Reviews (59)

New Outlook on an Old Movie
I was 12 years old when this "made for television" movie first aired.The only part of the movie I actually had any recollection of was, of course, the little Zuni devil doll running across the floor. That was enough for it to remain in my memory as being a very scary movie. When I saw that it was available on DVD, I bought it, hoping to bring back some old childhood memories. What a difference 27 years make.
As the title implies, the film is composed of three short (unrelated) stories, although only the last one can really lay claim to having any sort of terror in it. Karen Black stars in all three stories, in addition to playing a dual role in the second tale. The first story, "Julie", casts Black as a dowdy, repressed college professor who is being blackmailed by one of her students. In the second story, "Millicent and Terese", Black plays both of the title roles, two sisters at opposite ends of the personality spectrum. Millicent is a prudish spinster who despises her loose and immoral sister Terese. Believing there is no hope for Terese's salvation, Millicent attempts to rescue Terese's current flame from the road to damnation. The third and most famous of the three tales is "Amelia" in which Black plays a woman terrorized by a Zuni devil doll which is brought to life after the chain around it's neck accidentally falls off.
The first story works well enough for what it is. Although not terribly original (but then again, maybe in 1975 it was.) it holds the viewers interest, even if it isn't an "edge of your seat" thriller. The two leads provide some solid acting. Most viewers, however, will most likely figure out the ending long before it plays out.
The second story is the weakest of the three. Its primary purpose seems to be soley to give Black two different roles to play. This one also contains Black's weakest performance(s). With absolutely no subtlety whatsoever, Black plays each character's cliched personality to the hilt, slamming the viewer over the head with the utter piousness of Millicent and the total taudriness of Terese. This story's conclusion is more obvious to the audience than the first one.
It is the last story that makes this DVD worth buying, but for a totally different reason than what I had origionally thought. The 12 year old in me remembers this story as being very scary. Horrifying even. Watching it now, I howl with laughter. This is such a great campy story. Watching that doll running around the apartment, grunting, and chomping on any body part he can get a hold of is a hoot. Black even does the obligatory "trip and fall" (THREE TIMES no less). Watching the little bugger saw his way out of a suitcase is classic. You almost root for the little guy. The story's conclusion is done rather well though, and does still provide a little bit of a chill as well.
The visuals of the DVD are very good as is the sound. There is even a printed interview with Ms. Black (done in "98") about the movie. I suspect this DVD's appeal primarily lies with those of us who remember seeing it when it origionally aired on television, but for those of you who love camp, get the DVD and check out what's behind curtain number three.

Classic 1970's Television Movie Featuring A Horror Icon
If the memory of "Trilogy of Terror" was based on the strength of the first and second stories,( titled "Julie", and "Millicent and Therese"), this horror trilogy starring Karen Black would be largely forgotten today with horror fans and would have been long relegated to the depths of the TV movie vaults. It is however solely because of the unforgettable third story titled "Amelia", that this film continues to enjoy fame and notoriety. This story spawned one of the great horror icons of modern times in the vicious and frightening Zuni Fetish Doll which in this third story comes to life and attacks Karen Black in a startlingly gripping tale of the supernatural. This story more than makes up for the weaknesses of the first two segments which are well acted but not particulary riverting horror tales. I find the "Amelia", story is just as unrelentingly frightening and nightmare inducing with each successive viewing and the killer Zuni Fetish Doll is one character that can't help but stay in your mind long after viewing "Trilogy of Terror".

Story number one "Julie", is a fairly straightforward tale of school teacher Julie Eldridge (Karen Black), who teaches English at an American high school. She is mousey, studious and never goes out on dates. She "attracts" the attention of one of her students who takes her on a date, drugs her and begins to blackmail her into further meetings. At first the victim of the piece Julie ends up turning the tables on the young man and in the final twist it is revealed to his great personal cost that it is Julie who is the one in control and who has used him as she has numerous other young men for her own ends.

Story two "Millicent and Therese", is probably the weakest of the three stories and has Karen Black playing two roles as "identical" sisters Millicent and Therese. The similarity between the women ends with their looks as Millicent is prim and proper and very introverted in her ways while Therese is outlandish in her dress and not shy about her relations with numerous men. A real hatred exists between the two sisters and Millicent succeeds in driving off one of Therese's boyfriends by telling him of her sordid past. As the tension in the house rises Millicent starts to fear for her personal safety and dabbles in witchcraft to remove the menance of Therese's presence. The family doctor long aware of the real truth of the "two sisters", arrives too late however to save the situation from a tragic outcome.

"Amelia", is of course the classic story and has everything that the first two stories lack in sheer terror and exhausting nail biting suspense from the opening scene. Here Karen Black plays downtrodden young woman Amelia who to get away from a domineering mother has taken a sublease on an upstairs apartment for 6 months. She has managed to find herself a boyfriend and as a birthday gift she has purchased as a result of his love of african arts a genuine Zuni Fetish Doll from an antique shop.It comes with a scroll saying that if the little metal chain around its waist is broken a spirit will be released that is "he who kills". By accident the chain breaks off and thus begins a nightmarish tale where this killer doll comes alive and goes on a murderous rampage attempting to kill Amelia in her apartment. After trying to drown it and trap it in a suitcase and enduring numerous stabs from the doll which is armed with a butchers knife Amelia manages to burn up the doll in the oven. However a decidely horrific outcome develops where she "inherits", the spirit of the Zuni doll and starts to take on its traits in a horrific last scene.

Many people have commented on the fact that this TV movie and in particular the "Amelia", story terrified them growing up but was almost comical when viewed as an adult. I still think the third story packs a real punch in the horror department and the sight of this murderous doll making horrific growling noises and stabbing Karen Black as she attempts to escape is a horror image just as terrifying as anything I've seen recently in the horror field. All the segments are well acted by Karen Black who is a fine actress however the brilliance of the Zuni Doll seemingly chasing her around a small apartment is the real element of genius in this movie and is superb in a pre special effects era of movie making. Turn down the lights and watch "Trilogy of Terror", sometime to see one of the best "horror figures" of the 1970's come to life.

Great acting.
I truly believe Karen Black is an exceptional Actress This movie truly shows it. One review says this movie was boring i respect his opinion but you truly need to appreciate the Artistic quality of Karen Blacks acting ablties and a movie that does not need gore to be good. Sometimes horror movies are more Frightning When there is no gore. Anyhow I truly love this movie and I am upset that is out of print. I think it is a bit overpriced. I don't really know why this movie when out of print but I hope that anchorbay releases a Two dvd edition with both the first and second movie because the second one is great as well.Anyway if you have this dvd keep it because it is extremly Rare.

To Zuni Fetish Doll Haters, Wherever You May Be...
I saw this movie (like MANY other reviewers) at an impressionable age (probably around 8 or 9 years old) on TV.

Of course, the TV version was tamed down a bit due to nudity in the first story between the high school ... boy, Chad, who finds Karen Black's MUCHO OLDER teacher character sexy in that sort of "motherly/librarian" way. He drugs her, blackmails her with seedy pictures and thus the one sided affair ensues. As if you can really tame down the GREAT and MAGNIFICENT Karen Black. (See her in her Oscar nominated role in "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?)

The second installment in the trilogy is about a good sister bad sister relationship. The weakest of the three but still HIGHLY enjoyable.

The FINAL story is the one that STILL leaves me with nightmares. That little ZUNI ... doll coming to life, those sharp, pointy little teeth, his sharp little weapon, making that Nyaaaah, Nyaaah, Nyaaaaaaaah yell and then the end where Karen herself, turns into a Zuni Fetish doll lookalike with POINTY TEETH AND ALL! GRUESOME, GRUESOME, GRUESOME!!!

Still makes me pee pee in my big girl [underwear]! LOL!

