That was an excellent one.

Memorable, crazy movie

Load of rubbish!!

Best movie ever!

In my view, this film is misleading and inaccurate. The film glosses over the real story, which is how my uncle, Detective John Falotico, was OFFICIALLY CREDITED BY THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT as the arresting officer of the Son of Sam. Indeed, Ed Zigo was not even present at the arrest. REPEAT: Ed Zigo was not even present at the arrest. REPEAT AGAIN: Ed Zigo was not even present at the arrest.The discovery of a parking ticket which led to the killer's vehicle was made from interviews my uncle took from witnesses at the scene of the last murder. Det. Falotico then made the arrest of the Son of Sam. Again, Det. Falotico was officially credited with the "collar" i.e., the arresting officer of the Son of Sam. Detective Zigo's role seems to be limited to searching the vehicle (without a warrant). Det. Zigo was not present at the arrest because he was getting a warrant.Interested readers should read the account from the Los Angeles Times, October 12, 1985. In it my uncle is quoted as saying,"It is my contention that this program that is being aired is like a travesty of justice," Falotico told The Times. "It's a hoax played on the public because, as you know, in any major investigation no one person is a hero."Falotico claims that Zigo was his assistant on the case and "not the major investigator in this case." Yet Falotico's name is never mentioned in "Out of the Darkness."Moreover, check out the obituary for Detective John Falotico from the New York Times in 2006. That gives an accurate version of the facts. Contrast that New York Times obituary with that of Ed Zigo from the New York Times. The New York Times gets the facts right! Don't believe the "docu-drama" . . . it is more drama than "docu". James Justus was the detective that traced the ticket to the Ford vehicle (after my uncle learned from witnesses of the parking ticket). Read the obituaries for both Falotico and Zigo from the New York Times to get a better and true idea of what really happened.

Most negative comments on docu-dramas usually focus on factual inaccuracies, which is certainly valid. My highest rating for this intense TV movie is based entirely on the dramatic elements, not knowing all the details of the Son of Sam case myself. There seem to be two camps who "own" the story, the Jimmy Breslin group which includes Spike Lee, who based his "Summer of Sam" film on Breslin's book. Ed Zigo is the hero here, and Breslin is dissed early in the "Out of the Darkness" by the Brooklyn cops who are the focus of this tight and emotionally rewarding film.As portrayed by Martin Sheen, Ed Zigo's professional and family life is richly revealed. Sheen is completely believable (except probably for those who know Ed Zigo personally), and he sets the acting bar at an extremely high level. The fine supporting cast, led by Elizondo as the aquarium-loving priest, are up to the task. The script is as naturalistic and engrossing as any you will find in a TV movie, and the outstanding location shooting add to the pitch-perfect atmosphere.When you see the real-life hero of the film listed as the technical adviser, you always suspect he or she is going to be shown in a positive if not downright glorified way. I don't need to know Ed Zigo to know that this is a truly great film, made-for-TV or not, with real drama, suspense, fascinating characters, and large emotional rewards.

The above average ratings of this made-for-TV movie seem way too high. I expected an in-depth look at the search for the "Son of Sam," and instead found a mushy look at the familial life of the lead investigator, played by Sheen. In fact, the Son of Sam character was not developed at all. The only reason I stuck through the film was my prior interest to find out how the police captured Sam. It is very difficult to believe that this is the same Sheen who made Apocalypse Now just six years before this.

Pretty good for a made for T.V. Voted a 9 because of all the small parts played by actors not yet famous. Pretty neat to spot them all! Look for Eriq La Salle and Charlie Sheen to name a few. Fun to watch and a good story telling!