Out of the Dark

source: Out of the Dark

Only the most delusional would expect phone sex workers to look as good as they sound, but this is a movie, and so the employees at phone 'fantasy' business Suite Nothings (owned by genre favourite Karen Black) are as hot in the flesh as they are over the phone. Unfortunately, one rather crazy individual -- a sicko in a Clown mask going by the name of Bobo -- isn't getting off by just talking to the girls... he's killing them as well! Unfortunately for the police, the killer clown isn't their only problem: another psycho is at work in the city, busy slicing up prostitutes. Out of the Dark is a satisfyingly sleazy slasher, just so long as you don't focus too much on the storyline, which is chock full of contrivances, plot holes and clichés (perhaps intentionally so). Director Michael Schroeder certainly knows all too well the trashy nature of his film, and fills it accordingly with nudity, sex and gore. A steamy photoshoot featuring a sexy model with an aversion to clothes, and a gratuitous spot of bump and grind between photographer Kevin (Cameron Dye) and his gorgeous blonde girlfriend Kristi (Lynn Danielson-Rosenthal) are the sexy highlights, while the violence includes bludgeoning by baseball bat, strangulation with a hosepipe, a shovel in the skull, and dismemberment in a bath tub, with a suitably bloody demise for the psycho (as is de rigeur for this kind of movie, Bobo, presumed dead, comes back for one more attack before being blasted with a shotgun by cynical cop Lt. Meyers , played by Tracey Walter). Stylishly shot by Schroeder, the film looks great throughout -- far more classy than the subject matter probably deserves. The dependable supporting cast includes Geoffrey Lewis, Bud Cort, Tab Hunter, Paul Bartel (also executive producer), and Divine (in his last screen role), making the film a must for fans of cult cinema. 6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

"Another grisly crime strikes the City of Angels." A psychopath in a clown mask targets the lovely ladies of Sweet Nothings Phone Fantasy. The main suspect is a fashion photographer, Kevin(Cameron Dye), because of his extensive wrap sheet. Kevin is dating one of the phone sex girls, Debbie(Teresa Crespo)and seeks her help in nabbing who they believe is the real murderer, a meek accountant named Stringer(Bud Cort)who works in the same building as the Sweet Nothings service. With Tracey Walter as a detective(!), Karen Black as the proprietor of the phone sex service(!), Geoffrey Lewis as an alcoholic * photographer down on his luck, and Star Andreeff as a ditsy, gum-chewing phone sex operator who volunteers to lure the killer into the police through a set up stakeout which goes awry. Seeing Black in "erotic voice" over the phone with a customer has to be one of the main highlights as is Divine dressed as a male cop, Langella, and Paul Bartel(who also executive produced) with a silly wig on his head, portraying the manager of a sleazy hotel. The violence is toned down to mostly strangulations, with the use of a wooden baseball bat and shovel also weapons of destruction(although, the director also shoots these murder sequences to avoid gory bloodshed). Most of the potent violence comes at the end when a gun(and shot gun)is used to obliterate a victim in self defense. Andreeff steals her scenes as a bright-eyed, happy-go-lucky gal who works it like nobody's business on the phone sex hotlines to horny men needing their kicks. Cort is a hoot as a creepy geek, secretly into kink and perversion, discovered as Kevin and Debbie go through his office searching for evidence to implicate him as the killer. As expected, the clown cracks wise while in the act of executing his victims. The comedy, if my synopsis isn't clear in it's description, has an emphasis on sexual deviancy, including a steamy photo shoot and a scorching bump-and-grind session between Debbie and Kevin in Bartel's hotel(they were hoping to stay safe in an out-of-the-way area to no avail). This felt like a Paul Bartel flick to me, thematically and stylistically..that, my friends, is indeed an endorsement.

I like this Horror-movie very much, because of the murder is funny and scary concurrent. The script and the directing are very good. The spectacle is important in Movies and in this Horror-movie acts the most of the actors very good and realistic. Out of the Dark are a classic from 1989 and are that in soon 20 years ago. Out of the Dark are sometimes a cliché-movie, but are perfect in modern time. The movie are also very exciting, scary, funny, but it not too scary for the viewer. The murder in Out of the Dark is like a clown when he sneak and scare people. I can recommended this horror-movie if you like very exciting and funny horror-movies!

