MovieChat Forums > Fade to Black (1980) Discussion > Underrated gem of a movie

Underrated gem of a movie

posted 20 years ago by amandybug822
28 replies | jump to latest

I didn't even know this movie existed until 2002 when I was browsing through my local Movie Gallery.
I saw the movie sitting there on the shelf, and noticed it starred Dennis Christopher.
Being a fan of DC, because of the movie IT, I decided to give it a try and rented it a little later.

I liked it. I wasn't the best movie I'd ever seen, but I liked it. Dennis Christopher is good at playing a movie buff gone nuts, and I found myself feeling very sorry for his character, Eric Binford. I would have been his friend. See, if he'd just had a friend, maybe he wouldn't have gone off the deep end like he did.

I know I sound naive, but sometimes all a person needs is a friend.

Oh well....

:P

-Amanda

[–] SMILE:) 20 years ago

They only reason I know that this movie exists is I am a big Dennis Christopher fan. It had a good premise, but all in all it could have been a lot better.....

[–] matt-282 20 years ago

Yes, I've seen the movie, it was first released in October 1980 and had a rare starring role of Dennis Christopher. Feel free to say what you want but, I didn't like his character of Eric Binford at all. The more I got to know Eric, the more I hated him. It was not hard at all to see the reason why nobody in the movie likes Eric Binford. Sure, he's a good film buff, but in those scenes where you take away those film quotes and references he makes, Eric is nothing more than a hollow, chain-smoking, vindicive guy with nothing to show for it. Eric Binford has no class, no wit, no sense of humor, no nothing. At first you do feel sorry for him, but when you get to know him better, you see why. He loses all touch of reality late in the film that you don't care if he lives or dies.

In fact, I didn't like any of the characters in the film, from Eric's bullying co-workers, his mean aunt, to his ass!@#$ boss, to the doped up police psychatrist tracking him down, to his dim-witted policewoman girlfriend, to her even bigger ass@#$% police captain boss. The only character I liked was the Marilyn Monroe look-alike that Eric has a crush on. But she's like a bright red rose in a garbage dump. If only the writers made Eric likeable with more character, more witty lines, with more characters you can sympathize with, it would have worked.

[–] leetleleenda1 20 years ago

I really liked this movie. Granted, I haven't seen it in probably 20 years, but I really enjoyed it then--it left a lasting impression.
I don't really think we were SUPPOSED to like any of the characters. They weren't particularly likeable folks (which is probably why the very disturbed Eric was killing them off).
The old movie references were just great.
Think I'll watch it again. (oh, and to Amandybug882: you're not naive--just hopeful)
Enjoy the movies!!!!

[–] am_buglet_82 19 years ago

"(oh, and to Amandybug882: you're not naive--just hopeful)"

Thanks! :D

I know Eric was really irritable, but I think that was because of his headaches. He had terrible headaches, if anyone remembers.
He just needed someone to give him an aspirin.

Now that I think of it, if he'd had a friend, he might have turned into a bit of a stalker...especially if the friend was a girl.

Oh well....I still like him....I guess it's because I like geeks, and as I am a movie buff myself (though not nearly as bad as Eric), he makes me feel like less of a nut :P.

-Amanda

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hollyvolley 19 years ago

It is a good little film
I was interested in it when it came out, because I was the camera double for Dennis Christopher in his previous film- and so I was aquainted with him

I saw it at it's first run at the Pacific theatre on Hollywood Blvd. in 1980- a very appropriate place- at a very appropriate time- for I too was a film buff with dreams about Hollywood- I got a black t-shirt with FADE TO BLACK in red letters, and saw it two or three times then-

but never since- I've looked for the video, but it just has never been there

For a period of time- I applied for jobs similar to Eric's around Hollywood- but never even got THAT far - and I lived in Hollywood a number of years- not far from Gruman's- and often thought about the conclusion when I went past it

It's a little fuzzy in my memory now- Venice beach is not so bad, but I started to avoid the boulevard when I lived in Hollywood- I guess it's not so seedy since the Kodak theatre went up- and now I can no longer afford to live there- it was one of the few alternatives back when-

"Binford" was the name of a grade school where I worked as a playground monitor during college, and the girl I married shortly after- Miss Hyland- had a cat named "stella"- weird huh.

I'd forgotten about Eric's headaches- yes- they can make you irritable, cause, well- I got 'em. Migraines that last for days- and know what? Some people even try to spurn them on!

I didn't care much for "IT", or really any of Stephen King- but Dennis did some good work since then

If it had been made a few years later- this movie might have enjoyed a better circulation on video-but it's not a "feel-good" movie- it's a tragedy that film buffs can relate to- poor Eric- he really came undone

I would like to see it again and have a copy

[–] The_Moviegeek 19 years ago

I agree. This is a classic that is very original.
J

"This is the old days, the bad days, the all or nothing days. They're back!"-Marv

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] krasnegar 18 years ago

If this film hadn't apparently been edited by a passing axe murderer, it would have been a lot better. As it is, it's quite watchble, but it's obvious that important bits of intended exposition were either cut or never filmed for whatever reason.

[–] Sakuralee 17 years ago

Just picked this movie up today. I liked it a lot.

I always tend to fall for the "villains", even though i wouldn't call Eric that. It reminds me of how i loved the phantom of the opera. Those poor eccentric guys, i just want to hug them.

Plus Eric looked hot as the mobster.