Trilogy of Terror (1975) (TV)

Director:

Dan Curtis

Writers:

Richard Matheson (screenplay)
Richard Matheson (story)

Release Date:

4 March 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Three bizarre horror stories all of which star Karen Black in four different roles playing tormented women.

Plot Keywords:

Student | Doll | Teacher | Anthology | Twins

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Karen Black	...	Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia
Robert Burton	...	Chad Foster
John Karlen	...	Thomas Amman
George Gaynes	...	Dr. Chester Ramsey
Jim Storm	...	Eddie Nells
Gregory Harrison	...	Arthur Moore
Kathryn Reynolds	...	Anne Richards
Tracy Curtis	...	Tracy
Orin Cannon	...	Motel Clerk

Also Known As:

Tales of Terror (USA) (alternative title)
Terror of the Doll (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Company:

ABC Circle Films

Trivia:

In the first segment, "Julie", when Chad goes to get a room, he uses the fake name of Johnathan Harker, a name taken from the Bram Stoker novel "Dracula".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Amelia puts the dinner in the oven it is on the top rack, about 4" from the top of the oven. Later when she throws the doll into the oven, the dinner is still smoldering in there but now it is on the bottom of the oven and there are no racks (allowing room for the doll to dance around and scream).

Quotes:

Amelia: [on the phone, threatened by a supernaturally animated Zuni hunting fetish doll] Operator, get me the police! I DON'T KNOW where I'm located, just get me the police, there's a... there's a... just get me the police, PLEASE?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus (#6.21)" (1993)

Voted 9 on the Doll alone!

EVERYONE I know that's ever seen it says the same thing. That doll freaked them out! The doll in the last story is worth it all! You watch this and you won't be able to go to sleep till you make sure any dolls in your house are locked away! I think the dolls face is so well done, so damned creepy that even with the somewhat limited "special effects" that were used to do the doll, it just freaks you out and afterward any little sound in your house will make you jump or send a shiver down your spine! For a made-for-TV movie from 1975 it is fantastic! I forget how much they paid to get the doll to work, but I think it was something like $100,000. Lots of money back then just for a single item for a movie, but well worth it! The stories are pretty good too! Worthy of the Twilight Zone, or Outer Limits! Karen Black is great in this. Of course, this was her time to shine in the mid '70's. If you like the Chucky movies, then you'll love this one.