Today were talking 1970's made for TV in the form of Dan Curtis's The Norliss Tapes. Throughout the last several years I have been to several horror conventions and have been on line long enough to know that this movie has been in high demand by 70's horror fans. Thanks to Anchor Bay we finally get a legit release (throw away those boots y'all). Is it really any good is the question. Let's take a look.
As the title states this film is about a writer David Norliss who for the last year has been working on a novel to debunk supernatural an occult happenings. More specifically those who use the occult to make a fortune on others beliefs in it and the suffering of those who have lost loved ones. Unfortunately for Mr.Norliss over that year time frame he has apparently gotten in too deep with his investigations and call his publisher for a meeting.
David does not show up to this meeting and the publisher begins to get worried and decides to visit David at his home. Upon visiting David Norliss's house he finds tapes that detail each experience he has been involved with over the last year. This movie (which was a pilot for a supposed series) tells the tale of the first tape that was found by Norliss's publisher that goes on to show that sometimes, the supernatural can be more real than you could ever imagine.
David Norliss is drawn into a strange case involving a wealthy widow (played by Angie Dickenson) who is attacked....by her dead husband. As expected nobody believes her and its up to Norliss to find the clues that would prove what she says is true and more importantly how her supposed dead husband is back!!! If you are a fan of Dan Curtis items such as The Nightstalker and Kolchak series you are in for a treat as this follows the same style. I really ended up enjoying this one as it plays out like a horror mystery movie. Instead of there being a guy in a werewolf suit or somebody human behind the plot we get a mystery that involves the occult and who is involved in the circle of evil.
It's a real shame this was not picked up as a full series as this could have really been excellent. At the end of the movie the publisher begins to put in the next tape to see at what point David began to get into trouble with his occult investigations....unfortunately we will never know but this film stands well on its own and another example of the best made for TV movie era ....the 70's. I give "The Norliss Tapes": 7/10: Good, another solid example of the era that was The Dan Curtis era...as far as 70's made for TV is concerned.
Until next time when your dead spouse stars at you with those reddish yellow eyes they are probably not thinking about sweet lovin...GET THE HECK OUT ASAP!!!
As the title states this film is about a writer David Norliss who for the last year has been working on a novel to debunk supernatural an occult happenings. More specifically those who use the occult to make a fortune on others beliefs in it and the suffering of those who have lost loved ones. Unfortunately for Mr.Norliss over that year time frame he has apparently gotten in too deep with his investigations and call his publisher for a meeting.
David does not show up to this meeting and the publisher begins to get worried and decides to visit David at his home. Upon visiting David Norliss's house he finds tapes that detail each experience he has been involved with over the last year. This movie (which was a pilot for a supposed series) tells the tale of the first tape that was found by Norliss's publisher that goes on to show that sometimes, the supernatural can be more real than you could ever imagine.
David Norliss is drawn into a strange case involving a wealthy widow (played by Angie Dickenson) who is attacked....by her dead husband. As expected nobody believes her and its up to Norliss to find the clues that would prove what she says is true and more importantly how her supposed dead husband is back!!! If you are a fan of Dan Curtis items such as The Nightstalker and Kolchak series you are in for a treat as this follows the same style. I really ended up enjoying this one as it plays out like a horror mystery movie. Instead of there being a guy in a werewolf suit or somebody human behind the plot we get a mystery that involves the occult and who is involved in the circle of evil.
It's a real shame this was not picked up as a full series as this could have really been excellent. At the end of the movie the publisher begins to put in the next tape to see at what point David began to get into trouble with his occult investigations....unfortunately we will never know but this film stands well on its own and another example of the best made for TV movie era ....the 70's. I give "The Norliss Tapes": 7/10: Good, another solid example of the era that was The Dan Curtis era...as far as 70's made for TV is concerned.
Until next time when your dead spouse stars at you with those reddish yellow eyes they are probably not thinking about sweet lovin...GET THE HECK OUT ASAP!!!