Seven in Darkness

Seven in Darkness (1969)

*** (out of 4)

A plane full of blind people are being taken to Seattle during a very bad storm when it crashes into the wilderness. Naturally, everyone on the plane who could see are now dead and it's up to seven people, including a pregnant woman, to try and make it out of the woods even though they can't see.

This here was the first ABC Movie of the Week and it's pretty funny to see how much all future TV movies can pretty much be seen here. You've got a very interesting story to grab your attention. You've got famous faces like Milton Berle, Barry Nelson, Leslie Ann Warren and Arthur O'Connell. You've got a short running time that goes by very quickly. And you've got the cliffhanger moments that build into a commercial. SEVEN IN DARKNESS has several flaws but there's no question that it holds your attention from the opening moments until the closing credits and it's certainly worth viewing.

If you're into disaster movies then you're going to enjoy this as the idea because it is quite good. How would seven blind people make it down off a mountain? With a running time of just 73 minutes nothing is given to us in great detail. In fact, I would have liked to have seen the "how" a tad bit more because it seems their journey was just a tad bit too easy for the most part. Still, there are some tense scenes including one where a couple members are attacked by wolves and another where they must try to find a way to cross a river. The performances for the most part are good and on the whole SEVEN IN DARKNESS is a good little film.

An interesting little film. The plot is a bit far fetched and corny at times, but not incredible. A chartered plane carrying mostly blind passengers to a convention, crashes in the wilderness and only the blind survive. It is quite interesting to see how they try to extricate themselves and make it back to civilization. Those who see this movie will never again take their eyesight for granted. This film used to be rerun quite often, but, as far as I know, it hasn't been released on video and has not been broadcast for many years. I can't figure out why. It's an interesting and unique addition to the "disaster film" genre with brand name actors; including Milton Berle in a dramatic role; and should do well if re-released.

"Seven in Darkness" is the first episode of "The ABC Movie of the Week" and it's certainly a memorable...though contrived one. Think about it...an airliner with a group of blind people headed to a conference crashes...and just about all the blind people are fine but, miraculously, all the non-blind folks are killed!!! What are the odds?! So it's up to the blind folks to grope their way through the wilderness in order to find help...otherwise the gathering wolves will tear them to pieces. Along for the trek are a variety of caricatures-- such as the grouch who doesn't want to come to terms with being blind (Milton Berle), a pregnant woman, a war hero and a variety of other broad types. It's not a bad film and keeps you engaged...but the basic premise is a bit silly and tough to believe.

A group of blind people survive a plane crash.

This was probably a lot better in 1969 than it was in 2020. In the 70s several airplane disaster movies came out on TV or in cinemas, so this all seems way too routine now. Also, unlike the later versions, this sometimes features a way too obvious use of studio sets that replace location filming. And finally, the middle section of Seven In Darkness slows down to the point of boredom.

But the movie does have it's strong points, mainly the well directed ending which I dare not reveal. And the musical score was better (and more retro) than a lot of the later plane disaster shows.

I think Irwin Allen was watching and he later pinched ideas - Beyond The Poseidon Adventure (1979) had a blind guy and When Time Ran Out (1980) had a very long bridge walk that resembles this.

Basically, watch Seven In Darkness, but don't expect too much.

It's the story of a plane crash in a remote area, where the surviving passengers attempt to make their way to civilization and life. Here, though, they happen to be blind. Milton Berle is superb as Sam, an embittered, angry man caught up in his past disappointments and who is now in the struggle of his life.