HELLA SCARY!!!!
Wow, I had no idea so many other people were traumitized by this film when they were kids! I don't feel so alone now. My sister and I saw this film back in the early 80s and it scared the living crap out of me. I couldn't sleep for maybe 2 weeks straight after watching it. I kept thinking that damn doll was underneath my bed or opening my door. Every little noise that I heard in my room I thought was that bastard walking around my bed. UGH I never wanna go through that again! I used to hate taking baths cause of that scene where she tries to drown it in the tub and it pops it's ugly head out of the water. To this very day, I see a green old suitcase and I think of her trying to capture it in there. What I don't get is WHY on earth would she even buy such a hideous looking thing in the first place! I'd never bring such an evil looking thing like that into my living room and I would have tossed it outside the window the second I got my hands on it. The damn doll is scary enough just looking at it, when you add him running around like a maniac with that knife and making that horrible screaming sound well it's just a zillion times worse. I am 27 years old now and I have seen this movie since I was a child and I STILL find it very frightening. I try to laugh at how ridiculous the whole thing is but I can't get over my fear of it. To this day I won't watch it, I saw it on DVD the other day in a store and I nearly freaked just seeing the cover. I hope the people that made this movie know how many children and adults it has terrified over the years. Karen Black is once scary chick! She will always remind me of that movie and therefore I can never watch one of her movies again lol. We should start a Trilogy of Terror therapy group!! lol ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Outstanding Movie And Excellent Book
For starters this movie depicts everything that is detailed/explained in the original title "Native Son". I do not know precisely which movie one of the previous reviewers from Decatur, Georgia was watching, but I can most definitely assure that it was not Native Son.

The cast performed almost as good as the cast members in the original story. I think the book and the video are an excellent combinational method for those reading the novel and attempting to visual what the entire concept of this novel is all about. In short I think the video is well deserving of a 4 star rating.

NATIVE FLOP
The cinematic presentation of Richard Wright's classic is once again another flop. Although it is far better than the original adaptation of the book into a movie (filmed in 1949), it fails to capture the essence of Bigger Thomas. How can such a film with a star studded cast fail so miserably? After all, now you have actors who can really act!

Native Son lacks passion.Bigger comes across as poor Black boy gone wrong with his cowardly behavior. His white liberal benefactors personalities are benign. Jan (Matt Dillon) just doesn't impress me as an ardent communist. Mary Dalton ( Elizabeth McGovern) comes across as a bubble head. Even Oprah Winfrey's begging plea to let her son live, is a sham. Where is the political and heated fervor of the era? John Karlen's role as Max, the lawyer for Bigger, was a waste of time. He wasn't convincing as a passionate lawyer out to save this oppressed black boy.

Most film adaptations of books fall short in staying true to the author's story. This second adaptation falls through period. I found it a great disappointment in the acting as well as the script. Someday, somehow, some one will do this great novel justice and present us with a blockbuster film filled with not only passion but with a sense of what formed this Native Son. I recommend this movie to put in your video archive along with its original version.

Big Letdown From the Book
After reading the book, the movie leaves a lot to be desired. There were just way too many things left out of the movie.

The film did have an exceptional cast, and the acting was terrific. I was somewhat suprised at how well Matt Dillon play Jan Erlone. The setting was pretty good too. The scenery was put together nicely, as it did look like the 1940's.

Unfortunately, the editing from the novel made the film seem quite choppy. Having read the book, you got into the minds of the characters, especially that of Bigger's. The movie skipped over too many things, not allowing you to do this, which was a fairly big letdown.

Not reading the book might leave you with a different impression of the film, because, once again, the acting is wonderful. But, having read the book, I couldn't enjoy the movie. Way too many important scenes were taken out of it. It is really not a good adaptation.

Book better than movie
Well, after reading Native Son, I thought it would be a good idea to rent the movie to get visual of what happened in the book. Well, that was all I got out of this movie...

There wasn't anything wrong with the acting or set, it was the script. They simply cut way too much out of the book. Here are some examples:

-After Bigger killed Mary and they found the bones in the furnace, Bigger ran from the house (as he did in the book), and then all of a sudden he's on roof tops getting chased and then caught. In the book he was on the run with Bessie for a few days and then he killed her. -In the book, they had two inquests and in the movie they only had one...no mention of Bigger fainting in the first inquest. -They completely cut out the trial in the movie, only playing soundbytes. They only showed the sentencing. In the book, Bigger's lawyer gave a 16 page statement on Biggers behalf. -Bigger's mother (Oprah Winfrey) assumed the role of both his mother and the priest in the movie.

Well, those are a few examples. If I hadn't read the book I wouldn't have known what was going on in Bigger's head, which was what made the book so good. I don't think Richard Wright would be too impressed with this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Before there was "Passions," there was "Dark Shadows"!
To those of you spending your days bewitched by the misadventures of Tabitha and Timmy on "Passions," there are those of us who are here to remind you of "Dark Shadows," the cult soap opera hit that ran from 1966-71. The Gothic soap was floundering in the ratings when the character of vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) was introduced. Producer/Director Dan Curtis provided this 1970 introduction to the wonderful world of "Dark Shadows," so late comers could get up to speed. Barnabas is freed from his crypt after nearly 200 years by a thief stealing treasure and returns to the family home Collinwood pretending to be a distant English cousin who just happens to be named for the infamous "ancestor." Barnabas discovers that the family governess, Maggie Evans (Kathryn Leigh Scott) is the spitting image of his former love Josette, who killed herself when she learned he had become a vampire. Meanwhile, the family physician Dr. Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) learns of Barnabas' true identity and develops a treatment that will reverse the curse. Able to walk in daylight again, Barnabas plans on marrying Maggie. Unfortunately, Dr. Hoffman has fallen in love with Barnabas and sabotges the treatments, which results in quite a bloodbath.

"House of Dark Shadows" certainly stands on its own if you have never seen the soap opera, although the effort to give everyone in the cast some screen time does get in the way from time to time. For those who remember the show, it is nice to see Louis Edmonds, Nancy Barrett, Joan Benett and the others again. The script by Sam Hall and Gordon Russell is actually quite innovative, coming up with some new twists for the love triangle while working in notions of reincarnation and scientific approaches to curing vampirism. At the heart of the film is Frid's portrayal of Barnabas Collins, which offers considerably more depth to the character than we were getting at the time from Christopher Lee's Dracula in all those Hammer films.

the shadows are dark
if your a fan of the series dark shadows you will be in for a great big surprise when you first view "house of dark shadows" one thing is the movie is well made and so is the script well written. all the cast is wonderful especially kathryn leigh scott,joan bennett,jonathan frid,and the late louis edmonds. it has a lot of gothic look and even plays like a true hammer filmshould be when i was a child this film scared the he double hockey sticks outta me. even grayson hall is great i this movie dispite she dies before the film ends. nancy barret once again plays carolyn stoddard but has a rather misfortune to her,her cousin turning her into one of the undead,but miss barret is a great actress as well as the others i mantioned above,too many good actors in this film. the mansion that is in tarrytown new york is a great spooky place to film dark shadows
even the cematary there is a great place too. "house of dark shadows" plays well and whenevr the missing scenes are found and restored hey it will be a better movie but once again the movie is great no matter what. dan curtis is a perfect director for this kind of movie he has since done a lot of other spooky films like "night of dark shadows" "burnt offerings","trilogy of terror" "dracula"(with jack palance),and "tirlogy of terror 2" if you dont have house go rent or buy it ...john karlen is great too.

