By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Shadows Run Black is a mostly forgotten about 1980s slasher, released by Troma, that is much better than IMDB would have the average horror buff think. I had the pleasure of watching it with my brother Geno and my husband Stephen, both of which insisted on saying, “the shadows are running black” every time someone died (and at times when nothing was happening). Despite this, I still found some enjoyment in the film, so that definitely says something.
The movie opens when a guy and his girlfriend are murdered in the woods by a man dressed all in black. Later, during a party of “kids” in their 30s a magician amazes by doing tricks using Tarot Cards and shooting a gun. There Jimmy Scott (Kevin Costner – yes that Kevin Costner) gets into a fight with his girlfriend and goes out for beer. She gets murdered, and Jimmy returns to learn he’s the #1 suspect. He flees leaving everyone to believe that the cops are right in their assessment.
Meanwhile, our lead, Judy (Elizabeth Trosper) who was friends with the victims is dealing with a lot at home. Ever since her parents died, her brother Morgan (Shea Porter) becomes overprotective. This gets ugly, when Judy decides to start dating Billy (Julius Metoyer) a genuinely good man that Morgan disapproves of for no other reason than Billy isn’t white. Morgan beats Billy within an inch of his life, yet the lovebirds still see each other despite the obstacles. Billy loves Judy so much that he’s willing to do anything to befriend her despicable, pious brother.
In reality, Morgan should be more worried about what’s going on in his marriage because his wife (Dianne Hinkler) is stepping out on him. Judy finds out when she comes home from school early one day, but stays silent. She soon begins to get strange and disturbing phone calls from an unknown man telling her that he is her father. She thinks its Jimmy Scott who is still on the run and decides to tell the authorities.
As more murders pile up, it seems that they all have a pattern. Judy concerned about the calls, questions the motive. The police advise that the murderer seems to be doing what he believes to be right; that each killing has a moral undertone as each victim was associated with an act of prostitution, homosexuality (it was the 80s during the Reagan years), etc. If you think this is bad for its portrayal of homosexuality, watch Class Reunion Massacre. It’s a much better and scarier film, but it does try to benefit on the thought of pretty lesbians while condemning it at the same time. For shame movie that I’ve seen fifteen thousand times.
While Class Reunion Massacre is ahead on points for homophobic rhetoric, this comes in a close second for blatant racism. Now, obviously Morgan is a racist character. That’s understandable. Some people are jerks. The problem arises when Judy, while at the dinner table, tries to defend her relationship with Billy. Rather than say something to the effect of, “It’s obvious you don’t want me to see him because you’re racist.” She decides to use the “n” word multiple times saying something to the effect of, “just say it – he’s a ‘n’ and that’s why you don’t want me to see him.” Yeah, that’s fucked up – even on an 80’s scale; F-U-C-K-E-D, to the, UP. Not as bad as when Dana Plato wore blackface to stand up to her racist boyfriend and show solidarity with her brothers on Different Strokes. It’s crazy. I grew up in the 80s. I was born in 79 and I remember a bunch of shows handling the topic of racism better. Family Ties for example dealt with it, when African American friends of the Keatons moved into the neighborhood and were welcomed by bigots who thought the value of their homes would decrease. They used the ‘n’ word as well, but rather had it misspelled when vandals destroyed the house thus showing how ignorant racism was. I can’t imagine Steve or Elyse dawning blackface to try and make their case. So like now, some shows know how to handle topics of racism (The Daily Show, Key and Peele etc.) and others don’t (Family Guy, 2 Broke Girls, Outsourced).
So racism noted, the film is still a good slasher. The conclusion is great as is the reveal. It’s a fun movie. It isn’t anything that shook society, but it certainly doesn’t deserve the low appeal rating it’s getting on IMDB. The acting is shaky, the characters with the exception of Billy, are unlikable and the overall production value could use some work. Still, I would choose it any day of the week over something like Scream (1996). At least, there wasn’t Jamie Kennedy running around telling me the rules of horror and at least the characters weren’t aware they were in a horror movie. I hate that self-aware nonsense.
For those of us who have seen most slasher films, I definitely suggest giving this one a shot. It’s a lot better than much of Costner’s later work. Waterworld (1995) and The Postman(1997) could take some lessons from this movie.
Scared Stiff Rating: 6.5/10
