SUMMER OF FEAR opens with a literal bang, as an out of control car crashes and burns! Rachel Bryant (Linda Blair) has just lost her aunt and uncle in that explosion. When her mum and dad return from the funeral, they bring Rachel's country cousin, Julia (Lee Purcell) back with them. At first, it all goes swimmingly.
However, things take a bizarre turn when Julia and Rachel's friend, Carolyn (Fran Drescher) are attacked by Rachel's horse! Perhaps he was set off by Julia's new vest and hot pants ensemble with matching, mod hairdo! In no time, Julia has ingratiated herself with the family, and only Rachel seems to suspect that something might be amiss with their houseguest.
Oh no!
The "big dance" is imminent, and Rachel's face breaks out in what look like pepperonis! This allows Julia to go to the dance with Rachel's 12' tall boyfriend. In addition, Rachel's horse takes a terminal tumble!
Coincidence? Hmmm.
Now, with her towering boyfriend in the arms of Julia, and her horse reduced to dog chow, Julia is convinced that some genuine, Ozark mountain hoodoo might be going on. Luckily, an expert on the occult lives next door.
What are the odds? Hmmm.
Said expert helps Rachel prepare for a final showdown, when everything hits the fan! Can she possibly defeat her wretched relative?
This slab of made-for-TV cheddar is your basic supernatural yarn (cheeeze yarn?). Blair is great -as always- at being the wronged innocent, as is Purcell in her wicked role. Director Wes Craven did his best to make things suspenseful within the constraints of 1970's network television. Vintage fun for fans of tele-terror...
