The Force of Evil

Flagrant (and uncredited) rewrite of "Cape Fear", originally made for the "Tales of the Unexpected" TV series, has paroled rapist-killer stalking an affluent surgeon and his family, whom he blames for his guilty verdict and seven-year stretch behind bars (why William Watson's psychopath wants revenge on this particular surgeon isn't made entirely clear). Lloyd Bridges keeps a cool head in the Gregory Peck role, while Watson (in a cowboy hat and shades, menacingly chewing gum) has the showier part originally played by Robert Mitchum. Producer Quinn Martin's work for television wasn't in the same league as, say, Aaron Spelling's. He was, however, capable of assembling decent second-string acting talent, and he doesn't skimp on the production. This melodrama is mounted with suspenseful precision...but it was all unpleasant enough the first time around.

This was actually a pilot for the short lived, but very effective "Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected." It's sad that no one seems to rebroadcast this series. William Conrad provided the narration for the movie pilot and the series. The series had one of the creepiest and visually scary introductions that I ever have seen. It puts you in mind of the intro for the 80s version of the Twilight Zone series.

You could pretty much sum this movie up as a supernatural version of Cape Fear. The actor who played the angry ex-con was an effective character actor who did a lot of work during the 70s. He showed up a lot on shows such as Cannon as a heavy. Bridges and the rest of the cast do good jobs as the family living in fear of this man with a serious grudge. I hope Sci-Fi or someone will reshow both this movie and the series.

I still remember this creepy movie. It was creepy in a subtle sort of way like most episodes of Kolchak, The Night Stalker. I wasn't very sophisticated as a child but I think this must have been something for me to remember it all these years later. If anyone knows where you can get it on VHS, I would be interested in seeing if it were still as disturbing after all these years.

I remember this movie 27 years later so that should do justice to its staying power! Without giving away anything, suffice to say I recall the movie being thrilling, in a 1970's sort of way (those were more innocent days for everyone). William Watson turns in a really good performance as the scary guy too!

What I also find interesting is the cast: Lloyd Bridges is good in anything he does and Eve Plumb, for those who may not remember, was Jan Brady and later tried (more or less unsuccessfully) to branch out into TV. If I recall she was in a movie about a girl who had multiple personality syndrome.

The ending of this film, if I recall was especially scary, again, for the time.

Taken for what it is, a 1977 TV movie, "Force of Evil" is above average entertainment. I'm not going to kid you though, believability is not one of it's strong points. Lloyd Bridges plays a doctor, and while Lloyd Bridges may not be able to tell when someone is dead, a doctor definitely should. The entire last half of the film pivots on this point, and drags everything down a notch. The acting is scattered, although William Watson is memorable as the villain "Teddy Jakes". There are definitely some scenes, such as the mom and daughter discussions on the houseboat, that I could have lived without. I actually rate this less than IMDBs 7.7. To me it's a 6.0 at best, because it seriously challenges believability. - MERK