Fear No Evil

Like most of the other reviewers, I saw FEAR NO EVIL when it was first broadcast on NBC back in 1969. I must have been impressed at the time but all I could remember was Carroll O'Connor's final scene with the mirror. So when I watched the movie again after 50 years it was like seeing it for the first time until the very end. Now that I have seen FNE again, I must say that the film holds up rather well. It was the first regular made-for-TV movie and was supposed to be the pilot for a potential series featuring Louis Jourdan as occult psychologist David Sorrell. The ratings were good enough to warrant a sequel, RITUAL OF EVIL, but then it was dropped by Universal in favor of Rod Serling's NIGHT GALLERY.

The story deals with Jourdan investigating a group of Satanists who attempt to bring forth a major demon by means of an antique mirror. In order to do this they need an unknowing victim to be the "host". Unfortunately this person dies before the demon can be released and so they seek a replacement in the victim's fiance' who is then bewitched by his image in the mirror. It is then up to Dr Sorrell to prevent her from committing suicide to fulfill the Satanists' pact. Bradford Dillman and Lynda Day (later George) co-star as the unfortunate couple with Carroll O' Connor, in one of his best pre-Archie Bunker roles, as the leader of the Satanists. Wilfrid Hyde-White plays Jourdan's mentor who tells him to tread carefully.

RITUAL OF EVIL, the followup movie, is not as good. This time around instead of Satanists, Dr Sorell must deal with a group of bored rich people who are celebrating a black mass without realizing the consequences of what it means. Unbeknownst to them, one of their members is a real witch who has the power to destroy people by burning the photographs she has taken of them. As members of their circle dwindle, Dr Sorell discovers who the witch is but falls under her spell. She, however, is interested in the young daughter of a faded film actress. Can he persevere? Anne Baxter stars as the actress with a wonderful performance from Diana Hyland who would tragically die a few years later from cancer.

This DVD / Blu-Ray combo is just one of a number of Universal made-for-TV movies from the late 1960s-mid 1970s that are being released by Kino Lorber as part of their Studio Classics series. Both movies have undergone a 2K restoration and look as good as they ever have or probably ever will. Remember these are TV movies not big budget Hollywood offerings which is why it's good to see someone taking the trouble to make them available for a new generation. The discs come with a number of extras including commentary, trailers for both films, image galleries, and much appreciated subtitles for those of us who saw these movies when they were first broadcast over half a century ago...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.

I remember seeing this as a kid and NEVER forgetting it. I found it haunting and also hauntingly beautiful in its way. I have tried to track down a copy but have never been able to find much at all about this movie. I remembered Lynda George and Bradford Dillman and through a bunch of searching finally located info. I am surprised it is so hard to locate unless I am only imagining how good it was. The film was poignant and I especially liked Lynda George's performance. If anyone knows how I can get a copy, please email me. It was one of my favorite movies long ago. I also liked the Borgia Stick and had these two confused in my mind. That movie is also nearly as obscure and hard

The story opens with a seemingly groggy and disoriented Paul Varney banging on the door of closed antique shop. Varney flashes a wad of cash at the shop owner and once inside, purchases a beautiful full length antique mirror and arranges to have it delivered to his apartment. Hosting an all night party at his apartment, psychiatrist David Sorell meets Varney and his fiancé Barbara Anholt through his friend Miles Donovan. During a discussion about evil spirits and demons, Varney brings up the demon Rakashi. When Sorell questions Varney about it he gets a a bit touchy and leaves with Barbara to race in a vintage car road rally. Looking in his rear view mirror during the course of rally, Varney seems overcome by a reflection in the mirror and wreaks the car killing himself and injuring Barbara.

A grief stricken and depressed Barbara moves in with Paul's affluent mother, but instead of recovering, Barbara seems to be drifting deeper into a suicidal state and is becoming obsessed with idea of joining Paul in the afterlife via the antique mirror where she believes Paul's spirit dwells.

To save Barbara's life, David Sorell must investigate the circumstances leading up to Pauls death, including the reasons for his purchase of the antique mirror, his knowledge of Rakashi,and his participation in a demon raising ceremony conducted by a convocation of demonologists immediately prior to his purchasing the mirror.During the course of his investigation, Sorell with the help of his friend and mentor Harry Snowden,and despite the attempted obstructions of Miles Donovan,learns there is much more to the Rakashi legend the he could have possibly imagined and that some people he thought he knew, are not what they seem to be. Every piece of evidence he follows leads him back to the mirror and it's hold on Barbara and in the end he finds himself in a fantastic and horrifying neither world struggling for Barbara's very soul.

Paul Wendkos knew how to direct television drama and he does a top notch job with Fear No Evil. The film boast a wonderful cast with Louis Jourdan,Carroll O'Connor,and Bradford Dillman and they give excellent performances. Beautiful Lynda Day George is sexy and vulnerable as Barbara. Wilfred Hyde-White, Marsha Hunt, and Katherine Woodville are top notch in key supporting roles. If William Goldenburgs eerie musical score doesn't give you goosebumps then nothing will. This is a very hard movie to locate, but it's truly a little treasure if you do.

This hard to find made for TV movie is one of my all time favorites in the suspense department. The movie's plot is innovative and creepy without resorting to any of the hackneyed standard scare tactics that discredits so many other horror films. Outstanding performances by Carroll O'Connor and Louis Jourdan are a highlight and Marsha Hunt is also excellent as the mother who secretly does not have her son's fiancé best interests at heart. The movie's climax is also extremely well crafted and gripping as psychiatrist Louis Jourdan uses guile and creativity in his attempt to save Barbara from the antique mirror that seeks to possess her. I would recommend this movie to fans of the genre-if you can find it.

FEAR NO EVIL is a sophisticated blend of suggested horror and surprising sexual content for its time ('69) and place (tv). I haven't seen this movie since it was first broadcast, and I wish it were available on video so I could reconfirm my impressions about it. The opening scene, at a party, in which Louis Jourdan intrigues and frightens his friends about the contents of a box in his possession, sets the tone for the film and is a masterfully edited sequence of the unknown and unseen that scares the viewer without resorting to gore or cheap shocks.

The plot of the picture, dealing with passion from beyond the grave, is exceptionally well done and quite daring and bold for a late-sixties tv movie. Again, I wish I had the opportunity to re-view the movie to re-experience the pleasure it gave me, so that the story would be fresher in my mind and I could do it more justice here.