Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive

A couple move into their dream home, unaware that it and its neighbours have been built over land formerly used as a cemetery. The film is said to have been based on a true story, although how much of it is supposed to be true is not disclosed. The plot is hardly unique - see Spielberg's 'Poltergeist' (1982). Within a short time, they experience various supernatural phenomena: these range from the disturbing - mysterious shadows, the serious illness of the daughter - to the frankly ridiculous - toilets continually flushing and garage doors going out of control. There is little depth to the story: once it has become established that the land had been used as a cemetery, we do not learn anything more. The plot does not seem to develop. The characters are not particularly well drawn or in any way memorable, nor is the atmosphere particularly special. The film could be disturbing to some viewers. There is no sense of catharsis or any kind of positive message from it.

Think Poltergeist minus the crazy special effects. I enjoyed the film, quite a bit. Patti Duke, David Soul and Dark Shadows' David Selby were all a huge part of my childhood so seeing them all in the same film was very gratifying for me. For a made for TV film, the look of the film was quite good. It's a more realistic view of how an average family would deal with a haunting, as opposed to many blockbusters, where the characters seem less unconvinced and more vehement that everything is okay. The only problem I had with the film was some of the over done "folksy charm" of the characters. If you're looking for the Conjuring or Insidious, this isn't the film for you. If you're looking for a spooky little film with familiar faces, you'll love this one.

Not a bad movie for families if your kids are ok with a few scary moments. Most are cheesy but could be scary for real young ones. I would say good for 9 years olds or older. There is no gore and does have good family values in it.

GRAVE SECRETS: THE LEGACY OF HILLTOP DRIVE starts right off in the creepy zone, when Jean and Shag Williams (Patty Duke and David Selby) and daughter Tina (Kiersten Warren) check out the land where their new home will be built.

Bad vibes begin oscillating almost immediately!

Once the house is built, and they move in, the woo-woo factor jumps into the red: Lights turn themselves on and off; toilets flush on their own; and the electric garage door goes berserk!

Oh no!

The Williams' spooky granddaughter moves in! Tina is stricken with a sudden, bizarre disease! Then, the real haunting begins!

Similar in atmosphere and appearance to movies like POLTERGEIST or THE AMITYVLLE HORROR, this made-for-TV movie is fairly effective, in spite of the usual limitations of the small screen of its era.

There's a nice mystery to be investigated, that accentuates the supernatural goings-on. Ms. Duke is the film's greatest asset, playing her role with a believable sense of growing panic.

Worth watching for the true paranormal enthusiast...

I first saw GRAVE SECRETS about 10 years ago and recently bought the DVD here in the UK. I myself am a paranormal investigator and found this movie to be one of the best movies based on a factual ghost story I've ever seen, Yes it is a TV Movie, So if you are expecting Special effects galore and Hollywood-ised horror then you wont get it here.

This is one of the most realistic movies based on ghosts and is mostly like how it really is. The story is based on actual events "the legacy of hilltop drive" and stars the amazing actress "Patty Duke" who is well known for all her excellent "based on real events" TV Movies.

This movie has an excellent story, and what makes it even more gripping and interesting is that its based on real events that happened to the whole neighbourhood at hilltop drive. Every house hold had a ghost and eventually the whole neighbourhood was empty as everyone eventually moved away as they could no longer take living with the ghosts. It is fact that the real Hill top drive is now a abandoned neighbourhood and no one lives there.

I highly recommend this movie to serious Patty Duke fans, and people who like a good ghost movie that doesn't have all the scary factor thrills that come from Hollywood movies. Although the movie IS SCARY, it just doesn't need special effects to make it scary!