Fade to Black
1980 · Movie · R · 102 min · ★ 5.6 · 48% critics
A lonely movie obsessive retreats into old Hollywood fantasies as everyday humiliations and disappointments push him toward violence. This offbeat thriller mixes horror, dark humor, and film-buff references around a dangerous fixation on a glamorous screen-icon lookalike.
Where to watch
Streaming on AMC+, Shudder, Shout! TV +1 more.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1980
- Release date
- 1980-10-14
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Critic score
- 48/100
- TMDB rating
- 5.6/10 (91 votes)
- Box office
- $15,000,000
- Budget
- $1,800,000
About
You may like this if you enjoy offbeat 1980s horror with old-movie nods and a cult feel, especially near Popcorn; Not for you if you need brisk pacing or lots of gore.
Pros: strong lead performance; classic-film references; cult atmosphere | Cons: predictable at times; uneven genre mix; underused supporting characters
Themes
- fan culture
- serial killer
- chain smoking
- slasher
- hollywood
- woman in wheelchair
Cast & crew
Dennis Christopher
as Eric Binford
Tim Thomerson
as Jerry Moriarty
Gwynne Gilford
as Officer Anne Oshenbull
Norman Burton
as Marty Berger
Linda Kerridge
as Marilyn O'Connor
Morgan Paull
as Gary Bially
James Luisi
as Capt. M.L. Gallagher
Eve Brent
as Aunt Stella Binford
John Steadman
as Sam
Marcie Barkin
as Stacy
Directed by Vernon Zimmerman