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.
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.