FADE TO BLACK

Director: Vernon Zimmerman

Starring: Dennis Christopher, Tim Thomerson, Norman Burton

Breaking Away’s Dennis Christopher gives a sublimely edgy performance as Eric Binford, a young man so obsessed with the movies that he becomes the characters from the silver screen. Toppling into madness, Eric takes revenge on the people who have wronged him, staging an elaborate series of murders based on movie scenes. Vernon Zimmerman directs with some zeal, and succeeds in telling his twisted story with considerable subtlety, creating a memorable character study. Genre fans will certainly get a kick from playing “spot the references”, and a thrill from seeing Charles Band regular Tim Thomerson as police consultant Dr. Moriarty. Anchor Bay’s disc is presented in 16:9-enhanced 1.85:1 ratio, with digital sound. The print is rather coarse, but is generally robust, and has strong colour. The disc also contains a brooding three-minute theatrical trailer (which isn't on the full-frame UK disc from M.I.A.)