This was more of a thriller/mystery than a horror. Don't get me wrong, it does have its horror and slasher elements, but these come in more towards the end. There was a lot of unnecessary padding by the way of sex scenes which seemed to drag forever. The best parts are at the end when the killer is unmasked. And there's also the classic Haloween style ending which is quite cool. There are moments of tension when the woman is being stalked down a flight of stairs too. Overall though this film is nothing special and I wouldn't say it lives up to how good it sounds (ie. phone sex workers being stalked by a killer in a clown mask). Watch it if you love clown type killers, but this is not essential viewing if you are a horror/slasher fan.

What a truly bad movie. Bad direction, bad writing, bad photography, bad acting, huge plot holes, and glaring police procedure errors. Karen Black was OK in this, but no one else. I think it could only have been saved with a LOT more gratuitous nudity.

Pretty standard stuff, serial killer dressed as clown terrorizes phone sex girls, yada yada yada. It is more unintentionally humorous than most though, and has some disturbing moments, so its not a complete waste. Also, it has Divine's last performance (not in drag!). Don't go out of your way to see it, but if you have friends over and need a laugh, you could do worse.

I for one was always a watcher of B suspense horror flicks and the 80's produced some good ones the way they were done with sex, skin, and guessing suspense. I just recently viewed this one little gem called "Out of the Dark" and it's a watch as it will pass a late night. The setting is in the city of angels L.A. and the beautiful up and coming women who want to be movie stars first work the lines of a high priced and stylish phone sex service. And suddenly one by one each of the ladies start to be brutally murdered. So the questions begin is it a crazy client or customer? The film's theme of suspense and doubt is well showcased as it shows many crazy characters from the company accountant to the ladies current picture taker to a washed up alcoholic photo man. Oddly and in a strange way with each murder the killer hides behind a creepy clown mask! Aside from this suspense thriller being entertaining and a cat and mouse game of a psychotic killer it features work of veteran B movie queen Karen Black as the owner of the phone sex service line. And look for character actor and Jack Nicholson buddy Tracey Walter as the police Lt. that investigates the murders. Overall good little B movie treat.

I love killer clown movies. I love mysteries. A murder mystery about a killer clown....HELL YEAH! To be honest. I liked this film. I really enjoyed it. The movie had a lot going for it. Some well known faces, a downright scary killer, some great visuals. A good amount of humour and overall a fun time was had. Acting: Cameron Dye: was very good as the protagonists boyfriend, He gave an enjoyable performance and I liked him onscreen. Lynn Danielson: I don't know really. There were moments when her dialogue felt embarrasingly forced and OTT. Karen Black: Black doesn't really need to do much here but what she does is certainly not bad. Tracey Walter: The guy came across hilarious as the smart alec main cop of the film. His sarcasm was a hoot. As for the film being scary or gory the version I saw was certainly not gory apart from one scene but as far as scary goes it depends on how scared of clowns you are. The site of a clown driving slowly after you at night time may freak you out if you suffer from coulrophobia The mystery of who was behind the clown mask was good. Though I have read reviews which claim the identity of the killer is very obvious I don't know. If I hadnt had the film spoiled for me before I saw it I am not sure if I would have correctly guessed the culprit. Bobo was cool. He had a creepy deep voice and I LOVED his clown mask! (wish I had one like that) it was just very unnerving. The copy I own is obviously heavily cut because there is only one sex scene. (Very steamy I must add) Be warned! In no way is this film original. In fact it is very cliched and follows some obvious nods to other films (Black Christmas, Halloween. The film does what it is supposed to. Entertains you for the time its on.

A pretty routine thriller, but competently directed and relatively well-written. At first it seems to play all its cards too early, but it does keep some surprises in store. Some intense horror sequences help, but in the final 5 minutes the film resorts into standard cliches and implausibilities (killers that just won't die, forgotten characters appearing out of nowhere, etc).