Summer Of Fear aka Stranger In Our House

     Wes Craven followed up his infamous LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and his controversial THE HILLS HAVE EYES with the superbly entertaining made-for-TV horror flick SUMMER OF FEAR, based on the young-adult mystery novel by Lois Duncan, and stars the one and only Linda Blair. Of course it sounds irresistible, and well, it is.

     Rachel, perfectly played by Linda Blair, is your typical, free-wheeling teenager who loves horseback riding, has a major crush on a boy, and pretty much lives a golden life. However, her world is shaken up one sunny morning with the stunning news of the death of her aunt and uncle, who along with their housekeeper, died in a car accident in the Ozark Mountains. As a result of this tragedy, their teenage daughter Julia, played by Lee Purcell, is coming to live with Rachel and her family. And suddenly all hell breaks loose.

     Rachel likes Julia at first, who comes across as rather mousy and scared of her own shadow.  But Rachel soon realizes there is something mysterious going on with dowdy Julia, as she seems to be taking over Rachel's life, her family, her crush, and her friends- which by the way, is played by none other than Fran Drescher from "The Nanny"! Soon Julia starts dressing like Rachel, even copying her hair, as the whole thing builds to a completely satisfying catfight showdown of a climax.

     Now even though this is a Wes Craven production, don't expect a brutal exercise in horror. However, it's a nifty little nail-biter that's solid and campy and all-around entertaining. Craven knows what he's doing here and doesn't disappoint.

 

        SUMMER OF FEAR is one of the best known made-for-TV thrillers of the 1970's and 80's, and there's plenty of reasons why. Check it out, kids.

Midnight Offerings

       For those of us who grew up on "Little House On the Prairie" and "The Waltons", then you must remember Melissa Sue Anderson and Mary Beth McDonough- Mary Ingalls and Erin Walton, of course.  And for those of us who grew up on the wonderful made-for-tv horror movies of the 1970s and 80s, MIDNIGHT OFFERINGS is quite the offering indeed. 1981 was an awesome year for horror, and apparently Melissa Sue Anderson was eager to shed her innocent television personality.  

     MIDNIGHT OFFERINGS tells the story of confident and bitchy Vivian, who apparently rules the school.  Vivian is played to icy perfection by Melissa Sue here.  She's popular, she's pretty, and she is dating the high school stud. Viv is the star of the high school, and intends on keeping things that way.  Oh and did I mention Viv owns a black cat and just happens to have a shrine to Satan in her bedroom?  How is that for sheer 80's awesomeness? See, Vivian is a witch, and practices the black magic when things don't go her way.  You just do not dare cross Vivian.

     Fortunately for us,  Robin Prentiss, played by Mary Beth McDonough of "The Waltons", shows up as the new girl in school.  Pretty, but somewhat dull Robin seems to be the opposite of catty Vivian- she's shy, quiet, and mousy... and Viv's stud boyfriend takes an immediate liking to her.  Robin herself also happens to be a witch- although she's a good witch... she just doesn't fully understand the extent of her own powers yet.  Of course, this pisses Viv off to high heaven, and you can guess what happens next, I'm sure...

     MIDNIGHT OFFERINGS was considered quite shocking when it first aired back in 1981. It's really no more than your average made-for-tv fluff, but something about this film in particular left a lasting impression on those of us who caught it back then. There is just something very entertaining about it. It's high camp for sure- besides the gals from "Little House" and "The Waltons", Marion Ross from "Happy Days" shows up as an aging witch who helps Robin channel her powers, Cathryn Damon from "SOAP" as Viv's witch-on-the-wagon mother who strongly disapproves of her daughters' evil doings, and Arthur Carlson from "WKRP In Cincinnati" as Viv's clueless dad.  I know!  It's classic TV heaven!

     This is prime 80's Movie Of The Week stuff here- and oh-so-enjoyable!  God, I loved this movie as a kid.  And I still love that it took itself quite seriously back then- there was no effort whatsoever to be "hip" or "snide", and no constant bombardment of pop culture references.  It is what it is- a teen witch movie, and it embraces it head on.  And that, my dear, is the only way to do a scary movie. Even if it's of the made-for-tv variety. MIDNIGHT OFFERINGS shows up quite regularly on Sci-Fi, USA, and TNT, and if you ever stumble across it one late, windy night, give it a chance.  You won't be disappointed.
 