Stylish feature film of a popular TV classic!
This vivid, well-crafted feature version of the '60's supernatural soap opera "Dark Shadows" recounts the resurrection of 200-year-old vampire Barnabas Collins(superbly portrayed by Jonathan Frid) who is released from his chained coffin by an imbecile handyman(John Karlen), then proceeds to wreak havoc on his modern descendants. The film features a number of the series regulars, including Joan Bennett as the aristocratic and very beautiful matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, and is very well directed by the original series creator Dan Curtis, who produced the picture as well. Fans of the ever popuar show will indeed find a great deal to like here as the film is shot on a much bigger budget featuring more sex and violence than those blasted censors would allow on the small screen. If you like this film, you may also want to check out its sequel, "NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS".

A Good Horror Film
One of the first times a television program was brought to the big screen. The movie takes one of the most popular story lines from the tv program and goes way beyond it. Characters, who never die in the series, do so in this film with a heck of a lot more ketchupy bloody scenes.

The movie is complete by itself and it is not necessary to have every watched the tv series to understand and enjoy this film.

Some very eerie and tense scenes. Excellent directing and great mood music. The acting also far exceeds what we saw on the tv series!

Excellent!
This movie is definitely bloodier than the daytime Dark Shadows you might be used to, but it an excellent horror movie -- and proof of how talented and versatile the DS cast was. Jonathan Frid is really the reason to see this, his Barnabas ranks among the pantheon of classic vampires. He is much more evil in this film as opposed to the dapper, mysterious gentleman on TV, but just try to look away. He is wonderful, as are the very talented Nancy Barrett as the doomed Carolyn, and beautiful Kathryn Leigh Scott as Maggie. John Karlen, Thayer David and Grayson Hall all add their magic to the mix, and Joan Bennett never looked more grand and glamorous. Really a fun scary movie and a treat for fans! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Cheer for Gimme an F
I use to watch this movie so many times when I was a kid...I loved this movie because it was not only a cheezy 80's movie but it was also a funny movie,but I do like the fact that the underdogs get there act together at the end..(if you know what I mean)

Thanks

One of my guilty teenage pleasures--and still is!
One of my all-time favorites back in the intoxicating 80's when I was a prepubescent teen--and still is to this day, along with two other obscure ones, "The Wraith" and "Private Road." I enjoy watching these three films whenever I feel the need for a nostalgia trip. The other two were "serious" movies so I guess it's only natural I would love this ridiculous rubbish to balance it out. On the merits this deserves a 1; but for mindless entertainment and titillation value I give it a 4. About a myriad of high-school cheerleading teams who converge upon a remote camp for the big rah-rah annual competition and shows backstabbing and catfighting that supposedly goes on at these events in typical but hilariously campy fashion. A rivalry develops between the bitchy but bodacious and athletically adroit Falcons and The Ducks, an absolutely pathetic team with no sex appeal. Of course it wouldn't be the wonderfully tasteless sexploitation teen flick it is without the obligatory lust angle when the Ducks' cute and virginal captain Mary Ann attempts to poach their hot studly trainer Tommy (Stephen Shellen), stuck with the thankless and extremely challenging job of leading them toward victory! Other numerous libidinous episodes with other characters and the usual tired gags occur along the way, such as a food fight and the tried-and-true nasty trick of urine-balloon bombing unlucky victims, which is pathetic but hilariously side-splitting nonetheless! Guys and gals alike in the mood for lotsa eye candy and an inane time will be sure to enjoy this flick. The protracted and gratuitous scene of Shellen dancing sexy and doing gymnastics(!) in only his BVDs in a shower room elicited oohs and aahs from me and my young galpals, while our guyfriends groaned and rolled their eyes in dismay waiting for it to be over, but the bevy of beauties clad in outrageously sexy outfits shaking their goods made it up for them, but a warning--if you're looking for bare T&A you won't find any, something the males in our group complained of! About the only redeeming feature was the competition in the end where the rah-rahs do amazing moves which riveted me and made me understand why guys view cheerleaders as earth sex angels--obviously the bulk of the money of this B-movie was spent on that enjoyably long sequence, so sit back and enjoy! Oh--and have you guessed by now just what that F stands for?

Another Cheesy 80's Camp Movie
If you like cheesy eighties camp movies this is for you. This is one of those movies that I would watch over and over on HBO because I thought it was risque. It turns out I was just young. But after watching the first 20 minutes of this movie, you quickly figure out what the "F" is for. It's not the best movie, but it's not the worst.

This movie was really good and I would tell U to acqiure it
I watched this movie and would recommend it to anyone who wants to see a lot of beautiful women in great looking outfits. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Steve Martin plays Arthur, a '30s-era traveling sheet-music salesman whose marriage is bleak and who embarks on a fateful affair with a teacher (an amazing Bernadette Peters). Arthur's dreary world is juxtaposed with Busby Berkeley-styled musical production numbers that showcase Martin's and Peters's versatility. Arthur's world is desperate, sad, and only the more so when directly compared to the musical numbers. But it does work and it is affecting.

This dark, yet simultaneously ebullient film written by Dennis Potter is capable of presenting such polar-opposite visuals and emotion. Until this film, Martin was best known for his comedic albums, and for 1979's The Jerk. In other words, Pennies' disappointing box office can be accredited to audiences' inability to accept a dark Martin in the early 1980s.If Martin's dancing ability comes as a surprise, an even greater revelation is Christopher Walken in a sexy stripping tap-dancing number. Bob Hoskins played Arthur in the 1978 British miniseries of the same name. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (29)

The diversity of opinion about this film...
should be an indication of something very special. For those expecting a happy, upbeat film reflecting the moony-spoony lyrics of the tin-pan alley song of the same name will be sorely disappointed. For those who love originality and can imagine the possibility of a singing/tap-dancing depression-era musical drama about seriously flawed people, each needing love which, even during the Great Depression, is harder to find than money... Well, maybe you get the picture.

But probably not. This film is almost impossible to describe but contains Steve Martin tapdancing through a fabulouly produced Busby Berkeley number, an amazing barroom tap dance dance number by Christopher Walken (yes, that Christopher Walken) and the title song interpreted by New Orleans performer Vernel Bagneris - a surreal elastic-body number in which it actually rains gold coins outside a seedy diner. The scene where teacher Bernadette Peters' first- grade classroom erupts into song and magically re- appear in tiny sequened tuxedos to tap dance on top their tiny desks is as surreal as it is refreshingly unexpected, like everything in this movie.

This film is brilliant. It's a thinking person's gem which juxtaposes the real world of The Great Depression with those happy-go-lucky songs of the same era that somehow helped people forget how bad things really were. This movie joyously, mischeivously, and darkly unites them. It's an amazing and truly original film. Don't miss it. .

Homage to Edward Hopper
If you liked the look of this movie, you should familiarize yourself with the paintings of Edward Hopper. Gordon Willis brilliantly captured the look and feel of Hopper's work. Especially fun to watch was the diner scene which morphed into the famous painting "Nighthawks".

Fantastic
I cannot believe that this is Steve Martin's first movie in a musical/comedy. He is terrific. I had never heard of Bernadette Peters as she has performed mainly on Broadway and I live in Australia but she is great as well. The music and dance scenes are about as good as you can get. A most extremely enjoyable and entertaining movie. A great addition to any one's collection to pull out, sit back and relax for a couple of hours.

A film waiting to be rediscovered
Watching this beautiful, intelligent, Fosse-like musical on tape or cable is not enough. DVD, please.

