The Dark (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 4.6
Released in 1979, The Dark is a horror and science fiction film directed by John "Bud" Cardos, running about 92 minutes. “An alien mutilator stalks and kills human prey during the night.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. At night the Mangler stalks the streets of Los Angeles, killing and mutilating random victims. On the trail are a TV reporter, the father of one of the victims, and a police detective, but despite their efforts only the mysterious psychic DeRenzy knows what the killer is and how to stop it.
Who’s in it. The Dark stars William Devane as Roy Warner, aka Steve Dupree, Cathy Lee Crosby as Zoe Owens, Richard Jaeckel as Det. Dave Mooney and Biff Elliot as Detective Jack Bresler, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.6/10, The Dark has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Screambox Amazon Channel and FlixFling and rent or buy it from Amazon Video and FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Dark page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Dark tend to enjoy Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, The Shining and Alien.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Dark (1979)?
- In US, The Dark is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV and Screambox Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video and FlixFling. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Dark worth watching?
- The Dark holds an audience score of 4.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy horror and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Dark?
- The Dark stars William Devane, Cathy Lee Crosby, Richard Jaeckel, Biff Elliot and Jacquelyn Hyde.
- When was The Dark released?
- The Dark was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 92 minutes.