Okay, hear me out: "Alone in the Dark" (1982) and the Fear of Deinstitutionalization?

Hey everyone, Priya here! So, I finally got around to watching "Alone in the Dark" (the 1982 one, of course – not that...other thing). Honestly, it was way creepier than I expected! The premise is simple: psychos escape an asylum and terrorize their doctor. But I think it's tapping into a very specific fear of the time: deinstitutionalization. Think about it – this movie came out during a period when mental health care was shifting away from long-term institutionalization. There was a real social anxiety about releasing potentially dangerous people back into society. The film totally preys on this! The constant blackouts symbolize the breakdown of societal order, and the escapees embody the 'threat' of these individuals supposedly let loose on unsuspecting citizens. Dr. Bain, the psychiatrist, becomes the direct target of this fear. It's like the film is asking, 'Are we really ready for this?'. Even the casting of Donald Pleasence, who was the iconic psychiatrist in "Halloween," feels deliberate, adding another layer of paranoia about the perceived dangers lurking within supposedly 'cured' patients. And the violence isn't just gratuitous; it feels almost…hysterical? It's like an over-the-top expression of that underlying societal panic. Especially that moment when Preacher is giving his...sermon? Chills! It's unsettling. I'll admit the acting isn't always great (looking at you, Jack Palance's overly dramatic performance), but the atmosphere and the subtext make it surprisingly effective. I think the director (whoever it was, it's always escaping me) accidently tap into our shared fear of the other, and societal collapse. So, what do you guys think? Am I reading too much into it, or does anyone else get that vibe? Let me know your thoughts! Maybe I will rewatch after I hear some of your takes!