One of the Most Original Movies I've Ever Seen
Moulin Rouge and Chicago don't come within a million miles of this film's intense emotion, brilliant dark satire, and sheer originality. It probably helps that the song and dance numbers in Pennies are far, far, far better executed than the ones in Moulin or Chicago. In fact, Christopher Walken's performance alone was worth the price of the video. However, if you actually enjoyed the cliche ridden bloated Hollywood budget nonsense that was Moulin and Chicago, you will probably not care for this movie. There are no wistful romances here and the ending will be far too ambiguous. In my opinion, Pennies from Heaven has the very thing that most musicals lack: A brain. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dan Curtis, the creator and producer of such out-of-the-ordinary TV classics as the willfully offbeat gothic soap opera Dark Shadows and the proto-X-Files series The Night Stalker, remains best known for the Zuni fetish doll that terrorizes Karen Black in Trilogy of Terror. The wild-eyed doll, with its snapping jaws and screeching yells, borders on camp, yet its relentless attacks and single-minded, homicidal drive make it an absolutely terrifying figure in the climactic chapter of this trilogy of short films based on stories by Richard Matheson. In the first story, "Julie," Karen Black plays a mousy college professor blackmailed by an obsessed student, and in "Millicent and Therese" she plays sisters consumed with an intense hatred of one another that comes to a head when their father dies. Both of these films conclude with Twilight Zone-ish twists and are more clever than gripping, kept alive mostly by Black's gleefully theatrical performances. With "Amelia," however, Black delivers an almost solo show, playing against the famous Zuni fetish doll, a wooden statue that comes to life when the a protective chain slips off the figure and releases the evil spirit. Curtis turns her apartment into a claustrophobic cage trapping the increasingly hysterical woman as the unstoppable figure hacks at her legs with a kitchen knife and chomps down on her arms and neck with the relentless intensity of a bulldog. It's still a classic of small-screen horror. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (59)

New Outlook on an Old Movie
I was 12 years old when this "made for television" movie first aired.The only part of the movie I actually had any recollection of was, of course, the little Zuni devil doll running across the floor. That was enough for it to remain in my memory as being a very scary movie. When I saw that it was available on DVD, I bought it, hoping to bring back some old childhood memories. What a difference 27 years make.
As the title implies, the film is composed of three short (unrelated) stories, although only the last one can really lay claim to having any sort of terror in it. Karen Black stars in all three stories, in addition to playing a dual role in the second tale. The first story, "Julie", casts Black as a dowdy, repressed college professor who is being blackmailed by one of her students. In the second story, "Millicent and Terese", Black plays both of the title roles, two sisters at opposite ends of the personality spectrum. Millicent is a prudish spinster who despises her loose and immoral sister Terese. Believing there is no hope for Terese's salvation, Millicent attempts to rescue Terese's current flame from the road to damnation. The third and most famous of the three tales is "Amelia" in which Black plays a woman terrorized by a Zuni devil doll which is brought to life after the chain around it's neck accidentally falls off.
The first story works well enough for what it is. Although not terribly original (but then again, maybe in 1975 it was.) it holds the viewers interest, even if it isn't an "edge of your seat" thriller. The two leads provide some solid acting. Most viewers, however, will most likely figure out the ending long before it plays out.
The second story is the weakest of the three. Its primary purpose seems to be soley to give Black two different roles to play. This one also contains Black's weakest performance(s). With absolutely no subtlety whatsoever, Black plays each character's cliched personality to the hilt, slamming the viewer over the head with the utter piousness of Millicent and the total taudriness of Terese. This story's conclusion is more obvious to the audience than the first one.
It is the last story that makes this DVD worth buying, but for a totally different reason than what I had origionally thought. The 12 year old in me remembers this story as being very scary. Horrifying even. Watching it now, I howl with laughter. This is such a great campy story. Watching that doll running around the apartment, grunting, and chomping on any body part he can get a hold of is a hoot. Black even does the obligatory "trip and fall" (THREE TIMES no less). Watching the little bugger saw his way out of a suitcase is classic. You almost root for the little guy. The story's conclusion is done rather well though, and does still provide a little bit of a chill as well.
The visuals of the DVD are very good as is the sound. There is even a printed interview with Ms. Black (done in "98") about the movie. I suspect this DVD's appeal primarily lies with those of us who remember seeing it when it origionally aired on television, but for those of you who love camp, get the DVD and check out what's behind curtain number three.

Classic 1970's Television Movie Featuring A Horror Icon
If the memory of "Trilogy of Terror" was based on the strength of the first and second stories,( titled "Julie", and "Millicent and Therese"), this horror trilogy starring Karen Black would be largely forgotten today with horror fans and would have been long relegated to the depths of the TV movie vaults. It is however solely because of the unforgettable third story titled "Amelia", that this film continues to enjoy fame and notoriety. This story spawned one of the great horror icons of modern times in the vicious and frightening Zuni Fetish Doll which in this third story comes to life and attacks Karen Black in a startlingly gripping tale of the supernatural. This story more than makes up for the weaknesses of the first two segments which are well acted but not particulary riverting horror tales. I find the "Amelia", story is just as unrelentingly frightening and nightmare inducing with each successive viewing and the killer Zuni Fetish Doll is one character that can't help but stay in your mind long after viewing "Trilogy of Terror".

Story number one "Julie", is a fairly straightforward tale of school teacher Julie Eldridge (Karen Black), who teaches English at an American high school. She is mousey, studious and never goes out on dates. She "attracts" the attention of one of her students who takes her on a date, drugs her and begins to blackmail her into further meetings. At first the victim of the piece Julie ends up turning the tables on the young man and in the final twist it is revealed to his great personal cost that it is Julie who is the one in control and who has used him as she has numerous other young men for her own ends.

Story two "Millicent and Therese", is probably the weakest of the three stories and has Karen Black playing two roles as "identical" sisters Millicent and Therese. The similarity between the women ends with their looks as Millicent is prim and proper and very introverted in her ways while Therese is outlandish in her dress and not shy about her relations with numerous men. A real hatred exists between the two sisters and Millicent succeeds in driving off one of Therese's boyfriends by telling him of her sordid past. As the tension in the house rises Millicent starts to fear for her personal safety and dabbles in witchcraft to remove the menance of Therese's presence. The family doctor long aware of the real truth of the "two sisters", arrives too late however to save the situation from a tragic outcome.

"Amelia", is of course the classic story and has everything that the first two stories lack in sheer terror and exhausting nail biting suspense from the opening scene. Here Karen Black plays downtrodden young woman Amelia who to get away from a domineering mother has taken a sublease on an upstairs apartment for 6 months. She has managed to find herself a boyfriend and as a birthday gift she has purchased as a result of his love of african arts a genuine Zuni Fetish Doll from an antique shop.It comes with a scroll saying that if the little metal chain around its waist is broken a spirit will be released that is "he who kills". By accident the chain breaks off and thus begins a nightmarish tale where this killer doll comes alive and goes on a murderous rampage attempting to kill Amelia in her apartment. After trying to drown it and trap it in a suitcase and enduring numerous stabs from the doll which is armed with a butchers knife Amelia manages to burn up the doll in the oven. However a decidely horrific outcome develops where she "inherits", the spirit of the Zuni doll and starts to take on its traits in a horrific last scene.

Many people have commented on the fact that this TV movie and in particular the "Amelia", story terrified them growing up but was almost comical when viewed as an adult. I still think the third story packs a real punch in the horror department and the sight of this murderous doll making horrific growling noises and stabbing Karen Black as she attempts to escape is a horror image just as terrifying as anything I've seen recently in the horror field. All the segments are well acted by Karen Black who is a fine actress however the brilliance of the Zuni Doll seemingly chasing her around a small apartment is the real element of genius in this movie and is superb in a pre special effects era of movie making. Turn down the lights and watch "Trilogy of Terror", sometime to see one of the best "horror figures" of the 1970's come to life.

Great acting.
I truly believe Karen Black is an exceptional Actress This movie truly shows it. One review says this movie was boring i respect his opinion but you truly need to appreciate the Artistic quality of Karen Blacks acting ablties and a movie that does not need gore to be good. Sometimes horror movies are more Frightning When there is no gore. Anyhow I truly love this movie and I am upset that is out of print. I think it is a bit overpriced. I don't really know why this movie when out of print but I hope that anchorbay releases a Two dvd edition with both the first and second movie because the second one is great as well.Anyway if you have this dvd keep it because it is extremly Rare.

