Fade to Black

10/5/2025

**_When reality imitates cinema_** This comes in the tradition of prior films like “Psycho,” “Willard” and “Don’t Go in the House,” all of which involve a troubled loner who lashes out at society. The twist here is that the misfit (Dennis Christopher) is a fanatical film buff who ends up impersonating classic film characters to enact revenge. I wouldn’t be surprised if the writer was inspired by the Marvel Comics villain The Hangman, who debuted 6.5 years earlier in Werewolf By Night 11-12. I’m sure both of these influenced Tarantino and his script “True Romance” a dozen years later. Dennis Christopher won acclaim the previous year in “Breaking Away.” His role here is very different in which he comes across as a Roddy McDowall type. Blonde Linda Kerridge appears as a Marilyn Mo