Lively, entertaining reviews of, and essays on, old and newer films and everything relating to them, written by professional author William Schoell.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

THE NORLISS TAPES

THE NORLISS TAPES (1973). Director: Dan Curtis.

"Every time the house creaks, my skin crawls."

Publisher Sanford Evans (Don Porter) wonders what happened to his author David Norliss (Roy Thinnes) who was writing a book debunking the occult until he ran smack damn into a genuine supernatural incident: a woman's (Angie Dickinson) husband has come back from the dead and is attacking people, draining their blood like a vampire. The acting from the principals and supporting cast -- which includes Claude Akins as a sheriff and Hurd Hatfield from The Picture of Dorian Gray and Mickey One as an art dealer-- is good, and the movie has its creepy moments. The problem is that just as it begins getting interesting, the darn thing is over. This attempt to make a new series for Thinnes [similar to The Night Stalker] after The Invaders ended its run didn't pan out.

Verdict: Always nice to see Angie. **1/2.

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