To Zuni Fetish Doll Haters, Wherever You May Be...
I saw this movie (like MANY other reviewers) at an impressionable age (probably around 8 or 9 years old) on TV.

Of course, the TV version was tamed down a bit due to nudity in the first story between the high school ... boy, Chad, who finds Karen Black's MUCHO OLDER teacher character sexy in that sort of "motherly/librarian" way. He drugs her, blackmails her with seedy pictures and thus the one sided affair ensues. As if you can really tame down the GREAT and MAGNIFICENT Karen Black. (See her in her Oscar nominated role in "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?)

The second installment in the trilogy is about a good sister bad sister relationship. The weakest of the three but still HIGHLY enjoyable.

The FINAL story is the one that STILL leaves me with nightmares. That little ZUNI ... doll coming to life, those sharp, pointy little teeth, his sharp little weapon, making that Nyaaaah, Nyaaah, Nyaaaaaaaah yell and then the end where Karen herself, turns into a Zuni Fetish doll lookalike with POINTY TEETH AND ALL! GRUESOME, GRUESOME, GRUESOME!!!

Still makes me pee pee in my big girl [underwear]! LOL!

HELLA SCARY!!!!
Wow, I had no idea so many other people were traumitized by this film when they were kids! I don't feel so alone now. My sister and I saw this film back in the early 80s and it scared the living crap out of me. I couldn't sleep for maybe 2 weeks straight after watching it. I kept thinking that damn doll was underneath my bed or opening my door. Every little noise that I heard in my room I thought was that bastard walking around my bed. UGH I never wanna go through that again! I used to hate taking baths cause of that scene where she tries to drown it in the tub and it pops it's ugly head out of the water. To this very day, I see a green old suitcase and I think of her trying to capture it in there. What I don't get is WHY on earth would she even buy such a hideous looking thing in the first place! I'd never bring such an evil looking thing like that into my living room and I would have tossed it outside the window the second I got my hands on it. The damn doll is scary enough just looking at it, when you add him running around like a maniac with that knife and making that horrible screaming sound well it's just a zillion times worse. I am 27 years old now and I have seen this movie since I was a child and I STILL find it very frightening. I try to laugh at how ridiculous the whole thing is but I can't get over my fear of it. To this day I won't watch it, I saw it on DVD the other day in a store and I nearly freaked just seeing the cover. I hope the people that made this movie know how many children and adults it has terrified over the years. Karen Black is once scary chick! She will always remind me of that movie and therefore I can never watch one of her movies again lol. We should start a Trilogy of Terror therapy group!! lol ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Uneven but good...
I am too much of a Dark Shadows fan to say anything too negative, but this movie isn't as scary as it could have been. It does have incredible atmosphere, and almost suffocating camerawork that adds to the sense of evil. The underuse of Nancy Barrett, John Karlen and especially Lara Parker annoys me the most. This talented trio certainly could have made a good film a great one, but instead we have David Selby and Kate Jackson (never a favorite of mine, although she looks absolutely gorgeous) taking up most of the screen time. Actually, all of the actors look incredible, much better than on the daytime series...even Grayson Hall, whose rubbery TV face looks soft and pretty here.The few glimpses of Angelique we see make this film much less spooky. Certainly that can work in some horror films, but it seems to me that long-time fans familiar with the dazzling Lara/Angelique want to see her more so the impact of this film is predictably blunted. Not bad, but there is lots of wasted potential.

AS good a sequel as the filmmakers could have done.
In this creepy, atmospheric sequel to "House of Dark Shadows", Quentin Collins(David Selby), the last of the surviving Collins clan, moves into the Gothic Collinwood estate with his beautiful young bride, Tracy(Kate Jackson) only to discover that the place is a breeding-ground for the supernatural. This leads to several encounters with a captivating 18th-century witch, Angelique(Lara Parker) who makes married life very difficult for the frightened duo to say the least. Admittedly, the film can't hold a candle to its predecessor(any technical problems the film has is due to the fact that it was cut to ribbons before finally being released), but this is probably as good a sequel as the filmmakers could have come up with after the stunning "House of Dark Shadows". Like the original, the film features a number of the series players, including Selby and Jackson in their film debuts, and boasts some truly striking Gothic atmosphere. Rumor has it that the missing footage from "Night of Dark Shadows" is in the process of being restored, and should be released, hopefully, by the end of next year.

Welcome Back To Creepy Collinwood!
'Night of Dark Shadows' is the second of the two Dark Shadows motion pictures. At the time of it's release, this one didn't do quite as well as the first, but over the years, it has developed a strong cult following, and looks very good on repeated viewings.

What always impressed me about 'Night of Dark Shadows' was it's subtlety. 'House of Dark Shadows' was fast, loud and very "in your face." 'Night of Dark Shadows' is quiet in comparison -- the music is lush and softer, and the pace is quite relaxed at times. However, what emerges is an underlying sense of dread which intensifies throughout the course of the film (similar to Dan Curtis' 'Burnt Offerings' from 1976). This makes the shocks and scares even more jarring, and by the end of the film, the audience is left feeling bewitched, bothered and bewildered!

It's also important to mention David Selby, who turns in an excellent performance as Quentin Collins. His moodswings and erratic behavior (sensitive one minute and vicious the next), leave us as confused as Kate Jackson's character is.

Hopefully, both 'Night of Dark Shadows' and 'House of Dark Shadows' will be released on DVD soon, with the additional footage that was removed from the films before their respective theatrical releases. As for now, both films are highly recommended to anyone who enjoyed the series.

angelique indeeds does come back to collinwood to claim what
in this 1971 sequel to "house of dark shadows'" night of dark shadows" is a creepy film about the ghost of angelique who comes back to claim charles well actually quentin collins who is the reincarnation of charles collins who was a painter like quentin is in the present time. the reason i gave "night " a 5 stars even though there was a lot of the film butchered out by a creep from mgm studio how dare he do that to grayson hall. but grayson was great in it and the 3 cast that was most memorable were kate jackson, david selby.and lara parker,as the bewitching angelique collins. when this film gets a restoration it will make sense and the most awaited scence is the seance according to nancy barrett who plays claire jenkins said it was her best scene maybe it will be the scenes that will be shown at the festival this summer if so i will be there. "night" isnt a bad movie at all . it is just missing some things to read about it get the dark shadows movie book the scripts to both films are in it hopefully "night of dark shadows" will come out on dvd with the missing scenes intact we need to fight cenorship because if we dont jerks like abery from mgm could ruin a great film i personally loved this movie even though the first film "house of dark shadows" was a better film but hopefully the missing scenes will allow the fans to love "night' a little more lara paker is the perfect angelique rather in the flesh or sprit . if you havent read her book about angelique read its a great read a s well.john karlen was great as well as nancy barrett,they made a good husband and wife team. david selby looks very haunting and plays the part of evil well and i cant say enough about the debut motion picture of kate jackson,she was spellbinding in it a great actress,no wonder i can say she was the best angel of charlie's but hey what about a sequel to this movie ? im pretty sure tracy collins figured a way to get away from angelique and quentinor amybe she ran into another room and it changed to another parrell time room like in the series and got away. "night" does have the ability to be pretty creepy. if you are a d s lover rent both films you'll get a kick outta hearing the original music from the series.

