Six months after a family moves into a lovely home with a troubled history in an isolated part of Southern California strange things start happening. First the power goes out, then Melissa (Margaret Willock) the daughter, claims that something touched her in her sleep, then the bathtub is inexplicably left running and overflows. The nature of the incidents starts to get serious when Christine (Miles) gets locked in the steam room. Who, or what is trying to force them out of their home?
This title was released on VHS, but has never made it to DVD. It can be seen in full on YouTube. The entire film is above, uploaded by TVTERRORLAND.
Obscurity factor: 8 (available on VHS & YouTube, largely forgotten)
Well, I actually enjoyed it. Granted, the ranch home isn't exactly spooky, but I'd certainly be willing to live there. Vera Miles (love her) never fails to provide the perfect expression of consternation. People seem to remember the headless mannequin scene, although I can't imagine why that would frighten anyone, as its presence is clearly established, in the opening scene.
ReplyDeleteAs IMDb points out, the screenplay was written by Sandor Stern, who penned the script for the original "Amityville Horror." He also collaborated with the same director of this TV movie, for another MOW classic, "Where Have All the People Gone" (1974). Any kid from the 70s, will remember it...
Ah, I see that John Llewellyn Moxey also directed your recent posting, "The House That Would Not Die." That's next on my list...
ReplyDeleteI love the crook at the end - he's so over the top!
ReplyDelete(SPOILER) I agree - I was afraid that it would turn out to be the handy man, but the script avoided going with the obvious choice. I do think that the inclusion of the visiting friends at the start, was unnecessary (and wouldn't they have run out of their room that night, when the host's daughter started screaming?). But, it was nice to see "Mother Nature" in a non-commercial role! ("It's Chiffon")
ReplyDeleteYes, she was the perfect wife for Herschel Bernardi...
ReplyDeleteA bit of useless TV trivia...Dena Dietrich and Herb Edelman acted again, together, in a 1991 episode of "The Golden Girls"....he, playing Dorothy's ex, Stan, and she playing Dorothy's sister Gloria (#2). They had an affair in that episode, if I'm not mistaken. Ah, The Six Degrees of "The Golden Girls". Actress Doris Belack, who played Gloria #1 in 1985 (also known for her role in "Tootsie"), died last week.
ReplyDeleteI always get Herb Edelman and Herschel Bernardi mixed up...
ReplyDeleteDress form. Heartbeat. Need I say more?
ReplyDelete