The Dark (1979)

Directors: John 'Bud' Carlos, Tobe Hooper

Writer: Stanford Whitmore

Composer: Roger Kellaway

Starring: William Devane, Cathy Lee Crosby, Richard Jaeckel, Keenan Wynn, Warren J. Kemmerling, Biff Elliot, Jacquelyn Hyde, Casey Kasem, Vivian Blaine, John Bloom, Bill Derringer

More info: IMDb

Tagline: After fear...beyond terror...there is THE DARK!

Plot: Los Angeles is being stalked by a seven-foot alien that decapitates its victims and shoots laser beams from its eyes. William Devane is the father of its first victim, and teams up with a TV reporter, a rival detective and a psychic to track "The Mangler" down before it claims its next victim.

My rating: 6/10

Will I watch it again? No.

#205 on Drive-In Delirium Vol. 2 (part of the TRAILER TRASH PROJECT)  

You've got cool ass mutha fuckin' William Devane, what else do you need?

THE DARK is essentially a serial killer detective story but with the killer being an alien from outer space.  Why?  Beats me.  It's not explained beyond that and I suppose it doesn't need to be.  The special effects (mostly lasers exploding things) are on par with late 70s TV shows like BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (1978) and BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25th CENTURY (1979) but you're not watching this for cutting edge effects.  You're watching it because it's got cool ass William Devane on the hunt for the man who brutally killed his daughter and he's got some showbiz pals to help him do it.  It's not as bad as the IMDb rating suggests but ultimately it ends with a lackluster showdown with the creature (at night, to make it easier on the special effects guys).  You'll have a better time with it if you think of it as a detective flick with a twist.