"Angelique Collins" is in the house!
This is a follow-up film filmed after HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS (1970) and filmed while the original ABC Network soap opera "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971) was still on television. This film was released during the last year for the original Dark Shadows serial. This film is my personal Dark Shadows favorite. It is the best and is more engrossing. Kate Jackson's performance is unforgetable and Lara Parker is so memorable in her role as "Angelique Collins" as she was on the original tv serial. As a child, I simply could not watch "Angelique". She gave me goosebumps and her eyes were as if hypnotizing. But now I am an adult (age 40). I think Miss Lara Parker is lovely. All the main cast in rhis movie was also in the ABC Network "Dark Shadows" serial. David Selby, Kate Jackson, Grayson Hall, John Karlen, Lara Parker, Nancy Barrett, Jim Storm, Thayer David, Christopher Pennock, Diana Millay and Clarice Blackburn. I will not explain the plot of the film. This one should be a surprise to all gothic movie lovers. Quite sexy though. And you'll like Grayson Hall's 1960's dresses. Location: Lyndhurst Estate, Tarrytown, New York overlooking the Hudson River. ... Read more

Description

An action/comedy centering around two California dudes, who upon discovering they are the long-lost sons of a mysterious island king, embark on the adventure of their lives. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A heapin' helpin' of chop-socky silliness
I went to see 'Surf Ninjas' on a free pass when it first came out on the big screen. For a free movie, it wasn't half-bad! I found it to be one of those kinda-dumb-yet-funny popcorn flicks. The many silly '3 Ninjas meet 3 Stooges'-style martial arts scenes, and corny one-liners & banter had me both laughing and groaning throughout the movie's run! Seeing Rob Schneider outside of his 'Rich-meister making copies' gig on SNL was... well... not that big a deal, really (I'm sure he was happy to get away from that character for a while). And Ernie Reyes, Jr's skills had improved quite a bit since I last saw him in 'Red Sonja' and the short-lived 'SideKicks' TV show. And where would a silly comedy flick be without the deadpan demeanor of Leslie Nielsen as the evil head honcho? Put 'em all together, and-- well, you'll just have to see it for yourself. All I'll say is, if you liked '3 Ninjas' or any of their sequels, I believe you'll find 'Surf Ninjas' even more fun to watch!

'Late!

A Double Reyes Treat
Ernie Reyes Jr. would be enough to make the viewing worthwhile, but any time you can see him, and his father Ernie Reyes Sr. together it's a must have for the martial arts collector!

Keep 'Em Flexin'
Another Ernie Reyes Jr. vehicle with a mediocre plot & limitedacting skills throughout but hey my main man's in it & that us-ually means a bit of struttin' & 'lots of flesh' somewhere alongthe line. And so here we get the 'cut & chiseled' beyond belief-ripped to the max look from Ernie with a pair of pipes 'bulgin''to beat the band.' You'd think a cat this young would be carry-ing 'round some BABY FAT, but there's nary an ounce visable tothe naked eye. Choosing to be a 'tease' thru most of the movie,Mr. Reyes doesn't treat us to his 'muscles on top of muscles'bod til near's end. Tho not 'shirtless' he might as well bewith those barely half inch criss-crossed pieces of cord huggin' his chest. His gor-geous pecs & washboard abs are deliciously displayed. Theflick itself has an intentially comedic air about it 'spec-ially at it's close during the 'fight scenes' which come offquite realistic. Naturally, it's a joy watching Ernie's mus-cles 'flex up a storm' in these sequences. This is a MUST-BUYif you're into martial arts, fitness, bodybuilding or justbody watching. Reyes is definetly into three out of the four& for that this fan would like to thank him from head to toe.

How do you find a better Movie?
Huh lookin for a cool movie get `Surf Ninjas,~~~~~You won`t be bored it`s AMAZING!And (There Ninjas, There Surfers)What could be better?

One of Life's Guilty Pleasures
First impressions are deceptive. You might think this movie, at best, a diversion suitable for a bored 13-year old on a Saturday afternoon. You are in for a shock. Surf Ninjas is one of the funniest flicks to come out of Hollywood in the past decade. Johnny (Ernie Reyes, Jr.) and Adam (Nicolas Cowan) are two Asian-American surfer dudes growing up with foster dad Mac (John Karlen), literally on the beach in southern California. School is a bore (Director Neal Israel does an amusing cameo as their hopelessly out-of-it principal). All that matters to them is riding the next wave, until a gang of camouflage-clad killer ninjas shows up to assassinate them. Of course, the ninjas were sent by Colonel Chi (Leslie Nielsen), so although they look like Delta Force, they fight more like Keystone Kops. The squad of ninjas bumbling around southern California stick out like so many sore thumbs. "Gee, those camouflage uniforms sure give them an uncanny ability to blend chameleon-like into their surroundings," observes Rob Schneider, in an hilarious turn as Iggy, Johnny and Adam's surfing-challenged classmate.

Chi overthrew Johnny and Adam's biological father, the king of Patusan, many years earlier, and now seeks to murder the two princes. Upon learning of their destiny from the mysterious, one-eyed Zatch (Ernie Reyes, Sr.), the boys return to Patusan to overthrow Chi and claim their throne. Johnny discovers love and his warrior heritage. Adam learns he is a seer, who can fortell the future (by peering into the screen of his Sega Game Gear.)

Reyes, Jr., is more than just an accomplished martial artist and owner of some of the best upper-body musculature ever captured on film. He also gives a performance full of charm, romance, innocence, youthful exuberance, and a delightful gift for physical comedy. He does many of the kung fu scenes in a state of bewilderment, as his moves are directed by his warrior ancestors. (This is surely a lot harder than it looks.) Cowan's comic timing is impeccable. (When Zatch informs him that a certain remote jungle village is the home of a great holy man, Adam deadpans, "Wow, then I gotta get a T-shirt.")

Schneider is memorable as Iggy, the comic sidekick, commenting drolly on the proceedings ("The Mee Grob Hilton, serving strange things in shells since 1207.") and insisting, hilariously, that it is acutally he, and not Johnny, who is the deposed prince imbued with supernatural powers. It is refreshing to see a film where the Asian guy is the romantic lead and the white guy is the sidekick. (This was years before Shanghai Noon, remember.)

Tone Loc adds another comic dimension as Lieutenant Spence, an LAPD detective who follows the boys to Patusan. When knocked to the ground and surrounded by Patusani soldiers wielding automatic weapons, the unarmed Loc gamely displays his badge and says, "LAPD! Freeze, punks!!" It gets him nowhere, but give him 10 out of 10 for chutzpah. Reyes, Sr., as Zatch, the one-eyed, deadly serious Patusani royalist, evokes laughter by his stony-faced refusal to be amused by the absurdity of the proceedings. (The Zatch-eye view through a pair of binoculars is one of the film's best visual jokes.)

The main players are not only amusing as individuals, but play off against each other with some hilarious ensemble work, such as the bit where our heroes are captured by and escape from Chi's soldiers, and the unforgettable "Money can't buy knives" sequence.

Unfortunately, the one sour comic note is the miscasting of Nielsen as Colonel Chi. Nielsen does his best Frank Drebben, but he's just too darn lovable to accept as a ruthless Third World dictator.

In spite of this one shortcoming, Surf Ninjas maintains a deft comic balance as it rides wave after wave of comic invention. And you will never again hear the Beach Boys' classic "Barbara Ann" in the same way. Okay, so you don't have to tell the whole world you bought a movie called Surf Ninjas. Just get it, watch it in private, but make sure no one's close enough to hear you laughing. And when you're finished, lock it away in a strongbox labeled "Guilty Pleasures." ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Story, Mediocre Acting, Poor Tech
To begin with, this is not the PBS series. If you are familiar with Skinwalkers and Coyote Waits from PBS, this is far inferior. While the story is outstanding, the acting is wooden. Lou Diamond Phillips is a good actor, but he just can't pull off Jim Chee. Perhaps I would have had a different opinion if I hadn't seen Adam Beach's outstanding performance as Jim Chee first. I won't even get in to Fred Ward as Joe Leaphorn. Suffice it to say that Dark Wind is a Jim Chee novel, so there is little of Joe Leaphorn to be screwed up.

On the tech side, this is a really lousy DVD presentation. It is just a glorified VHS transfer. The sound is 2 channel, not 5.1. The presentation is full frame rather than widescreen, and there are plenty of funny intrusions from boom mikes and sun awnings.

