MovieChat Forums > Fade to Black (1980) Discussion > This movie's flaw: Eric was annoying and...

This movie's flaw: Eric was annoying and unlikable

posted 12 years ago by MozartsMuse
10 replies | jump to latest

So I just watched this a couple nights ago, and I found it disappointing. It just could have been so much better, but it was completely average and even boring at times.

I just didn't care about Eric. I got irritated with him every time he'd try to act "cool" or superior to people by spouting off random movie facts. He was just really annoying and not very likable. By the end of the movie, I didn't sympathize with him or even care about what happened to him.

There were a few moments, though, where I did genuinely find his character fascinating. Like in the scene where he chases the prostitute, and then she falls on the fence and is accidentally stabbed in the neck. I thought that was a really creepy scene because then Eric proceeded to drink her blood from her wound. I also thought the scene where Eric painted his face was interesting. And I liked the scene where he came back home and started talking to his Aunt's urn. These scenes made his character more complex and sympathetic. It's too bad there weren't more scenes like these throughout the movie.

So yeah, I think this movie could've been a lot better if they made Eric less annoying and focused more on the movie being a character study of him going insane. Also, that masturbation scene was really awkward to watch. I'd get rid of that.

[–] Duragizer 11 years ago

I agree with Eric's characterization - he could have been written a bit more sympathetically. As for the masturbation scene, though, I don't mind it; it's not very graphic (imagine if he had pulled it out ), and it helped drive home just how deeply disturbed he really was.

Standing there, on a road that leads to anywhere ...

[–] matt-282 11 years ago

I agree. Eric Binford's character was unlikeable and Dennis Christopher's performance as the tormented psycho-youth was just awful. If you watch this film a second time more closely, you'll notice that it is not hard to see the reason why no one likes Eric Binford. If you take away those scenes where Eric gives the movie quotes and one-liners, all you have is a guy who is completely devoid of any character, charisma, or sympathy. A truly hollow and chain-smoking clod.

In fact, I didn't like any of the characters in this film. Aunt Stella was just mean and crouchy and devoid of any compassion. Ritchie was just a typical bully also with no character. Mr. Berger was just victictive and plain mean to everyone. The police psychiatrist Morarity was just a dull, coke-sniffing, squish-head whom was completely inept at everything he did. The police captain, Gallagher, was just a flatfooded, racist, ill-tempered, steriotypical, corrupt police official whom acted just like another psycho when things didn't go his way.

The only character that I found sympathetic and likeable was the Marilyn Monroe look-alike who's warmth and beauty added a bit of color to the film. Marilyn was like a bright red rose among the other characters in this cesspool of a movie.

[–] VinnieRattolle 11 years ago

I've seen the movie twice, the last time being about 15 years ago. I was thinking of giving it another shot, which is how I wound up here... but you guys reminded me why I didn't like it to begin with. What's sad is that there were a few really memorable scenes in the film and, as I recall, the whole thing was oozing with atmosphere. But Eric Binford was no Norman Bates or Carrie White (both loveable outcasts who were similarly homicidally unhinged), he was downright annoying.

As for the masturbation sequence, pardon the bad pun, but it took a lot of balls to include that in a film in 1980. Even today, if you see a dude jerking off in a movie, it's usually for comical effect. In "Fade to Black," it was supposed to be a bit unnerving, and clearly the filmmakers succeeded on that level. Which only reiterates my frustration that Eric was so unlikable. The movie had a lot going for it but the character flaw was unforgivable.

[–] ethermusic1981 10 years ago

Agreed! He sucked!

[–] Enrique-8 10 years ago

No, ETHER, he wanked....

Enrique Sanchez

[–] ethermusic1981 10 years ago

Lol. Yes, unfortunately he did :/

[–] monkeymechx 10 years ago

Your "flaw" is actually you missing the point of the movie. You aren't supposed to like Eric. He is the refuse of society, trashed by all and thus has nothing to give back but revenge. This is a horror movie, after all. You aren't supposed to like the monster.

If he was likeable, you'd have a hard time justifying him as a killer because he would never become unpopular to the point of lashing out. I kinda take offense at the fact you can't sympathize with someone who is clearly struggling to adapt just because he is... Struggling to fit in. What would be the point if he had Michael J. Fox charisma?

I found this movie very prescient to the fate of many autistic people who end up living at home for years, doing nothing and wasting away until they end striking out at themselves or other people. We as a society are just now starting to properly diagnose these people and get them help, so I appreciate the movie for showing someone like this when most ignored them.

More to the point, not every movie needs to be a feel-good Hallmark feature or zany romp. This movie is portraying a stark image of reality that is more accurate to mental illness and the vicious nature of Hollywood than most films. It isn't pleasant, it isn't trying to make you laugh, but it is more relevant today than it was when it was made and that speaks to its importance.

[–] MozartsMuse 9 years ago

I guess the thing is, I have seen other movies with characters who are similarly troubled like Eric, and yet, those movies were actually able to portray the characters somewhat sympathetically and in a more intriguing way. Take George A. Romero's Martin for instance, which is about a teenage boy who believes he is a vampire, and goes on to kill a number of people throughout the film. Despite all the horrible things he does, I still found the ending of Martin to be quite tragic. Fade to Black, on the other hand, didn't have this same impact on me.

I understand that Eric is not supposed to be portrayed as some outgoing and extremely likable guy, but I still think the movie ultimately failed in how it characterized him. Like I said in my first post, there were some scenes that I did find interesting, but unfortunately most of the movie was pretty boring. The basic concept of the film was interesting, but the movie itself was not. I just felt like there was a lot of wasted potential.

But of course, I don't really know what the director's intentions were with the plot and characters. So if the point was for Eric to be so annoying and unlikable that I wouldn't find his death tragic or sad, then I guess the director succeeded.

Welcome to Fright Night....for real. 

[–] Betta_have_my_donutz 9 years ago

It's funny you bring up "Martin" (1977). I just saw this a couple weeks ago. I watched most of "Fade to Black" last night (fell asleep around the very end but I'll watch it tonight).

Martin was someone we were definitely supposed to feel sorry for, Eric on the other hand I'm no so sure about it. I'm really curious to find out what the director's intention was. If we were suppose to feel sorry for Eric then Zimmerman failed in my opinion. Not because he was awkward, more because of the way he treated others. He wasn't very friendly & the way he blurted out movie facts was almost to show others that they were inferior to them because they didn't have the knowledge he had. He had he approached people in a different manner showing that he wanted to be their friend, only to get treated like $hit then I'd probably feel some sympathy for him.

If it was the director's intention to show the reality of alienated kids who can't connect with the world kind like what monkeymechx said then he succeeded. The walking time bomb type kids. Though typically these kinds of kids lose it all at once & will go on a killing spree all at once instead of stalking. I understand this was done more for entertainment purposes though.

Decent movie overall, I found it on youtube. Netflix is slacking when it comes to old school horror...a lot of them are on youtube so check it out.

[–] [deleted] a year ago

I mean he's basically the villain and he's meant to be insane and insufferable in his obsession with movies.

Of course he's unlikable.