MovieChat Forums > The Dark (1979) Discussion > I AM THE FIRST!!

I AM THE FIRST!!

posted 19 years ago by booklynx
12 replies | jump to latest

I casn't believe that I am the first person to post a message about this movie. Both my wife and I love this flick. It is one of our favorites and it is much to our displeasure that me can't find the darn thing on VHS, much less DVD. I have an old, grainy recorded version of it.
Favorite scene: Where the zombie-alien stalks a tough guy after the gun-toting moron leaves the bar, walks up behind him, rips his head off (with quite a nice audio touch)and then tosses the headless cadaver aside as it takes a couple steps and falls down.
Ending scene of the battle is too, shall I dare say, 'dark', but excellent nevertheless.
A very good remake could be done on this, but I loved the cast; Cathy Lee Crosby, William Devane, Richard Jaeckel, Casey Kasem, etc. Actually a nice, star-studded cast for such a B-movie, even for it's day.

http://www.booklynx.com
To Serve Man

[–] Thunderspawn 19 years ago

Hi there, I love this movie...Shriek Show just released this on DVD on the 11th of October, but I haven't seen it at Best Buy yet. I love the background story of Warner/Dupree and his daughter and the relationship he has with Jaeckel. John Bloom did a good job considering the budget, and calling him 'The Dark' in the credits, lol. I am glad I am not the only one who likes this film! I first saw it when I was young and it came on a show Every Saturday Night called Gasp! and it scared the crap out of me, along with ....the darrrrrknesssssssssssss....The Darrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrk...I loved that! Carry on horror movie fans...and DVD!

"You Know You're Butter When You're On A Roll..."

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] booklynx 19 years ago

Welcome, TedPost. I'm not sure about the differences in versons, although in many "extended" films, filler comprises most of the extra footage. I was watching by Star Trek original series DVD's, and I have picked out scenes that were missing from the original, but only because I've seen most of them a dozen times or more and WOULD notice. In this movie I know the only diff I've ever noticed is the scene I mentioned. In the 'cut' version, the scene of The Dark ripping off that guys head is "missing" the body staggering away without the head and the sicko ripping sound effect is also edited out. Can't stand the version where that is missing. Other than that I don't know, unless certain espects of the final battle are edited.
Man, I wish I could find the DVD.

http://www.booklynx.com
To Serve Man

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Woodyanders 18 years ago

I like "The Dark" as well. Granted, it's got its fair share of flaws (a muddled plot, occasionally slow pacing and several dreary lulls in the story in between the alien attack sequences), but the fine cast, a creepy score, nice photography (I really dug the dissolves and superimpositions), and a rousing last reel confrontation between the alien and the cops make this a pretty fun and enjoyable sci-fi/horror outing. I give the movie overall a 6 out of 10. I'm so glad Shriekshow finally released this baby on DVD; it's a bang-up disc with a nice commentary by director John "Bud" Cardos and equally up to par interview with Cardos as well. Nifty theatrical trailer, too.

"Warren Oates died for our sins"

[–] JP2005 17 years ago

Hello,

I saw this on the Big Screen the year it came out and I loved it! I was 16 then, only saw it that once and haven't forgotten it. I see it's available on DVD now at Amazon so I'm going to order it and when it arrive I'm going to save it for a rainy Saturday night to enjoy. Reliefed I'm not the only out there who loved it.

The scene you discribe is also my fav when he rips that guys head off. I was into horror films and still am. But I was also a fan of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem so it was a can't miss with me.

You and the Mrs. take care!

Cheers!

[–] booklynx 17 years ago

Another fan heard from. I finally found the DVD at Best Buy some months back. I think I threw out my shoulder snatching it off the shelf. Anybody remember seeing Tubbs from Miami Vice talking a little smack to Det. Mooney? Enjoy!

http://www.booklynx.com
To Serve Man

[–] nakedcitizens1 17 years ago

i remember getting this at a media play in the original media home video box for 19.99. I was very disapointed with how dark everything was. i mean the movie is called the dark bu lets be reasonable here.

[–] alna70 17 years ago

I first saw this film when it first came out in 1979.
Although I was only 9,this film stayed with me ever since.
I managed to pick up the paperback of the film and it had a totally diffrent explination of exactly what the Dark was.
In the book, he was a cannibalistic murderer from the late 1800's that came back as a zombie.

[–] eddy-28 17 years ago

This is a cult favorite of mine. Not only have I always been a die hard fan of B-Movies since I am a filmmaker/producer, but I am also a major fan of Richard Jaeckel's work and since buying this film five years ago, I also became a fan of the films that were produced and distributed by Film Ventures International such as 'Beyond the Door', 'Grizzly', 'Day of the Animals' and 'Great White'. This is a fun film and what is even more spectacular is the cast includes dozens of cameos for such a rather underrated B-Movie film. I would like to see if I can obtain a copy of the Signet paperback edition. It has to be extremely rare to find unfortunately.

I'll have you eviscerated for this!
Richard Jaeckel, John Carpenter's Starman

[–] alna70 17 years ago

The interesting thing about the paperback is that it contains pictures from the film in the middle. In one of the pictures it shows the creature killing the man in the icehouse with a slab of ice. It makes NO reference to the creature as an alien.