Nevertheless, as cheap as this is going for, I am glad I bought it. The story is fantastic. Really good mystery. Only two complaints about the writing. First, there are several totally unnecessary uses of the F-word, as if they were just trying to get an R rating. I don't mind if profanity is necessary to the story, but even the actors sound like they don't think the word fits their lines. Second, do we really have to hear EVERYTHING that goes on in Chee's head? I mean really, the near constant voice overs get rather irritating.

If you want a really good adaptation of a Hillerman novel, try Skinwalkers or Coyote Waits. If you want a passable movie for a Saturday night, try this one.

MUCH Better than PBS, and I love Mystery!
If you love Hillerman's Chee-Leaphorn Dine' series, this is the one for you. Even tho I'm hearing, I like to turn on the closed captioning, esp when a language other than English is being spoken. And this version does it's best to put the Dine' words into English, unlike the PBS versions which say "Speaking Navajo." Ugh. Ok, Lou D.P. is Mex-American and Fred Ward (yep THAT Fred Ward from _Tremors_) is white, but so what. They're given a much better script that's true to the Chee and Leaphorn that Tony Hillerman wrote. In this one, Chee is doubtful who he is and where he belongs and Leaphorn is the steady one. PBS's had it reversed!?!

This one's the keeper. Don't even waste your time with the PBS versions. I suffered thru the first two and won't bother with any future ones. Which sux cause Wes Studi and Adam Beach are great actors. But you can't make the proverbial silk purse out of the proverbial sows ear.

Hillerman's novel comes to life
"Enemies unseen... Fears unspoken...... A dark wind has entered his soul"
Jim Chee, local rookie cop is guarding a windmill that is periodically being put out of business when he hears a plane crash. This leads to many mysteries including a body with a message in its mouth. This takes place on the reservation so we have an overlap of authority in the search for clues, between the local authorities (Lou Diamond Phillips as Officer Jim Chee, Fred Ward as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn) and the Feds. There is also overlapping rights between the Hopi and the Navaho.
If you have read Tony Hillerman then you will recognize your old friends. It is also nice to see the area where the story takes place around the Navajo reservation in Arizona and New Mexico. Of course being a different media there is some consolidation of characters and allowance for acting stile over written character description. The movie is still fun to watch.

Hillerman¿s novel comes to life
"Enemies unseen... Fears unspoken... ... A dark wind has entered his soul"

Jim Chee, local rookie cop is guarding a windmill that is periodically being put out of business when he hears a plane crash. This leads to many mysteries including a body with a message in its mouth. This takes place on the reservation so we have an overlap of authority in the search for clues, between the local authorities (Lou Diamond Phillips as Officer Jim Chee, Fred Ward as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn) and the Feds. There is also overlapping rights between the Hopi and the Navaho.

If you have read Tony Hillerman then you will recognize your old friends. It is also nice to see the area where the story takes place around the Navajo reservation in Arizona and New Mexico. Of course being a different media there is some consolidation of characters and allowance for acting stile over written character description. The movie is still fun to watch.

True Hillerman
I'll never read another Tony Hillerman book now without picturing Lou Diamond Phillips as Jim Chee and Fred Ward as Joe Leaphorn. This movie would move slow to viewers not acquainted with Hillerman's work. But slow and methodical is exactly the way the tribal police approach crimes and solve problems in his books. This one remains faithful to the story, almost exactly following the book. If you aren't a Hillerman fan, you will be. After watching this movie, you'll be back to order the author's backlist of Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn mysteries! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Trying To Out-distance Fate.
Although the superficial theme of this film is young love, the heart of the film is in the subtle ways that Henry (Sean Penn) tries to come to terms with the harsh realities of his impending military service. Henry knows that, in less than a year, he will probably be on some remote Pacific island, fighting one insane Japanese soldier after another to the death. While he has no idea of the horrors to come, he definitely feels a sense of impending doom.

The movie's most telling scene is after Callie (Elizabeth McGovern) is angred by Henry & Nicky (Nicolas Cage) when they make fun of their school's emergency preparedness drill. Callie takes Henry to a veteran's hospital, where she delivers library books to soldiers recovering from amputations (and likely worse). Henry is visibly scared at the sight of these guys, not much older than he is, who will now go through life with a new, horrific perspective.

After the visit, Henry becomes angry with Callie. He shows her - and the audience - that bravado DOES have a place in dealing with impending terror, and that there are many ways to look at the complexities of war. At the end of the film, when both boys jump on the train that may take them to their deaths, the resilience of the human spirit goes with them, and they impart some of their courage to those left standing at the station. A classic film, with a timely message.

Penn and Cage in the early days...a MUST see!
Sean Penn and Nicholas Cage, together with Elizabeth McGovern star in this 1940's WWII film about being a young man getting ready to head off for the war and trying to find himself and deal with his fear before he goes. It's wonderfully written, with some heavy scenes that were unexpected and some very moving dialog. Love and love lost...the three of them are at their finest here!

Hard to forget and worth owning..even in VHS
This movie has been a long time favorite of mine though not available on DVD. The story is touching and a particulary poignant look at young men who were raised on patriotism and are headed off to war, a reality of which they know little.

The cinematography and actors make you long for young love and being caught in the rain and in more serious moments you feel the pain and peril of a illegal abortion and how cold and hard it is to dig a grave in Spring.

Elizabeth McGovern is hauntingly beautiful. Penn and Cage show the promise of talent we now consider legendary. On a telling note, Sean Penn's child shares the nickname of his character.

In contrast to another reviewer, I too see this film differently now then I did when I was younger. However, the "skin" and other adult themes added dimensions that expanded for me as I get older.

If you don't buy it at least rent it while you still can!

that first reviewer is wierd
no movie would satisfy that guy in the first review , he takes prude to different level , i thought the movie was good !

Funny how time changes your outlook....
Okay, I saw this movie for the first time MANY years ago when I was in my early 20's...say in 1986. I remember thinking this was such a good movie! Well, since 1990, we have had no television and watched no videos. Just recently we got a video player (still not wanting tv). I was at the library looking for the old classics (what I watch) when I ran across this movie. It made me think of how I had liked it, and I wondered if I would like it now, so I brought it home.

What I thought of it was...this is a nothing movie. Okay, maybe that's harsh, but I kept thinking, "what exactly was it that I had liked about the movie back in 1986?" for I found it boring, disturbing and sad. I did not like the bad language in it. Or the fact of the Nicholas Cage character drinking all the time. Or his inability to be kind to the girl he impregnated... The portrayal of nudity bothered me. Even bare chests on men I find inappropriate. The love scenes I just skipped over on fast forward. I got to thinking, when will this movie end?... none of this movie really moved me, except to feel sad... I think the story had much potential to be a good story. One can tell a story very effectively and not shove all the sin in your face. After viewing this... for some reason it made me feel sad, and it was also upsetting to witness the nudity etc. From now on I will stick to the old classics, and leave the modern movies I thought I liked, just memories in my past. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Art-movie goddess Delphine Seyrig (Last Year at Marienbad) slinks through the plush Eurotrash settings as the deathless Elizabeth Bathory, Vampire Countess, in Harry Kümel's minor Dutch classic of lesbian erotic-gothic. Blood mingles with water during the languorous shower scenes. Set at an upper-crust seaside resort, the 1971 film recounts Bathory's plot to replace her current consort (Andrea Rau) with a fresher specimen, an abused newlywed whose brutal young husband is an inconvenience waiting to be eliminated. Although both the bi-sex and the neck-biting violence are tame by today's standards, the film has a graceful, gliding sense of pace that gets under your skin; something unspeakably kinky always seems to be just about to happen. It never quite does, but the mood lingers. See it with someone you love--or would like to. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (24)

