Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- eerie
- tense
- darkly humorous
- halloween night
- late night horror marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film a tense, atmospheric, performance-driven horror thriller with dark humor, though its predictable plot limits its impact.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The power cut enables multiple violent inmates to escape and attack a psychiatrist's household.
The escapees target psychiatrists associated with coercive theories, while the asylum itself is presented as psychologically unstable.
Critics specifically praised the gradual build of suspense, tense atmosphere, and undercurrent of madness.
Jack Palance, Donald Pleasence, and Martin Landau are central attractions in the escaped-inmate ensemble.
Films like Alone in the Dark, and why
Halloween
shared slasher framework, stalking killer, and escalating suburban suspense
Night of the Living Dead
shared siege structure, blackout atmosphere, and grim survival horror
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
shared isolated-house setting, escaped psychopaths, and suspense-driven horror
Movie Details
- Director
- Jack Sholder
- Release Date
- 1982-11-12
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (169)
Cast
- Jack Palance
- Donald Pleasence
- Martin Landau
- Dwight Schultz
- Erland van Lidth
- Deborah Hedwall
- Lee Taylor-Allan
- Phillip Clark
- Elizabeth Ward
- Brent Jennings
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Alone in the Dark about?
- During a citywide blackout, escaped psychiatric inmates turn a psychiatrist’s farmhouse into a claustrophobic arena of revenge and survival.
- What is Alone in the Dark like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Alone in the Dark as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Alone in the Dark violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Alone in the Dark as graphic.
- What did critics think of Alone in the Dark?
- Critics generally found the film a tense, atmospheric, performance-driven horror thriller with dark humor, though its predictable plot limits its impact.
- Which films are like Alone in the Dark?
- Films with a similar feel include Halloween, Night of the Living Dead, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
- How long is Alone in the Dark?
- Alone in the Dark runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Alone in the Dark?
- In United States, Alone in the Dark is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store.
