OUT OF THE DARKNESS
US, 1985, 96 minutes, Colour.
Martin Sheen, Hector Elizondo, Matt Clark, Jennifer Salt, Eddie Egan.
Directed by Jud Taylor.
Out of the Darkness is an excellent telemovie, an effective police drama written by T.S. Cook and directed by Jud Taylor. It is the true story of Eddie Zigo, the New York detective who broke the Son of Sam serial killer mystery in New York City in the mid-'70s.
Martin Sheen gives a strong performance as Eddie Zigo. Matt Clark is his partner. Jennifer Salt is his wife (with a sub-plot of family concerns, illness and death). Hector Elizondo appears as the family friend priest.
The film shows the work of the New York Police Department. It also shows the atmosphere of alarm in the city with the Son of Sam murders. When the serial killer is eventually tracked down, there is a brief portrait of a self-seeking, eccentric killer who is self-absorbed, hears voices and is driven to killing by his mental illness. The film does not sensationalise its material.
1. An effective telemovie? The New York Police Department and its detective work? An '80s perspective on the serial killers of the '70s?
2. The atmosphere of New York City, the streets, by night, by day? Homes, clubs, precincts? The New York subway? New York life, action? Musical score?
3. The film based on a true story, audience knowledge of the facts? The importance of the emergence of serial killers and audiences knowing so much more about them in the late 20th century? The psychology of serial killers? Their violence? Police work in detecting and arresting them?
4. Martin Sheen's portrait of Eddie Zigo: a New York man, his work with the police force, his relationship with people at the precinct? With authorities? His being esteemed and being asked to be on the special task force? Possibilities for promotion? His work with his partner? His character, in himself, seeing him in action in the subway sequence and his psychological skills in disarming the man on the train? Skill in negotiation? The contrast with the family scenes, the friendships, his brother and his wife, the meals? His love for Anne and their bonds? His son and daughter, Susan and her friends? Hoping that she would go to college? His caution about Susan and the fear of the Son of Sam killings?
5. The murders and the way they were visualised? The victims in cars? The stalking of the victims? The bullets? The identikit? The man thought to be the killer and his desperate reactions?
6. The death of the son of the mobster, Eddie and his going to the bar, the interview? The irony that it was taped? His possibilities of promotion - but hesitating because of Anne's illness?
7. Anne, the relationship with Eddie? The concern about Susan and college? Her collapse, hospital? The discussions with the doctor about surgery? The operation, success, Eddie's going back to the hospital - the impact of her death? His grief and anger? Family support? At home? The priest?
8. The priest, his work at the aquarium, taking Eddie to see the whales? Their discussions, spiritual support? The dinner? Discussions about the case? His support at the time of the funeral?
9. The building up of clues? Eddie on the special task force? The authorities, the squads, his partner, their techniques, on the street, the interrogations?
10. The final clue, the parked car, going to Yonkers? Making sure everything was done by the book? The stakeout? The confrontation with the killer? His psychology, vanity, his voices? The weapon? His motivations? Eddie and the psychology of the interviews? The killer and his reaction to the media and everybody knowing that he was the Son of Sam? His letting the police know about his killings - and his seeing himself as an avenger?
11. American crime, American police work, American detection? This film and the human face of police work? (The sequences with his children after his wife's death, their wanting to relate to him, his keeping things to himself... the pressures on the police, relationship with family and support?)