 

The Twilight Zone- Night Call

     You just cannot beat "The Twilight Zone" for sheer creepiness.  As a whole, many episodes were uneven at best- but when "The Twilight Zone" was on target, oh boy, was it.  Case in point- "Night Call".  "Night Call" is the story of invalid Elva Keene, who's crippled and lonely and miserable- until suddenly and mysteriously she starts getting strange phone calls late at night. There's nothing on the line but sounds of an older man groaning, which greatly disturbs her after the second and third calls.  Nobody seems to believe her, and soon she and the viewer start to question her sanity. Or is it all real?  It's based on the sensational story by the legendary Richard Matheson- the man responsible for such writing such gems as "Trilogy Of Terror", "Die! Die! My Darling!", "Duel", "Kolchak: The Night Stalker", "The Devil Rides Out", "The Incredible Shrinking Man", "The Legend Of Hell House", and "Stir Of Echoes", just to name a few.  I know, right? 

     On top of all that, it's directed by legendary horror director Jacques Tournier, who makes this story rich with possibilities and drenches it in extraordinarily unnerving atmosphere.  This episode packs a punch of gutteral terror.  It's disorienting and scary to be awoken in the middle of the night by a phone call anyway, because it's usually bad news.  But to hear nothing but silence, then a low, unearthly moaning coming from the other line, time after time... is terrifying.  

     It's  a masterpiece of suspenseful storytelling, and one of the best "Twilight Zone" episodes of all time. "Night Call" is simple and terrifying.  As viewers, we feel old Elva's fear- and feel every bit as alone as frightened as she does.  Each ring of the phone sends chills down your spine as she becomes more and more helpless to the situation.  It's fantastic.  This was extremely scary stuff back as a child, and it's just as spooky today.  The ending is classic "Twilight Zone", and still packs a wallop.  It's sad that there hasn't been anything this smart on tv since "The Twilight Zone".  I doubt there ever will be.

The Twilight Zone- Living Doll

 
      For some downright weird and chilling terror, sometimes you just cannot beat "The Twilight Zone".  I distinctly remember many Friday nights staying up late and getting the crap scared right out of me by an old "Twilight Zone" episode.  I've been going back and re-discovering some old episodes- and I must say, wow.  This was a great and inventive show that many times ventured into outright horror, and I'm going to start highlighting some of the scariest and most chilling episodes ever filmed.  I think I'll start with one of the best and most well-known.

     "Living Doll" tells the story of little Christie, who desperately wants the new "TalkyTina" doll.  Her mother, Annabelle, buys it for her, much to the displeasure of her ogre of a husband, Erich- played by Kojak himself, Telly Savales.  Apparently, he's a total douchebag, and the doll, who normally says "My name is Talky Tina, and I love you very much!", instead tells Telly "My name is Talky Tina and I don't think I like you".  The doll actually seems to be telling Erich that she senses that he doesn't like her, so in turn she doesn't like him.  Erich, in a fit of rage, simply thinks that because he's the new stepfather, mother and daughter are playing a trick on him.  He soon comes to realize though that mother and daughter are not involved- and that's there's something supernatural going on here.

     "Living Doll" actually pre-dates "Trilogy Of Terror" and "Child's Play"( both of which obviously were inspired by this tv classic...)-long before Chucky became a household name in the late 80s, there was Talky Tina.  Many people have a deep, dark fear of dolls, and this episode plays off those fears quite well.  It's a thoroughly entertaining and chilling little exercise in imagination and fear, and one of the best "Twilight Zone" episodes ever. Guaranteed to give you a grand case of the creeps, this is one of the best killer doll stories ever done, besides "Trilogy Of Terror".  I'll take Tina over Chucky anyday- I personally find "Child's Play" one of the cheesiest and most stupid horror films of all time.  This is done much better, I think.  Besides, the great Bernard Herrmann creates a sinister score for the episode, and his presence is always a plus.  The doll used to play Talky Tina is actually Brikette, made by the Vogue Doll Company.  Brikette doesn't actually talk, but the doll was inspired by Chatty Cathy, which was made by Mattel.  June Foray supplied the voice for both Tina and Cathy, and you may recognize the voice, as it's the same one for Granny and almost all of the female characters on "Looney Tunes" and "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show".  Talky Tina made such an impact on pop culture, you can now buy an exact replica of Tina, done in a talking, resin bobble head.  Great, spooky stuff!

Trilogy Of Terror

      "Trilogy Of Terror", directed by the great Dan Curtis and based on three short stories by Richard Matheson, is one of the most infamous made-for-tv movies of all time.  "Trilogy Of Terror" has cemented its status in the annals of horror and pop culture.  This scared the living bejesus out of pretty much everybody when it first aired back in 1975 as the ABC MOVIE OF THE WEEK, and it's one of the best made tv horror movies of all time.  Although the final act of "Trilogy Of Terror" usually gets all the attention, all three stories are actually quite good.  Karen takes on three different roles in this tv frightfest, and earned herself some legendary cult status in the process.

