Fear No Evil

One of the most brilliant made for television films ever aired, it is sad to say, appears to be now a "Lost" film as Universal Pictures, after I did research on this title, has no print or material on this title in their vaults.

I know this as a fact when I worked with film historian, Philip J. Riley, when working together on my book of the making of "Fear No Evil" (BearManor Media 2012).

There is a 16mm in the Library of Congress, and there are prints in the hands of private collectors, but, it appears, that all 35mm materials were possibly junked before the idea recycling titles for VHS/laserdisc and DVD were thought of.

Hopefully, someone, or someplace (France?), has the materials so a beautiful digital restoration can be made.

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.

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.

When first aired in 1969, this TV production was a ratings powerhouse for NBC. Starring the infrequently used Louis Jourdan as David Sorell, an L.A. psychiatrist with an interest in the occult, the film tells the story of a mirror that holds a demon that possesses the soul of newlywed Bradford Dillman. Lynda Day (the future wife of actor Christopher George) plays Dillman's hapless wife who herself is to be the next victim of the mirror's machinations. A pre-Archie Bunker Carroll O'Connor is on hand as Dillman's friend that's hiding a sinister secret. Veteran actress Marsha Hunt is very good as Dillman's adoring and devoted mother. English stalwart Wilfred Hyde-White plays Jourdan's apparent mentor in things that go bump in the night.

The film has a nicely creepy feel, befitting the studio (Universal) that brought the world so many classic horror films during the 30's.

Also, the score by Billy Goldenberg is effectively spooky, especially the scene wherein the entranced George descends from the stairs to be "rejoined" with her deceased husband.

"Fear No Evil" yielded a sequel a year later, the somewhat weaker "Ritual of Evil" with Jourdan returning in the lead role.

After the tragic death of her fiancé a young woman see visions of her boyfriend in an old mirror he bought one day before their car accident.The psychiatrist who is interested in esoteric knowledge and occult decides to help her...First of all I haven't seen "Ritual of Evil" yet,so I won't compare "Fear No Evil" to it.Basically "Fear No Evil" contains no gore and nudity.Still the story is captivating and the acting is very good.The plot moves slowly and the climax is quite eerie and memorable.Several plot twists are quite unexpected.If you are into late 60's or 70's TV-made horror "Fear No Evil" is worth checking out.The evil in the mirror concept is usually fascintaing.7 mirrors out of 10.