robert Shaye, and Mike Harpster) is filled with funny dialogue and a few twists.

The incredible cast contributes a large portion of the goofy charm surrounding this slasher. Most of the acting is completely over the top, but Palance and Landau still manage to bring menace to their characters. One wonders if Pleasence is really acting in his scenes involving a pipe and "exotic herbs". Slasher fans won't mistake Dr. Bain for Dr. Loomis. Dwight Schultz, who later became famous as a member of the A-Team, is good as the young doctor who learns violence is the only way to deal with some threats.

All in all Alone In The Dark is a definite must see for any Slasher fans with an interesting storyline great actors such as horror veteran Donald Pleasence and Jack Palance and gripping scenes that will keep you hooked all the way through.

Howling Mad Mur(der)Dock ......

[FlashCallahan · 7/10 · 21 April 2017]

Thanks to a major power cut, a gang of psychopaths break out of the Haven maximum security mental institute.

Their plan is to lay siege the psychiatrists who have tormented them over the years with their bizarre theories...

Speaking of Bizarre, this has to be one of the most random things I've seen in a very, very long time.

We have a group of escaped psychopaths played by Jack Palance, Martin Landau, and Dynamo from The Running Man...

Their new doctor?

Howling Mad Murdock from The A Team.....

His boss?

Donald Pleasence as a marajiuana smoking nutcase who's ideals are more than questionable.

All these ingredients add up to one of the most random slasher films I've seen, and it makes it all the more fantastic for it. It's a simple concept, but the fact that we have these very seasoned actors play totally against type makes the film almost Lynchian.

To say that this film is an acquired taste is an understatement, it has a really strange feel to it, like the naughty little brother of The Ninth Configuration, and if you want a really bizarre double bill, try these two films.

For all of the stars in the movie it is absolutely terrible

[jacobnunnally · 3/10 · 7 March 2017]

One of the worst horror/horror-comedies I've ever seen. So bad it's bad.

Marin Landau laughing and walking slowly isn't scary. Neither is Jack.....*long pause*..........Palance. Also not scary whatsoever is the fat guy from The Running Man. You know the opera guy.

This movie can't decide if it wants to be a full out horror movie or a horror/comedy. It's really, really, really bad. I think a 3/10 score is being kind. It's not scary at all but also not funny at all.

It's cool to see Murdock from the A-Team in the movie. I'm amazed they were able to convince Donald Pleasance to be in it. And how did they get Martin Landau? His performance in this movie is one of cinema's all time worst, it's laughable (not in a good way though).

Martin Landau: "Hahahahaha! *smile*." How hard can that be? Not very creative.

Avoid, there's no reason to see this turkey (I saw it to see Jack Palance).

When Character Actors Attack!

[zmaturin · 19 February 2002]

Hey, in this movie The A-Team's "Howlin' Mad" Murdock is the SANE one, being terrorized by crazy Oscar winners Martin Landau and Jack Palance while a trippy Donald Pleasance wanders around in an opium haze in this acceptable horror movie that features a few poorly-directed "suspence" sequences, a terrible stage show by "The Sic F*cks" complete with big cardboard axes, a hot sex scene featuring a character called "Bunky", some bad eighties fashions, a brief appearance by a Tom Savini-designed ghoul, a mailman getting run down by a stoner van, the "tongue excersizes" woman from "Kingpin", a killer in a hockey mask, a cool rioting scene, a guy broken over another guy's knee, crossbow-killings, and a lovable big fat child moleser.

So why not?

Self-aware and well cast enough to get a thrill and laugh from

[DarthVoorhees · 7/10 · 30 June 2017]

'Alone in the Dark' is an almost all but forgotten slasher from the heights of that era. It looks and feels almost identical to a Freddy or Jason flick(it should as Jack Shoulder is in the director's chair). It is a movie that evokes all the Pavlovian responses of blood and spooky stuff. It's a level above though and I think has a lot of cult campy fun awaiting viewers who seek it out. The script is way too much in it's silliness and contrived story lines but 'Alone in the Dark' is absolutely blessed with a stellar cast. The likes of Jack Palance and Martin Landau fall into the roles of our killers. They make the film as does the familiar face of horror legend Donald Pleasance.

