Fear No Evil

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.

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.

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.

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.

Another childhood favourite, does it still hold up.

For a made for TV film, hell yes!

There is: no big budget sets no big budget special effects no blood or splatter

but it works as the cast & story just work so well: A cast of excelent actors. Atmosphere and cheap 70s TV chroma key.

I think this film worked because of its limits. Yes some of the film looks a bit cheep when the scene isnt at night or in shadow but hell it works.

I hope this comes on bluray someday.