Fade to Black

Director - Vernon Zimmerman (The Unholy Rollers, Deadhead Miles)

Starring - Dennis Christopher (It, Tales of the Unexpected), Tim Thomerson (Near Dark, Trancers), and Gwynne Gilford (Masters of the Universe, Satan's School for Girls)

Release Date - 1980

Genre - Horror/Crime

Tagline - "Eric Binford lives for the movies... Sometimes he kills for them, too!"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in college I was buying movies from several thrift stores and pawn shops from around town.  A lot of time I would find some pretty awesome big budget flicks that I refused to spend more than $5 on.  However, every once in a while I would find some no budget indie flicks and some awesome out of print ones.  One day I was doing my normal around town routine when I stopped by a little pawn shop to see what they had.  This same pawn shop is where I scored the workprint DVD of the indie horror flick Blood Junkie.  I assume a fan or collector was in the area and would pawn these off occasionally for some extra cash.  This particular trip was fruitful when I scored the OOP DVD of Fade to Black along with $1 copy of Black Dynamite.  I watched Fade to Black sometime later and I don't remember shit about it.  When Vinegar Syndrome announced a blu release I figured I would upgrade and revisit it.

     The film follows movie fanatic Eric Bindford (Christopher) who is often the butt of many jokes and bullied.  However, when he meets a filmmaker and he tells him his idea he believes his life is going to turn around and his love of movies is going to make him rich.  Soon he discovers that the filmmaker has taken his idea and made it his own.  This sends Eric over the edge and he starts snuffing out everyone that has wronged him while dressed as memorable movie characters.  

     Fade to Black is a solid movie that is well made and features one hell of a cast.  Sadly, in my opinion, it's one that is easy forgettable and one that I can't watch re-watch right away.  Don't take it the wrong way, it's a good movie but it's just not one that sticks with me like other horror movies. The acting in this one is extraordinary.  Dennis Christopher is no stranger to the genre.  In fact, my first encounter with Christopher was in the 1990 adaptation of It.  He's an amazing actor and watching him slip mentally into other iconic film characters was absolutely amazing.  He made the film what it was.  The supporting cast is great as well but they shine nowhere near as bright as Christopher.  The story for this one is not really a straight forward horror film.  In fact, it almost feels like a dramatic thriller.  It has a slight slasher vibe but plays out like a fun spirited murder mystery.  What makes this one stand out is how the main character is a movie buff with a soft spot for horror.  We can all appreciate seeing a character like him on screen that we can associate with.  Hell, we've all fantasized about getting revenge on someone in some of the ways we've seen in movies.  It's only natural.  It's a fun film but I cant see myself watching it any more than once a year maybe.  Finally, the deaths in the film are expected but not the focus of the film.  The movie is a character piece and the deaths work for the story but are nothing that stand out.  Fans love 80s horror because of their imaginative deaths but the cleverness in this one is focused on the story itself and not the story.  Overall, Fade to Black is a very entertaining film that a lot of movie goers are going to enjoy.  Sure, it's not something I'm going to obsess over like other horror releases but I do enjoy it.  This release from Vin Syn is exactly what collectors have been after for years so be sure to check it out.