     The first story, "Julie", finds Chad (Robert Burton), becoming obsessed with his mousy college English professor, played by Black.  Chad finally asks her out on a date, and Julie accepts.  But Chad has sinister motives, as he plans to drug her and take racy photos so he can blackmail her.  But little does he know that she is involved with the supernatural, and suddenly the tables are turned on him...  It's a quiet and creepy story that starts the film off on a strong point.

     The second story, "Millicent/Therese", concerns two sisters (both played by Black) who hate each other.  One of the sisters is plotting the demise of the other, but little does she know of the surprises in store for both.  It's probably the weakest of the stories (although Black portraying a sashaying floozy is certainly campy), but sometimes I wonder if they didn't purposely put a weak story in the middle, just to catch us off guard for the shocking finale.

     Easily the most effective and frightening is the third and final act of "Trilogy Of Terror", entitled ""Amelia", or sometimes known as "Prey".  The story is very simple, actually.  Karen Black buys an African fertility doll as a gift to her boyfriend, and takes it back to her apartment to give it to him the next day. However, alone in her apartment that night, she finds it suddenly and shockingly coming to life and hellbent on killing her.  It's this scene that puts this little tv shocker in the pantheon of such horror icons as Damien, Michael Myers, and Carrie.

  

     This was supremely scary stuff back in the day- I know I didn't see it when it first aired, but it's been shown so many times on the late show that I probably saw a repeat of it around 1982 or 83...  and it literally caused me to sleep with the lights on for at least a week.  Granted, I was only ten or eleven when I first saw this, but even today it's still rather shocking and disturbing.  Even for a 1975 made-for-tv movie, the effects are impressive.  This is a gleefully terrifying sequence, one that completely takes you off-guard and is the stuff of nightmares.

     "Trilogy Of Terror" is truly one of the most famous and well-loved of all the fantastic tv horror flicks from the 70s and 80s.  You can guarantee an October showing of it somewhere on cable, and the doll is a highly sought-after collectible.  I grew up on this stuff, and as much as I love retro tv horror, "Trilogy Of Terror" is a personal favorite.  It's available on Netflix, and if you haven't discovered the awesomeness that is Karen Black, not to mention the wonderfully weird work of Dan Curtis and Richard Matheson, then you are totally missing out.

The Devil's Daughter

     Yet another 70s gem in the spotlight, you ask?  You'd better believe it, kids.  And just in time for Halloween! Originally airing in 1973 as an ABC Movie Of The Week, it was part of the huge wave of "satanic" horror films that were influenced by the success of "Rosemary's Baby".  This extremely entertaining made-for-TV production offers up every horror cliche found in the book, all the while gleefully ripping off "Rosemary's Baby" every bit of the way.  My opinion, you ask?  "The Devil's Daughter" can be summed up in one word...  Awesome.  

     The story goes something like this- Diane Shaw, a  young woman (Belinda Montgomery), returns home for her mother's funeral.  There, she meets an old friend of moms, Lillith, played by Shelley Winters, in a deliciously hammed-up performance.  As if her star power isn't good enough, the great Jonathan Frid plays her mute butler.  Yes, that Jonathan Frid of "Dark Shadows" fame!  I know, right?  Lillith takes Diane under her wing, introducing her to all her rather strange friends- just wait until you get a load of the Poole Sisters!  Before you know it, Lillith has insisted Diane move in with her.  All is fine, until Lillith starts becoming rather possessive and cloying of Diane, but by then she realizes she's caught in something deeper and much more terrifying...  

      Even for a cheesy tv movie, "The Devil's Daughter" is much better than it should be.  Besides the obvious "Rosemary's Baby" overtones, the film has great atmosphere, solid tension, some genuine shocks, and a fantastic twist ending.  Not to mention a marvelous cast- Shelley Winters, Jonathan Frid, Joseph Cotten, Abe Vigoda, Robert Foxworth, and Diane Ladd all make appearances.  The story and material honestly would have been strong enough to warrant a theatrical release, as the trappings of a TV flick hampers it slightly.  Certainly not enough to ruin the experience, mind you.  It's still quite entertaining.

     "The Devil's Daughters" is one of the best-known of all the TV horror flicks of the 70s and 80s.  It's every bit as good as "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark", "Trilogy Of Terror", or "Dark Night Of The Scarecrow".  It's a perfect little slice of TV terror to enjoy this time of the year- and can sometimes be found on television around October.  This is a perfect, shut out all the lights, light some candles, and settle down on the sofa for a good scary movie while the wind blows and leaves fall outside kind of flick.  Watching this was an absolute hoot from start to finish, I enjoyed it that much.  I mean, Shelley Winters, Barnabas Collins, and witchcraft all rolled up into one?  Sign me up now, please.

