Nuclear fallout, decadent survivors, and a town of vengeful blind in León Klimovsky’s atmospheric shocker.
THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK
A group of rich businessmen and military officers who are partying in an old castle are spared when a nuclear war ravages the earth. When they venture out into the nearest town to search for food and supplies, they find most of the residents blinded, and soon they discover the existence of a sinister group called The People Who Own The Dark.
The People Who Own the Dark is a 1976 Spanish horror and science fiction film directed by León Klimovsky about a group of decadent survivors who face a town of violently blind residents after a nuclear catastrophe.
- Director
- León Klimovsky
- Writers
- Vicente Aranda, Joaquín Jordá, Gabriel Moreno Burgos
- Release
- 1976
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Genres
- Horror, Science Fiction
- Also Known As
- Último deseo (original title)
The SassyFlix Take
Pleasure-seekers in a fallout shelter—what could go wrong?
Why Cult
The central conflict pits pleasure-seeking survivors against a town of blinded locals, leading to a uniquely tense siege scenario.
The film fuses nuclear paranoia with Spanish horror flourishes, thanks to genre specialist León Klimovsky at the helm.
Much of the action unfolds in the catacombs of an old castle, adding a gothic layer to the apocalyptic dread.
Described as mixing nuclear fear with the decadent tone of ‘La Grande Bouffe’, it stands out for its odd, atmospheric mood.
About This Film
To survive, the group must go to town to get supplies. All the people in town are blind, but they don’t accept those strangers taking their things.
Leaded by a born blind, the people will defend themselves and violence will spread. The town’s people will attack the castle where the group took refuge as the radiation is about to reach them.
Review: A very curious movie, with nice ideas but not such a great accomplishment. A mixture of the fear of nuclear war with a tone of La Grande Bouffe, it makes for an entertaining movie.
This is one of my favorite Eurohorror movies and it is beyond me why it hasn’t been released on DVD. Directed by Leon Klimovsky (Vampire’s Night Orgy and Dracula Saga) and featuring Paul Naschy in a supporting role along with a lot of absolutely beautiful women, it is a great example of 70’s Eurohorror.
A group of rich weirdos get together for some kind of De Sade orgy kind of deal. There is what appears to be an earthquake right when they are about to really cut loose. It turns out that it was actually a nuclear explosion. They decide to stock up on supplies and hide out in the mansion while they wait for help to come.
They make a run to town for food and are surprised to see that everybody else was rendered blind by the blast. They are confused and in a panic as a result. As I am sure you are well aware, it is a short leap from panic to crazed stick wielding killer mobs. The blind people organize and set out to kill any sighted person they can find.
People Who Own the Dark is an absolute must see for Eurofans.
Film Details
Themes & Keywords
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The People Who Own the Dark about? +
The People Who Own the Dark follows a group of wealthy survivors who, after escaping a nuclear apocalypse in a castle, must contend with hostile, blinded townsfolk.
When was The People Who Own the Dark released? +
The People Who Own the Dark was released in 1976.
Who directed The People Who Own the Dark? +
León Klimovsky directed The People Who Own the Dark.
How long is The People Who Own the Dark? +
The People Who Own the Dark has a runtime of 94 minutes.
What genre is The People Who Own the Dark? +
The People Who Own the Dark is a horror and science fiction film.
Where can I watch The People Who Own the Dark? +
You can watch The People Who Own the Dark on SassyFlix.