OK. If you're going to depend solely on electricity to keep the dangerous psychopaths from escaping your mental institute, you really need to have a wholly dependable backup system. Unfortunately, the Haven's backup system fails when the power goes out, which allows the dangerous guys on the third floor to escape (along with everyone else in the institute).

That is most unfortunate for Dr. Dan Potter (Dwight Schultz) because paranoid schizophrenic Frank Hawkes (Jack Palance) has convinced his buddies that Potter killed the previous doctor who was working with them. That includes Byron "Preacher" Sutcliff (Martin Landau), who likes to cry out about the Lord's vengeance while setting fires; Ronald "Fatty" Elster (Erland van Lidth), a serial child molester; and John "The Bleeder" Skaggs (Phillip Clark), who has the embarrassing habit of suffering nosebleeds while he's committing murder and chooses never to show his face if at all possible.

Dr. Potter does have one guy in his corner, Dr. Leo Bain (Donald Pleasance) -- but Bain actually thinks he can simply reason with the criminally insane. Ultimately, it's Dr. Potter's whole family that finds itself "alone in the dark" with four unpredictable, psychopathic killers trying to get in the house. That includes his wife Nell (Deborah Hedwall), young daughter Lyla (Elizabeth Ward) and sister Toni (Lee Taylor-Allan) -- who, wouldn't you just know it, has a lifelong fear of the dark.

Few horror thrillers can boast of such a stellar cast as that of Alone in the Dark. Landau, Palance and Pleasance have a presence that few of today's actors can even begin to match. Schulz was pretty much a lightweight compared to the three big names in this film, but he acquitted himself quite well. Palance and Landau steal the show, though -- as you would expect.

As for the storyline, it isn't all that original overall, but I have to give major props to the writers for introducing one major plot twist I didn't see coming. I didn't find the film scary at all, but there are some uneasy moments involving Potter's little girl and one jump-scare that is pretty effective.

I would highly recommend this film to fans of horror and suspense. Just look at the cast list, for crying out loud. Who wouldn't enjoy watching Palance and Landau get in touch with their psychotic sides?