The early 80's were a weird time. It was an era of technological in-between, we were coming off the second golden age of cinema, and beginning a rather blase' one, minus the horror genre, and Reagan was about to try to convince us that trickle-down economics works. Not good.
Fade to Black fits right in there. Eric Binford is the best thing about this movie. A snivelling film-obsessed whelp who just can't catch a break while born into terrible circumstances, you know he's gonna snap. Which he does. Resulting in murders. Despite the fact that everyone in his life uses him as a toilet, it's a complete innocent accident by an empathic love interest that results in him going straight over the edge. Dennis Christopher is wonderful in this nerdy little role. You don't know whether you want to give him a hug, or slap the stupid out of him, and that takes a hell of a performance.
Besides Christopher, Fade to Black is a bit of a mess. Tremendously well-written in segments, and awfully underwitten in others, it's an exercise in frustration. There are plot holes big enough to fly a 747 through, and in multiple spots in the film. It has you tugging your moustache. Or your ponytail. Or your cat. Whatever.
Also, for the people who like to play spotter, there's a young and horribly-dressed Mickey Rourke, whose character here makes the guy he plays in 9 1/2 Weeks look like a charmer. There's a horribly-feathered Peter Horton who many will remember from Children of the Corn, Thirtysomething, and the long underrated and forgotten series Brimstone. And also, for B-movie buffs like me, a horribly underused Tim Thomerson.
This does work as a Halloween movie curio of curiosity, but prepare for a roller-coaster of weirdness, and characters that are either creepy, stupid, or just blank voids.
Also, producers Irwin Yablans and Joe Wolf, don't think I don't spot your movie posters in the background of the film cannister warehouse Eric works at. I see you.
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