Trilogy of Terror (1975) (TV)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

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)
Terror of the Doll (USA)

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:

Featured in "Svengoolie: Trilogy of Terror" (1996)

Karen Black Falls Prey

Dan Curtis directs this made for television anthology of three stories written by horror-meister Richard Mathseon. Matheson wrote the teleplay for the third story "Prey," while Richard F. Nolan(writer of Logan's Run and much more) did so for the first two stories. All of the stories star Karen Black in the lead and the stories are titled with the female names "Julie," "Millicent and Therese," and "Amelia." All three stories are to varying degrees effective. I really enjoyed the first story about a college student who seduces his seemingly coy college professor only to see things differently later. Curtis plays with his audience and shows scenes from The Night Stalker at a drive-in theater. Look for a very young Gregory Harrison at this episode's close. The second story has two sisters who hate each other finally settle their differences..in a very unique way. George Gaynes helps out in this episode as a doctor. The story works because of its acting even though I knew what was going to happen long before it did. Karen Black really gets to show her acting range in this one, and as Therese she is one real knockout. Easily the best of the trio is the third story of a woman bringing a Zuni fetish doll home only to somehow become the prey of this one-to-two foot doll. The special effects here might seem campy by today's standards but when this came out they were truly frightening...and still powerful I think today. The doll looks very scary and attacks with quite an intense ferocity. This story should put you on the edge of your seat, and is very different in tone and style to the first two. Trilogy of Terror is a good, fun-filled romp through the works of one of our best authors...Richard Matheson.