The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Review Request: Fade to Black (1980)

Do you watch too many movies? How can you tell? The blueprint for someone who takes movies a little too seriously is when they have a mental break and start believing they just might be the main character of their favorite film. Main character syndrome is one thing but losing your sense of self is certainly a serious situation. Fade to Black is the worst nightmare of every film bro out there who spends way too much time on Letterboxd. A young man, dejected by life, spirals into insanity and some serious shenanigans ensue with all types of dangerous consequences.

How does writer/director Vernon Zimmerman make the most of this micro-budgeted darkly comedic slasher? Zimmerman brings plenty of obvious passion for cinema with this film. There are endless references from lines of dialogue to thematic elements to character work to visual motifs to vibes. You can tell watching the film that Zimmerman did not have a lot of money to work with. The footage is grainy and feels like popping in an old home video from the 80s at times. But this is the type of cult classic and low-fi horror film that doesn’t suffer too much from a lack of money. Tonally, this film is a darkly twisted affair that knows exactly what it is. Most of the performances are big and colorful. There are some truly darkly demented moments that are bloody and brutal. The film also has plenty of over-the-top humor that shoots for the ceiling. The pacing of the film is brisk, but it does vary depending on the content on screen (which is more of an issue of writing). This is certainly a B-horror flick of its era through and through.

Does Zimmerman craft a dynamic story around this fun concept? The first thing that stands out from the writing is that it was crafted by a passionate cinephile. The references are varied and rich as they date back to some early titans of cinema. The James Cagney references feel deeply connected to the psyche of protagonist Eric Binford. The themes about obsession over interests and the unhealthy expression of them feel so relevant today. The thematic elements of Eric’s twisted perspective on the world especially when it comes to women feels quite modern and impactful today as well. The core of the film is quite compelling. The mad descent of Eric (leading up to a violent and theatrical end) is engrossing and darkly entertaining. Watching him snap, turn into a killer, and dressing up as plenty of iconic cinematic characters scratches a cinephile itch so well. The unnerving dynamic with his “Aunt” certainly leaves an impact. The heartbreaking dynamic with love interest, Marilyn, is equally as affecting. There are some shaky elements that feel undercooked including the whole police subplot. This film certainly feels a little bloated and unfocused but is a campy good time.

How do the performers do with this style of filmmaking? Dennis Christopher is such an interesting actor who has been in films from Stephen King’s IT to Django Unchained but Fade to Black feels like a role he was born to play. Christopher’s performance is big, committed, and unhinged. He leans into all these alter egos with a zeal that makes for plenty of fun and exciting moments throughout the film. There is also a vulnerability that seeps through all the madness and character work. Linda Kerridge does a fine job of channeling so much Marilyn Monroe into her performance. There might not be a ton of depth, but Kerridge does her job well. Eve Brent is one of the real shining stars in the supporting cast with her big, committed performance that is fiery and intense as well. Many of the performances in the film feel like performances you might expect from a film with such a small budget (as many of these actors may not be professional or have a lot of experience), but it was an interesting surprise seeing Mickey Rourke pop up in the film.

Does Fade to Black offer up a worthwhile experience? The budget might be small (and you can see some of the seams), but this is a wildly fun time. Cinephiles will eat up all the references as Zimmerman explores such surprisingly poignant and relevant themes throughout. Christopher is a wildly fun lead who elevates the film overall. This is a wonderfully twisted gem from the early 80s of horror comedies.

Special thanks to Adam Ritchie for nominating Fade to Black (1980)!