The Death of Ocean View Park

Instead of sheriff Brody warning the Amity mayor of the gigantic shark on rampage near the beach, which could jeopardize the not less gigantic parade planned to celebrate Independance Day - rememeber JAWS and its sequels - you have here Mike Connor's character warning about a huge rollercoaster structure which threatens to collapse at anytime, not speaking of a big hurricane in approach...So, you deal here with a classic disaster film, and thriller in the same time. AIRPORT meets ROLLERCOASTER, with sub characters stories and so on.

There are a handful of Telefilms that came out in the late 1960's through the 1970's that I personally really enjoy and are among my favourites.

The reason being is not that just because it is a Telefilm clearly with a very limited budget, which makes about 90% of them not anything terribly notable, but these handful of films show what can be done with a well crafted story and good direction!

Just to name a few to give you some idea as to where I'm coming from... 'A Cold Night's Death' (1973 - Starring the great Robert Culp and Eli Wallach - Awesome Suspenseful/Mysterious atmosphere!) 'Murder by Natural Causes' (1976 - Starring an excellent Hal Holbrook, a Twisty Thriller written by the Brilliant team of Levinson/Link, the ones behind the stories in the Columbo series) 'Isn't It Shocking!' (1973? - A very entertaining and extremely well written Murder/Mystery/Thriller starring the excellent Alan Alda, Louise Lasser and others)

This one also really stands out to me because I feel it draws you into the story and adds intriguing little touches that really get the audience to wondering just exactly what is going on, and it creates a very potent atmosphere. The performances by all, even the secondary characters are very engaging and believable, and yes, it stars both the excellent Mike Connors and Martin Landau.

To me, it is the underlying Creepy mood that is created by the filmmakers that is so effective. And, also the way the story builds and builds and the Mystery unfolds.

Of course, without giving away the ending, the spectacle of how it was made is quite dramatic, as it also brings in the age old issue of Profit vs. Safety, which the two principles depict marvelously!

So yeah, I feel it is absolutely a sold '7' and in my lowly and wretched opinion is made far, Far better than Many Telefilms, and is just one of those stories that I feel really grabs you until the end.

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Just a note as to how I do my reviews... I usually don't repeat the basic plot since almost everyone else does that. And, you can get the basic synopsis from a bunch of other places, to me that is just a waste of your time, and I feel honestly doesn't really tell you anything that helpful. So, what I concentrate on in my reviews is hopefully putting across whether I think it is a Good film, or if I think that it is an Entertaining movie and what I feel it's strengths and weaknesses are in the way it is made.

That way, Hopefully it will be of more benefit and actual be of some help to others as to whether I feel the movie is worth watching (and also perhaps what 'Type' of film it is and what type of people may enjoy it)

My Particular Way of Rating:

5 - Flawed, but perhaps with a little entertainment value here and there for some.

6. A decently passable story maybe worth a watch.

7. A solid film, well made, effective, and entertaining.

And, obviously, you can probably figure out what above and below these would mean... : )

After Playboy TV decided to toss it bunny rabbit ears into the amusement park gone wrong movie arena they made this made for tv trash hit in my hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. Yes I lived in Norfolk, Virginia from the year I was born in 1974 till 1980 when the family decided to move to Charlottesville. The plot of this movie was just like Roller Coaster and Amusement Park, something just might go wrong despite everything feeling right. The destruction of the The Skyrocket Roller Coaster was a devastating sight on tv. Local News Teams covered the making of the movie and the actual blowings up of the wooden coaster. After several failed attempts the final explosion which I can not recall the number was the one that brought down it down and Norfolkians stood in silence and total shock as the hills and turns came tumbling down to the ground. The roller coaster that had brought such fun to Ocean View Residents and to all residents of Hampton Roads was finally gone. Today most of the coaster beams that were not scorched or destroyed in the blasts now make up some of the colonial houses and barns in Williamsburg, Virginia. Today Ocean View is a crack addict neighborhood where only the dregs of society live. Thanks alot Playboy TV you ruined one fine beach neighborhood.

The Death of Oceanview Park fits the part for a TV Movie trying to be mildly scary. Actually it more accurately fits the 1970s idea of a silly TV trying to be mildly scary. The movie never really ties itself together and gives the impression that it was written and/or pieced together on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It has several paranormal phenomena that serve as the scary throw-ins, but they never resolve themselves or show how they actually fit in to the movie's events. The acting appears serious, almost too serious, but this only makes the movie that much sillier. Although this movie is bad, it's a great movie for a few laughs and a look into 1970s "made for TV" filmography. Beware of the roving sand bump!

I live on Oceanview unfortunately! I'm not a crack head or a dreg, it's just the only place thats affordable to live in the area. I agree with you, I have read the history of Oceanview and the destruction of the park was a big class boo boo for Norfolk.....I would love to see the movie any idea where i could get a copy in the area? What was Norfolk thinking about at the time....we're suppose to have a few hero's who's bringing changes to the area ....Where are they ? Maybe they need to come down here and live for a few weeks and see the prostitutes and drug deals and knifing that happen and thats just near 11th bay street. not to mention the gang houses here. i thought you was suppose to clean out the bad from the area not the good people, Wake Up Norfolk!