Jack Palance and Martin Landau as our crazed psychos,I feel as I have to reiterate that. It sounds odd but it is absolute brilliant casting. Heck Palance's presence practically could be a walking horror film in his mad intensity. Landau is having a blast too. He knows what this is and so he spends his time with his mad eyes glaring at the camera. I think had it been lesser character actors this thing would have not been able to find that right mix between too much and just enough silliness.

Landau and Palance are brilliant but the main attraction of an already stacked cast is Donald Pleasance. Pleasance is very consciously parodying his Halloween role. There are moments of nonchalant deadpan macabre humor from Pleasance that are hilarious. There's a moment where Pleasance gives the mad pyromaniac Landau a match that is just so beautifully understated in this mad world.

The central premise though is kind of hard to get by in that it is so silly, (a mental institution harboring psychos is powered by electricity, a storm causes a black out and they just walk out the door). If the film had gone for a more comedic edge it may have worked but it just seems like too much of a glaring 'Really?!' even for this kind of movie.

Great Story and Cast

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 16 April 2005]

In Springfield, Dr. Leo Bain (Donald Pleasence) runs an experimental mental institution where the inmates have a relative freedom inside. When his Dr. Harry Merton moves to Philadelphia to another hospital, Dr. Dan Potter (Dwight Schultz) is invited by Dr. Bain to be the substituted for Dr. Merton. He moves with his wife Nell Potter (Deborah Hedwall) and daughter Lyla Potter (Elizabeth Ward) to an isolated old house and begins to work in the institution. Soon he learns that on the third floor, live the dangerous inmates Frank Hawkes (Jack Palance), who was a former military that has become paranoid after being POW; the arson Byron 'Preacher' Sutcliff (Martin Landau); the fat pedophile Ronald 'Fatty' Elster (Erland van Lidth); and the shy serial-killer John "the Bleeder" Skaggs (Phillip Clark), who never shows his face and bleeds when he kills. The calm inmate Ray Curtis (Brent Jennings) supervises the quartet on the floor, and warns Dr. Potter that they believe he killed Dr. Merton and they want to kill him. Dr. Potter welcomes his sister Toni Potter (Lee Taylor-Allan), who had a nervous breakdown, to spend a week with his family and him. When there is a blackout in the town, Frank, Byron, Fatty and Bleeder escape from the facility. They find the town being looted by the residents, and they rob weapons and clothes from a department store. When they leave the store, Bleeder kills the driver of a van and flees by foot. The other three inmates drive the van to escape from the havoc. Tony convinces Nell to go to a protest against the nuclear power plant in Springfield, and they are arrested. They befriend Tom Smith in the cell and he lets Nell call her husband to ask the babysitter Bunky (Carol Levy) to go to her house. When they are released, they learn that Fatty was in the house and played with Lyla and Dr. Potter summoned the police. Tony invites Tom to have dinner with the family and Dr. Potter invites also Detective Burnett (Gordon Watkins) to have dinner with them. But soon they hear strange noises around the house and they have a night of panic.

"Alone in the Dark" is a slasher with great story and cast with the names of Jack Palance, Martin Landau and Donald Pleasance among others. The tense atmosphere increases the tension along the last third part of the story. Dr. Leo Bain, performed by Donald Pleasance, is a funny character, under influence of his pipe of drugs most of the time. The twist in the end may be predictable by some, but not all the viewers. In general, "Alone in the Dark" has no great flaw, and the story is consistent and reasonably believable. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Noite de Pânico" ("Night of Panic")

Tres Bizarre

[Gafke · 7/10 · 29 November 2003]

Wow, what a freaky, funky, weirdo movie this is! Maybe I shouldn't have watched it with a bad head cold, drugged up on Dimetapp. But anyway...

