Bay Cove

"Bay Coven" is a 1987 TV film also known as "Bay Cove" and (God knows why) "Eye of the Demon." It stars Pamela Sue Martin and Tim Matheson as a couple that move to an island off the coast of Massachusetts where they run afoul of a coven of witches. Woody Harrelson of "Cheers" is also on hand as a friend of the couple.

The story is engrossing, mysterious & creepy and the cast is fabulous. The witches all attempt to present themselves as normal neighbors but fail completely -- there's just something NOT RIGHT about them. The island locations are also a highlight.

Pamela Sue Martin is very alluring as the one who slowly unravels the mystery, which is fitting since she used to play mystery-sleuth Nancy Drew.

"Bay Coven" has been called the TV version of "Rosemary's Baby" and, to some degree, "The Amityville Horror", but -- believe it or not -- although "Bay Coven" is not as good on a technical level due to it's TV budget, it's actually better as far as plot, story and locations go. It's just more engrossing. It also has been compared to "The Devil's Rain," but let's just say it wouldn't take much to be better than that piece of crap.

On the downside, the final act is cartoony with its overt depiction of the coven, but that's almost always the case when films attempt to show witches or satanists and their diabolical doings. Look no further than the final scenes of "Rosemary's Baby." Still, most everyone who signs on for a film like this do so with the understanding that they'll see a group of weirdo occultists and the film provides this, cartoony or not.

GRADE: B+

Bay Coven or Bay Cove is a good film that has a good cast includes Pamela Sue Martin, Tim Matheson, Barbara Billingsley, Jeff Conaway, Woody Harrelson, Susan Ruttan, James Sikking, Inga Swenson, and Nigel Bennett. The acting by all of these actors is very good. Martin is really good in this film. Mathesson is good and Harrelson is very good. I thought The mystery is good and some of it is surprising. The movie is filmed good. The music is good. The film is quite interesting and the movie really keeps you going until the end. This is a very good and thrilling film. If you like Pamela Sue Martin, Tim Matheson, Barbara Billingsley, Jeff Conaway, Woody Harrelson, the rest of the cast in the film, Horror, Thrillers, Mysteries, and interesting films then I strongly recommend you to see this film today!

I bought this at the store for a $1.50 expecting absolutely nothing, but actually this is not at all a bad film, and rather interesting. It is slow paced, which is a good thing, the tension builds up as the film moves along and it gets more and more interesting until the climax. This is a suspense film, and a well done one, many movies about witches fail but this is one that does it pretty well. The acting is pretty decent also, good acting from Tim Matheson and Woody Harrelson. Not much gore but it doesn't need it, it was made for TV so most profanity and gore and nudity is absent but it works with the film. This one is recommended to buy for a $1.50 if you want a pretty decent suspense film.

BAY COVEN (aka: EYE OF THE DEMON) opens with a diabolical death in a church building. The scene switches to the big city, where Linda and Jerry Lebon (Pamela Sue Martin and Tim Matheson) have a bit of a problem. It seems that Jerry has grown tired of the urban existence, and longs for a peaceful, more fulfilling life in the country.

Coincidentally, someone just happens to tell the Lebons about the tiny island town of Bay Cove, a wonderful place that fits Jerry's dream of a quiet spot. The next thing they know, they've moved into a huge house in this idyllic setting. Everything is perfect. Hell, Barbara "June Cleaver" Billingsley lives in a cottage on the property! How great is that?

Uh oh!

Snoopy Linda finds an old book in the cottage containing suspicious symbols! It's not long before the Lebons meet the rather pushy, oddball neighbors, and bad vibes begin... vibrating. As Linda continues her sleuthing, bizarre things start happening. The Lebons appear oblivious to the fact that everyone they meet acts in a dubious manner. After a while, even Jerry gets a demonic glow!

Enter Woody Harrelson as the Lebon's goofy friend, Slater. In no time flat, Slater gets a tad nosy himself and, oops-y daisy! He should never have parked so close to that cliff!

BOOM!

As made-for-TV occult conspiracy movies go, this one is a riot. Matheson goes from sappy husband to glaring jerk at will, and Martin simply plays her Fallon Carrington role from DYNASTY mixed with a dash of her old NANCY DREW days! Is it scary? No. However, it is a lot of fun to watch!...

A married couple named "Jerry Lebon" (Tim Matheson) and "Linda Lebon" (Pamela Sue Martin) are living in Boston and decide to move off the coast to a place called Devlin Island. On the island is a small community which goes by the name of Bay Cove and is populated by people who have lived there a very long time. However, things are not as they seem. Not only do the neighbors act a little weird but there are a number of strange occurrences which being happening shortly after Jerry and Linda arrive. Anyway, rather than spoil the film for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this wasn't a bad movie, all things considered. Even so, because this was a made-for-television movie there were some parts which I thought were rather tame. Especially in the horror department. I liked the performance of Pamela Sue Martin and the fact that the director (Carl Schenkel) managed to keep the suspense going for the most part and that proved enough to justify the time spent watching it. I give it an average rating.