A mesmerizing and atypical vampire film
"Daughters of Darkness" (originally titled "La rouge aux lèvres") is a 1971 Belgian-French-West German production directed by Harry Kümel that stars Delphine Seyrig as the Countess Elizabeth (Erzsebet) Bathory (a real historical figure who murdered hundreds of young women in her quest for immortality). In the film, Bathory and her young female companion (Andrea Rau) cross pathes with a young couple, Valerie and Stefan (played by Danielle Ouimet and John Karlen - Willie Loomis from TV's "Dark Shadows") who are honeymooning during the off-season in Europe. At first the couple seem fairly normal, but things quickly sour, as the woman is shown to be emotionally unstable and the man is very violent and turned on by death. Their relationship is also undermined by homosexuality on both sides. There are intimations that Stefan is in thrall to an older man back in England, and Valerie - of course - soon falls under the spell of the ageless and beautiful Countess Bathory. This mesmerizing and hypnotic film makes brilliant use of sound, mood, and color to paint an understatedly savage tableau, and it has a well-deserved cult following. It's probably too slow-moving for the average horror movie fan, however. "Daughters of Darkness" is very self-consciously an "art" film. The carefully constructed images, the nonsensical dialogue, the use of vivid reds and blues, and the extremely deliberate pacing all serve to create a film that - despite a few shockingly strange death scenes - is much closer in spirit to "Last Year at Marienbad" than it is to "The Lost Boys."

Classic
I'm delighted this will be available on DVD. I watched it on VHS a long, long time ago. I'd heard about it in various books on vampire films and haunted every video store I could find to locate a viewing copy. When I finally found it, I watched it with the enthrallment of the very young with the object of an obsession. Based loosely on the story of Elisabet Bathory, this "contempory" tale is of a young newly wed couple who are seduced by a mysterious woman whose interest in them is predatory.

Compared to current movie fare, this is extremely tame with it's allusions to S&M and chic debauchery, but the european elegance of the film will satisfy the die hard vampire film fan who enjoys the older movies that defined the genre in the late 60s and into the 70s. Not as openly sexual as the lush offerings of a Hammer film, it has it's own more subtle erotic charm.

A Bewitching Vampire Tale...
Stefan, a British aristocrat with sadistic tendencies, and the beautiful Valerie, a simple girl, have eloped and are on their way home to break the news to Stefan's mother. However, Stefan is hesitant to bring his wife to see his mother as he delays the trip back to England on purpose by making up stories. The newlyweds decide to stay in an extravagant hotel on the seaside while Stefan attempts to buy some time. Stefan and Valerie are the only guests at the hotel besides the flamboyant Countess Bathory and her seductive secretary since it is off-season. During the stay the Countess Bathory has taken a liking to the couple and begins to seduce them both as she begins setting her wicked plan into action.

Daughters of Darkness is a vampire tale with a malevolently chilly and sexually tense atmosphere that haunts the mind with its subtle approach as Kümel avoids the popular approach of vampires. The vampires do not sleep in coffins nor attack the necks of their victims with sharpened elongated teeth. Instead Kümel disguises the threat of evil behind courteous behavior, alluring charm, and vivid gesticulations that become passionately seductive for the characters in the film. In addition, the mise-en-scene is strongly suggestive and vibrant colors are used in order to enhance the bewitching atmosphere that is viewed by the audience. This leaves the viewer with an uneasy, but artistic cinematic experience that selective audiences will appreciate.

The Pinnacle of Lesbian Vampire Movies
There must be some subliminal message in this movie that I respond to. I have watched it over and over. The Countess is so beautifully evil; she made me fall under her spell. I have heard her described as a "Satanic Auntie Mame". She makes evil so seductive and fun. Even though I have a dark obessesion fop this movie, freinds I have shown it to describe it as boring and slow. (Hang on, talking about it made me get up and put it in the DVD player again). It's not for everyone, at least give it a try.

Ehh, it's okay... 2.5 actually
This film is about a newlywed couple who "honeymoon?" at a fancy palace like hotel in Europe somewhere, alone, and are seduced by a Countess and her sidekick who show up not too long after the married couple arrive. I normally adore art house flicks, but this one has the pacing of a snail. There are only a few "shocking" scenes, and it came long after this viewer had any interest left. I will say this though, over the last 25 minutes of the film the pace quickens and may be considered a "payoff", but like I said, I basically lost interest. Don't believe the hype. If you want an interesting "exploitation" vampire film from the 70's, check out Warhol's Blood For Dracula. Nuff said. ... Read more

Description

The Dalton brothers rode hard, lived fast and played for high stakes. In this acclaimed production, Emmet Dalton recounts the wild and wooly exploits that made his gang legendary. Starting out as lawmen, deputized by Judge Isaac Parker, the Daltons discovered that stealing horses was more to their taste than chasing horse thieves and they soon found themselves on the wrong side of the law with a $25,000 reward posted for their capture.The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang is a powerful drama of the Old West as it really might have been -- a vivid, exciting saga of colorful characters that traces the rise and fall of the last major outlaw gang to make its reputation infamous before law and order stretched coast to coast. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Brutally honest film
While this movie is incredibly long (was a three-part TV movie), it is brutally honest in showing the terminal flaws in our legal system. This film shows a sister (Valerie Bertanelli)seeking justice for her sister, and trying to follow her sister's wishes to raise her son rather than have him be a 'reward' to the man she knows murdered her sister in cold blood.Sadly, this film is so typical of our legal system! If you can stand the brutal honesty, it shows a great investigation and the doggedly stubborn Italian family doing what it does best; fighting for family. This film - by the way - did win an Emmy nomination; quite an honor for a film.

Gripping Movie
This is the movie based on Peter Maas' book - In a Child's Name. I viewed the movie after reading the book and what makes this movie exceptional is that it is one of the few movies which depicted an accurate version of the book. A few names were changed and the focus of the movie was on the victim's sister portrayed fabulously by Valerie Bertinelli. The movie is very effective in producing a lot of emotions in the viewer just as the book was. There is a lot to be learned from the movie - family love and support, the tragedy of domestic violence, communities pulling together for a good cause, the power of journalism in influencing court decisions, the judicial system ignoring what is in the best interests of a child, doing a thorough investigation of a person before jumping into marriage and finding out that they are a monster and finally - good does triumph over evil.

A sad, gripping tale of violence and a sister's love.
In a Child's Name is a disturbing story of violence and a sister's love. I recommend this movie as a learning tool for families of domestic violence to learn what not to do. It is hard to watch this story without asking yourself do you know somebody who is being misused. Michael Ontkean is very convincing as a coked up dentist who has lost control. And Valerie Bertinelli's portrayal a of greiving sister and aunt will move you to tears.

Torture
Based on a true story, this sad film is about a lumpy, psychotic dentist who does drugs and beats women. The plot centers around the dentist's third marriage, which begins with a cozy honeymoon that ends with a crazy fit of spousel abuse. The whole film makes you want to hit someone. An added treat are the dentist's braindead, zombie-like parents, who are so mild mannered they are almost invisable. The fact that someone actually decided to make a film about these people and events makes me think some director should have taken up basket weaving as a career instead of movies. A perfect flick for getting depressed.

Read the book
The Peter Maas book IN A CHILD'S NAME, a true-crime masterpiece, was not adapted well for this TV-movie version. I almost could understand why the filmmakers downplayed the sexual aspects of the story of wife-murderer Ken Taylor. But I don't understand why this TV-movie IN A CHILD'S NAME made the victim's sister the central character. You would think it would focus on the antagonist, but maybe they did not want to make a Charles Manson-style star of killer Taylor. If that's so, then the point of view of journalist Peter Maas, whose New York Times Magazine article prevented the murderer's parents from illegally adopting the victim's son, would have carried the film. Anyway, read the book! ... Read more