The Daily Dig: Dark Tower (1987)

“Dark Tower” is a low-budget thriller that relies on dialogue and a great cast to carry it, but ended up being disavowed by its creator. 

A skyscraper is the scene of multiple, tragic deaths, but is it also the reason? Let’s dig into 1987’s DARK TOWER,  directed by Freddie Francis!

As I See It

Not to be confused with Stephen King’s self-proclaimed Magnum Opus of the same name, this pseudo-slasher features a deadly building. Not too dissimilar to films like The Lift, Poltergeist III, or even Rosemary’s Baby, we’re dealing with a dark entity that rests within the bowels of the building. That’s about where the comparisons can stop, though.

Although Michael Moriarty is a really good actor, it’s nearly impossible to separate him from his Law & Order character, Ben Stone. This film even follows a somewhat similar structure to that of a procedural, albeit with a supernatural twist.

They do use the elevator as a tension builder, which anyone who has ever had a bad experience with such a machine can attest; it’s a valid fear.

The final product has been derided and disavowed by its very own creators. Director Freddie Francis took credit under a pseudonym and wasn’t happy with the film. In fact, he was so displeased that he stopped directing and focused on cinematography. A move that seemed to be the right one, as he would win an Academy Award for that role just a couple of years later (Glory).

To be fair to the content, I don’t think there was going to be a scenario where he was happy with the final film. Low-budget horror isn’t for everyone, and Francis seemed to have larger, more mainstream aspirations.

Reportedly, Roger Daltrey (of the legendary The Who) was initially attached to star in the role that eventually went to Michael Moriarty.

Famous Faces

Michael Moriarty (Dennis Randall) most famously played District Attorney Ben Stone on the long-running TV show, Law & Order. He also has a surprising amount of genre films on his resume: Larry Cohen’s Q: The Winged Serpent, The Stuff, A Return to Salem Lot, and It’s Alive III, as well as the infamous Troll (1986).

Jenny Agutter (Carolyn) was in John Landis’s brilliant American Werewolf in London, which features the most epic werewolf transformation put to celluloid (credit to Rick Baker).

Doug Jones (Corpse) is reported to have played the festering fellow in the finale. I can’t find any other evidence, besides anecdotal, of his participation, but I can believe it based on the small sample of movement in the scene. Jones is, of course, famous for being a chameleon that gives life to a number of iconic creatures from Pencilhead in the criminally underrated Mystery Men, to Abe Sapien in Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy films. He is regularly cast by del Toro, for good reason; there’s no one better at bringing fantastic visions to life in a humanoid form. Lastly, he played Billy Butcherson in Hocus Pocus.

Of Gratuitous Nature

There are many times when I’ve found myself desensitized to violence or aspects that I would not be able to stomach in reality, while watching a film. I was in high school in 1999, and the tragedy at Columbine was a clear demarcation. A loss of innocence, personally, if you will. Though it wasn’t completely unheard of at the time, the mass shooting scene is played so coldly that it’s hard to imagine it didn’t have an impact on an audience even then.

Today? That’s a horse of a different color. Instead of being a mere plot device, it would become the focal point of the story.

Heartthrob

The original cover art features a high-rise shaped like a coffin, and I think it was a big mistake for Vinegar Syndrome to opt for new, alternate art that didn’t adhere to the same theme, as it’s phenomenal.

Ripe for a Remake

Like I said earlier, the mass shooting element would be the focus of any social commentary or intended allegory. It’s a really hard topic to approach with any sort of artistry while also maintaining integrity. I’m not saying it’s not worth the effort. I believe it is because our society has a real problem and forgets too quickly until the next, and the next, and the next… You get the point. You need to find the right wrapping and a filmmaker brave enough.

Spawns

No progeny to report.

Where to Watch

Vinegar Syndrome released a limited-edition Blu-ray in 2021, but it has since sold out. You can stream it on Prime Video, Fubo, Philo, and MGM+.