When A Stranger Calls Back

  
      Fred Walton (who also helmed the original) returned to direct this sequel to the terror classic that scared millions of babysitters around the world with WHEN A STRANGER CALLS.  Titled WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK, this made-for-tv sequel that originally aired on Showtime back in 1993 is in my opinion, extremely underrated and scary, as many die-hard fans proclaiming it's far more frightening than the original. This film has one goal- to scare the hell out of the audience, and with relentlessly mounting tension and harrowing suspense, for the most part it succeeds. It opens with another babysitter, Julie, played by 80's icon Jill Schoelen. (What the hell ever happened to her, anyway?) This time, a man knocks on the door claiming car trouble and asks to use the phone to call the auto club. Things get scary pretty quickly as Julie soons realizes that he's got more on his mind than just the auto club.

     Just like the original, the sequel boasts an extremely terrifying opening.  Every bit as nerve-wrenching as the original, the film starts off strong and unlike the first, actually stays a bit more interesting in the rest of the movie.  And there are quite a few chilling moments sprinkled throughout the film. Carol Kane returns (in a bit of a stretch) as a counselor who just happens to work at the same college where Julie attends.  Charles Durning also returns as the retired detective who reluctantly goes back to work at the insistence of Kane to find the killer.  It's fun to see the two gang up to help Julie and track down the elusive killer.  Plus, it's got Jill Schoelen, kids.

     WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK has many things going for it.  First, the aforementioned return of Kane and Durning, who actually work well as a cinematic pairing. They click, they have a vibe, and one can almost see the two characters in their own series, tracking down mysterious psychopaths. The movie also uses a great building of suspense- many close-ups of doorknobs and doorlocks for one, and slow, deliberate camera work that achieve an almost excruciating exercise in suspense.  I saw this on Showtime when it first aired, and the three of us watching it late one night were paralyzed with fear.  Fred Walton manages to squeeze every drop of tension out of the material, and it's almost hard to believe that this is just a made-for-tv production. The great thing about the STRANGER CALLS movies are that unlike other splatter and special effects productions, these movies use the opposite approach. The terror here builds inside your head,  where it lingers... Your imagination kicks into overdrive... and suddenly every little noise, every little movement,  become much more scary.  That's the beauty of tension and suspense.  So much more rewarding than intestines.  These are sadly underrated films, and both are very much worth watching.  "Have you checked the children?"

Count Dracula

  

     There have been countless film versions of the story of Count Dracula.  Unfortunately, very few have been memorable.  Of course, we have Bela Lugosi's immortal incarnation, closely followed by the great Christopher Lee.  But for the most part, bleh.  However, in 1977, the BBC offered up a version of Bram Stoker's classic that follows his story more than any other adaption, I think.  Louis Jordan portrays the legendary Count, and for the most part, delivers an all-around creepy and chilling performance.

      This marvelous production provides loads of scary atmosphere and quite a few startling images.  Some complain about how the interiors are shot on video and the exteriors shot on film, but I think it gives the whole thing a delicious, "Dark Shadows" vibe to the  fun and doesn't bother me one bit.  If you've ever actually read the novel by Bram Stoker on which all of this is based on, you'll find this BBC production to be by far the most accurate and faithful.  Many horror fans claim this is the definitive Dracula brought to life, so to speak, beating out all the other Hollywood productions.  Arguable, to be sure.  But Jordan does deliver a kick-ass performance.  And it's certainly in the Top 5 all-time portrayals of the Count.

     This is essential October viewing, and still remains one of the best visions of the immortal Count Dracula.  There is just something about this version... something haunting.  It takes a miminalist approach, and honestly, it works far better than Francis Ford Coppola's over-blown, big-budget version.  This production proves once again that you can do wonders with very little as long as you have imagination.  For instance, the scoreless scenes of the wind howling through the castle and the wolves howling outside are extremely effective and atmospheric.  I would have to say that this is the spookiest Count Dracula I've ever seen.  No disrespect to Lugosi or Lee here, but Jordan's Count Dracula is by far the scariest. The entire production is scary.  There is an underlying sense of dread that permeates this production- it really does get under your skin. So, if you want to experience the fog-drenched world of Transylvania pretty much as Bram Stoker himself imagined it, then this is the one for you.  "Count Dracula" is must-see viewing, and here is a taste of the lush terror that awaits you.

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