The film opens with one of the best psychotic dream sequences I've ever seen in a movie. The Great Martin Landau is here, screaming himself awake in the midnight darkness of the mental institution where he has been confined. Hey, I might have a similar reaction if I'd just dreamed about a pot smoking Donald Pleasence quoting bible verses and eviscerating me a la Eddie Gein and Bernie in the woodshed! From here, the film only gets more surreal.

A new doctor has come to work at the institution where Martin and his buddies are housed, and the occupants of the very disturbed violent ward on the Third Floor don't like him. They've got it in their heads that he must have killed the previous doctor - a man they all liked - to get his job. And now we have established a motive.

A blackout descends as our hero, his wife and his sister are at a concert, where the Sic F*ks are performing. Wow, and I thought the concert scene in the movie "Hobgoblins" was bad!!! These guys are an absurd cross between Gwar and Shonen Knife and were far scarier than the violent criminals who have escaped from the institution, aided by the power outage. They find their way to New Docs house and lay in wait. An obese child molester has a non-violent scene with the doctors daughter that will nevertheless have you squirming and saying "ew" a lot. Jack Palance is under the bed, having a good old time killing the bouncy babysitters boyfriend and then ramming a hunting knife up through the mattress and between her bare legs. And once the family gets home, sister and new boyfriend included, the carnage really begins!

This is a seriously weird movie. I couldn't take it seriously and instead decided to view it as a very black comedy. Maybe it was intended that way, I don't know. It wasn't bad, it was just very strange, with shaky performances by the hero and heroine(s) and strong, unsettling performances by the killers. The statement-on- our-disturbed-and-violent-society ending really had me shaking my head and saying "huh?" wondering if someone had sprinkled my cold medicine with LSD or something. But I have no regrets. The presence of Landau, Palance and Pleasence, more than make up for the sometimes implausible storyline (like, how the hell did the Jason Voorhees masked "Bleeder" just HAPPEN to get in with the mother and sister? It's far fetched to say the least.) I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

The Inmates Are Out!

[matthurst-60645 · 7/10 · 27 April 2022]

A city-wide power outage allows a group of psychotic inmates out on the street to terrorize their doctor and his hapless family as another doctor tries to stop them.

It's an all-star cast for this low budget slasher film that elevates it above the usual teenage body count movie, but Jack Sholder's direction shows a talent for orchestrating shocks and maintaining suspense. There's also a nice layer of dark humor covering the film that keeps things fun.

total garbage

[jritty · 3/10 · 8 September 2022]

Lame in every sense. Terrible writing and performances. Not scary in the least, predictable and BORING. Martin Landau's gift to us with this silly film is ridiculous maniacal laughing. Wow was this bad - even the bloody scenes are laughable. No tension what so ever and I guessed the twist early on. I don't understand how this movie has this high a rating cuz it's NO Halloween - it ain't even Friday the 13th lol. The music is bad too. Complete waste of every actor involved. The principal cast must have desperate for money. What's really funny is how low palance and landau have sunk to be in this and then both received academy awards over a decade later on.

A good 'psycho-logical' 80's Slasher

[barfly4404 · 7/10 · 16 January 2006]

Don't be put off by the title {it has nothing in common with Uwe Boll's craptastic masterpiece}, Alone in the Dark is a clever, yet non overly ambiguous entry in the 80's slasher scene, one of the few with a veteran cast of proved actors.

Dr. Dan Potter {Schultz} has landed a new job at a mental health clinic, as a special patient supervisor and counselor. He's in for more than he bargained for however with a group of maniacs stationed on the 3rd floor. The Fab Four includes a serial killer who gets nosebleeds every time he kills, a true 'Bleeder', a 400 lb child murderer who'd love to devour Dr. Potter's young daughter, a crazed former POW, and a preacher who sets fires to churches. When Hawkes {Palance}, gets the idea that Dr. Potter is out to kill them, he strikes up a plan to get Potter and put an end to the madness.

As the title insinuates, a power outage provides for an inconvenience when the men, separated from the outside world by only electricity, escape.

