Trilogy of Terror – Special Edition DVD
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I remember seeing this Dan Curtis TV movie when I was a kid not much bigger than a Zuni doll, and it scared the living daylights out of me. Another TV movie from that same era that had me hiding under the covers at night was Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, starring Kim Darby. Remember that one? A young couple buys a house, with mini-devils living in the basement who are determined to drag the terrified wife down to their lair.
There's something really scary about tiny intruders, and in the additional release material on the new Trilogy of Terror DVD, actress Karen Black, who stars in all the title roles, has an interesting theory as to why that is — let's just say it's very Freudian! Cross your legs, ladies, and read on.
If you have not seen Trilogy of Terror, then surely you have at least heard of it. The story about the evil Zuni doll is the stuff of which legends are made. The movie is seldom seen on television anymore, and it's been hard to find on home video — but now, thanks to Dark Sky, anyone will be able to see what all the fuss was about. And for fans with frighteningly-fond memories, it's well worth the purchase price just to reminisce and check out the brand new additional release materials.
Trilogy of Terror has the distinction of starring not only Black in what is basically her first foray into the horror movie world (she would later become an icon in the genre, still going strong with her role as Mother Firefly in House of 1000 Corpses), direction by the late Dan Curtis (who produced and directed many classic TV horrors, including Dark Shadows and Kolchak the Night Stalker), and writing by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, many episodes of The Twilight Zone) and William F. Nolan (author of Logan's Run).
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Story #1 — Julie
Julie is an uptight teacher at the local college who, despite her high collars and long skirts, attracts the attention of a certain boy,
While not much of a horror story as far as gore or scares, Julie is still an intriguing little tale worthy of a Tales From the Crypt. It's based upon a short story by Matheson, adapted by Nolan, and the lead actors both play their roles to perfection. The scintillating story is drenched in Dracula subtext, with
Story #2 — Millicent and Therese
Millicent is an old-before-her-time spinster who's more than just embarrassed by her hotsy-totsy sister, Therese. Millie is straight out of Victorian times, while Therese is living it up in the swinging 70s. Both sisters reside under the same roof, each one driving the other crazy. Millie sees a psychiatrist to help her deal with the sinful shame, but it's not enough. She turns to voodoo, with disastrous results.
This is another story by Matheson, but adapted by Nolan. I have not read the original tale, but I can't imagine it's any less predictable than the TV version — it's an old, tired formula that's been so done to death you can smell the corpse within the first frame. Still, Black is good in the dual roles and it's fun to watch her strut her stuff.
Story #3 — Amelia
This is the piece du resistance of the trilogy; it's the crowning story, truly the only one worthy of being called a tale of "terror". It starts off slowly, showing Amelia talking to her obviously overbearing mother on the phone, trying to explain why she would like to spend the evening with her boyfriend. It's his birthday, and Amelia has bought him a very special gift. But Mom (who you never see, and whose voice you never hear) would rather Amelia cancel her date and spend the evening with her.
As Amelia talks on the phone, she's holding the gift she bought — an authentic Zuni fetish hunting doll made of ebony hardwood. On the instructions, it says that the grimacing ghoulie's gold belt holds back the spirit on an ancient tribesman, and should the chain come undone, the ghost will animate the doll. Well, guess what happens? The ensuing chase and attack, though it could easily teeter into titter territory, never does — it's just as scary now as it was then.
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Brand new additional release material on the disc includes an interview with a somewhat sanctimonious Black eschewing the horror genre and insisting that what she does is science fiction. She also takes credit for the best ideas in the stories — while I don't doubt her, I do think perhaps the self-kudos could have been worded just a tad more modestly. The interview with the preeminent Richard Matheson isn't much more humble, and he, too, hates the term "horror". Still, there is no denying it's a treat too see these two old workhorses still here on the planet talking about their considerable achievements, and they do have a lot of valid and informative points.
The DVD also includes feature-length commentary from Black and Nolan.
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Reviewed by Staci Layne Wilson