Alone In The Dark/Fun Facts

• The first film directed by Jack Sholder.

• While writing the screenplay for Alone in the Dark, Jack Sholder was inspired by the writings of R.D. Lang, who theorized that 'psychotics' were actually people having difficulty adapting to an already psychotic world. The character of Dr. Leo Bain was suppose to be something of a parody of Lang.

• Ironically the house that was used for Dr. Potters home in the film actually did belong to a psychiatrist.

• Jack Sholder's original idea for the film was to have the story be about mental patients escaping during a blackout in NYC and the mafia being used to stop them. Due to the low budget it was re-envisioned to take place on a smaller scale outside of New York.

• It was producer Robert Shaye that actually came up with the idea of the character of 'The Bleeder'. Shaye liked the idea of a crazed murderer who always hid his face and was revealed later in the film.

• Makeup effects artist Tom Savini was brought in specifically to create the horrific monster apparition that Toni has. Savini achieved the startling effect by covering an actor in a concoction of soap and Rice Krispies.

• In the script Jack Palance's character was suppose to kill the driver outside the Haven. However Palance refused to do the scene saying it wasn't necessary for him to be seen killing someone for the audience to know that he was a dangerous character. The scene was never shot.

• Matthew Broderick was auditioned for the role of Bunky's boyfriend, however Jack Sholder thought Broderick was too talented for the small part.

• The film was banned in the UK for a time.

• The film was one of the first horror films to be made with Dolby Stereo sound. The advanced sound level would often blow out the speaker systems in older theaters while the movie was being screened.

• In the original script the punk band that Toni drags Dan and Nell to see was named Nicky Nothing and the Hives. When The Sick F*cks, an actual punk group, landed the gig as the punk band for the film their real name was liked so much that they kept it for the film.

• The scene where Ronald Elster grabs Bunky by the throat and lifts her off the floor was done without any special effect. 'Erland Van Lidth' (Elster) was an incredible weight lifter and actually seized Carol Levy by the neck and lifted her for the shot.

• The first scene at Stumps with The Sick F*cks performing was shot silently without the music. The band and audience had to mimic their performances during the filming and the song 'Chop Up Your Mother' had to be dubbed in later on.

• There was a cut scene where members of The Sick F*cks were arrested during the blackout by Det. Burnett.

• One of the members of The Sick F*cks ran into star Jack Palance years later in the streets of New York. He said to Palance that he was one of The Sick F*cks in the film and Palance replied 'we were all sick fucks in that movie'.

• Played on a double bill at The Lyric with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in Nov. 1982.