The film has enough gore and usual slasher hijinks {T&A, babysitter and her boyfriend} to keep the average horror film fan satisfied, but Director Jack Sholder {The Hidden} includes enough twists and turns, and attempts to set up a good enough cast for suspense and atmosphere, that the film's rough edges are smoothed out a bit. The film even briefly examines the hypocrisy in the medical world, what is crazy exactly, to us or to anyone else?

Though not a major standout, this along with some great over the top acting by Palance and Landau, help to set the film apart from other slashers of the era.

Boring, stupid , dull - a very bad Slasher

[BloodyPredator2 · 2/10 · 7 February 2021]

How can this Movie have a 6.1 Rating ? This is one of the worst Slasher Films I ever seen. No Suspense , No Gore , Not Scary , Bad Acting , badly written , annoying characters (Sisters Friend = lol ) and a stupid Ending. I'm a Big Fan of Slasher Films but this one - skip it. 2 Stars for Donald Pleasence.

Alone in the Dark

[Toronto85 · 8/10 · 28 December 2012]

Four dangerous patients from a mental institution escape one evening and go after their doctor in "Alone in the Dark". Dr. Dan Potter is just starting his job at an high security/high-tech asylum, run by Donald Pleasence's character Dr. Bain. He is assigned to four of the most dangerous men at the asylum; "the preacher" who sets fires to churches with people in them, "the bleeder" who gets nosebleeds after each time he kills someone, "Fatty" who is a child molester and an interesting fellow named Frank Hawkes. They believe that Dan Potter murdered their old doctor, someone they trusted and valued very much. So they set out to murder Dan and anyone that gets in their way including his wife, sister and daughter. A city wide blackout gives the four men a perfect escape as they trap the Potter family inside of their new house in this early eighties chiller.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Alone in the Dark'. It is like a slasher film, but has a lot of smarts to it as well as a good story. There is tons of character development in this on as well, which only makes the viewers feel for the characters and want them to survive. Each character has their own personality, and the actors play it very well. Donald Pleasence plays the doctor who runs the asylum, but he appears to be just as deranged as some of the patients. It has a "Don't Look in the Basement" feel to it. The character Toni (Dan's sister) spent time in an institution recently, so it doesn't do her any good going through this attack by the escaped patients.

Martin Landau, Jack Palance and Erland Van Lidth give brilliant performances as the patients. I also thought Deborah Hedwall (who played Dan's wife) was superb in the supporting role as well. There is also a subplot going on throughout the film; who and where is "the bleeder"? When the four men escape, he takes off from the group leaving us to wonder where he went. Well let me tell you, we find out all about the bleeder in one terrifying scene that left me shocked! Overall, 'Alone in the Dark' is a creepy little eighties horror flick with some good scares and interesting twists/turns. Check this out!

8/10

Martin Landau is a scary man.

[mike-aholic · 7/10 · 12 February 2004]

This movie is pretty rad. Who wouldn't love to see Martin Landau, Donald Pleasence, and Jack Palance all in one horror film? Alone in the Dark will deliver some solid chills and funny moments. Jack Palance and Martin Landau should take some more roles as psychopaths. If I saw either in person, I'd be afraid of him. Donald Pleasence yuks it up as a stoner psychologist. Plus, we get to meet a babysitter named Bunky and listen to vomit inducing punk rock. A must see for horror fans.

Slow, boring beginning. Passable, predictable conclusion...

[aro-2 · 4/10 · 13 January 1999]

Mediocre slasher film finds escaped mental patients terrorizing their doctor and his family. Strong echoes of John Carpenter's "Assault on Precinct 13" in the last half of the film. Some similarites can be spotted in the setup, as well. To bad the writers couldn't borrow some suspense.

"Alone in the Dark" does provide a few good scares. For example, the knife through the bed scene; as well as the daughter's first encounter with one of the psychopaths. Until then, however, it's very boring. Overall, a very predictable and forgettable film. If you're a big slasher fan, or if you like Donald Pleasance, then you might enjoy this. Everyone else is advised to stay clear.