Fade to Black

1980
R
1h 42m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

5.3K

YOUR RATING

Dennis Christopher in Fade to Black (1980)

Play trailer2:50

1 Video

87 Photos

Slasher Horror Comedy Crime Horror Thriller

A shy, lonely film buff embarks on a killing spree against those who browbeat and betray him, all the while stalking his idol, a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.A shy, lonely film buff embarks on a killing spree against those who browbeat and betray him, all the while stalking his idol, a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.A shy, lonely film buff embarks on a killing spree against those who browbeat and betray him, all the while stalking his idol, a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

5.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 8 nominations

Videos1

Trailer 2:50

Trailer

Photos87

Top cast36

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Dennis Christopher

Eric Binford

Tim Thomerson

Dr. Jerry Moriarty

Gwynne Gilford

Officer Anne Oshenbull

Norman Burton

Marty Berger
(as Normann Burton)

Linda Kerridge

Marilyn O'Connor

Morgan Paull

Gary Bially

James Luisi

Captain M.L. Gallagher

Eve Brent

Aunt Stella Binford
(as Eve Brent Ashe)

John Steadman

Marcie Barkin

Stacy

Mickey Rourke

Richie

Peter Horton

Joey

Hennen Chambers

Bart

Melinda O. Fee

Talk Show Hostess
(as Melinda Fee)

Anita Converse

Dee Dee

Bob Drew

Reverend Shick

Teddi Siddall

Jill

Sharon Sharth

Mail Girl
(as Sharon Schlaerth)

Director
- Vernon Zimmerman
Writer
- Vernon Zimmerman
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Gwynne Gilford was pregnant during filming and the production team had to hide her stomach in most of the shots. That baby is now actor Chris Pine.

Goofs
As Moriarty and Officer Oshenbull are racing to stop Eric near the film's ending, their police car changes briefly from a 1975-78 Plymouth Fury to a 71-76 Chevrolet Impala, only to change back once they arrive to the scene.

Quotes
Eric Binford: [dressed and speaking as Hopalong Cassidy] Start dancing!
[fires a shot at Richie's feet]
Eric Binford: Say your prayers!
Richie: Hey, come on! What did I do? I'm sorry, I...
Eric Binford: On your knees! Both knees!
Richie: [whimpering] Please, why are you doing this? I didn't do anything to you.
[Eric suddenly breaks character by laughing insanely]
Eric Binford: [normal voice] How does it feel now, Richie?
Richie: Binford!
[alarmed he has been made, Eric shoots Richie several times in the chest, killing him. Eric holsters his gun and casually walks away into the background mist. The image fades to black]

Alternate versions
Vernon Zimmerman's original cut of this film was much closer to a two hour running time. Word came down from the offices of American Cinema Releasing that he was to shorten the running time of the film to about 90 minutes in order to save on lab, printing, and shipping costs for the physical release prints. He and ACR compromised and met in the middle, with a final running time of around 1hour and 42minutes for the release prints. This means that approximately 20 minutes of the film was cut out, making for a couple choppy transitions. - A scene in which more of the character "Marilyn O'Connor" (Linda Kerridge) has her backstory explained.
A scene in which "Marilyn O'Connor" (Linda Kerridge) and "Joey" (a sleazy photographer played by Peter Horton) go on a very awkward date that does not end well.
A scene in which Eric Binford (Dennis Christopher) dressed as Count Dracula enters and lurks around in a Punk music club as the band SID TERROR'S UNDEAD performs the song "I Was A Teenage Vampire" on stage.
A scene after (SPOILER AHEAD) Eric Binford (Dennis Christopher) is shot on the roof of the famous Graumann's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd. and falls to the ground, landing on the hand-prints of Marilyn Monroe in the cement of the Chinese Theater forecourt. Marilyn O'Connor (Linda Kerridge) rushes down from the roof and Eric's final image of her is as Marilyn Monroe in Angel form, taking him to Heaven. He dies in her arms. FADE TO BLACK. Cut to: Early the next morning, workers have a high pressure hose aimed at the ground, spraying water to wash away Eric's blood and chalk crime scene body outline. One worker complains about the mess not washing away, the other answers "Turn up the pressure on the hose, the blood will wash away, it always does", hinting that this has happened many times before.
Other short scenes are also removed, but these are most of the main ones.

Connections
Featured in Sneak Previews: The Idolmaker, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Every Man for Himself, Fade to Black (1980)

Soundtracks
Heroes
Lyrics by Carol Connors
Music by Craig Safan
Performed by Marsha A. Hunt

User reviews67

Review

Featured review

Think "Taxi Driver" cross-bred with "Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer" and "Polyester". Somehow.

There is something about the look and feel of this film I love. It reminds me in some ways of "Martin" - my favorite urban vampire flick.

Not that Fade To Black has anything to do with vampires, its about a lost and lonely nobody whose film life takes over from his mundane, put-upon reality to the point where he takes revenge on the world dressed as his fave film figures. Its a cute conceit for a film so obsessed with film references. Dennis Christopher is such a distinctive figure and his sexual scene in this film is just... quaint oddly saucy. I think this is a cult film ready to be resurrected. Its camp, violent and Mickey Rourke is in it in a bit part. Think "Taxi Driver" cross-bred with "Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer" and "Polyester"