Top 10 Made For TV Horror Movies- Page 3

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:07am

Loved "The Legend of Lizzie Borden"!!!!

JB2, I actually really love Kubrick's "The Shining," but I agree about Nicholson (though not Duval). He shows up looking crazier than a rat in a coffee can. You're just surprised it took him this long to go after his family with a pick axe.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:20am

In the novel, the character of Jack is supposed to be very troubled and violent, alcoholic and unable to hold a job, having broken Danny's arm in anger, leaving Wendy and Danny very distrustful of him from the start.

Duvall played it perfectly, imo, and unfortunately, her hair does look unwashed now, but that was not an odd look for the time.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:20am

"The Shining" is one of my favorite horror movies of all time. It just gets under your skin and stays there!


( ...you try scrubbing, and soaking, and STILL... )

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:28am

I don't think the Kim Darby one "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" was originally a made for TV, but i'm sure most of us saw it there. over and over.

anyone remember Ghost Breakers? it was a pilot that didn't get picked up. Scared me for YEARS.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:35am

I like the Kubrick THE SHINING very much, but I can see that it isn't everybody's cup of poison. I certainly see a descent in Nicholson's performance, he goes from relatively sane in the earlier scenes to bat**** crazy by the end, there are definite degrees. Nicholson's work in THE SHINING is one of only two Nicholson performances I really like, his Eugene O'Neill in REDS being the other.

The TV version of THE SHINING had some moments, particularly from Steven Weber, but that mouth-breathing thing they cast as Danny really sank it, along with the sentimental ending.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:35am

Unfortunately, I read The Shining before I saw the film and the film still disappoints me. I applaud the attempt the TV film made at staying close to the original material, but it simply wasn't well-made or directed. De Morney was so much like the Wendy King describes in his book, it was almost as if she leaped out from the pages. I never understood the casting of Duvall other than her ability to look frightened.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:40am

Yeah, that kid's teeth annoyed the hell out of me. And that ending? Yuck!

But anyways, back to horror TVMs! Did anyone see A STRANGER IN THIS HOUSE with Linda Blair...directed by Wes Craven (!!)?

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:47am

oh, yeah, Linda was the GOOD girl in this one, and the other girl goes batsh*t at the end.

Linda was the "made for TV movie" goddess after she lost her child look. She did Circus of the Stars alot too.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:51am

How about Dying Room Only with Cloris Leachman?

http://www.terrortrap.com/television/dyingroomonly/

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:55am

anyone remember Harvest Home with Bette Davis as the matriarch? I think it lasted 2 - 3 days.

[Kasie]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:55am

Is that the one based on the novel Summer of Fear, Borstal?

I've always wanted to see that.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:55am

It's funny you guys hated the ending to the TV version of "The Shining," because that's how it ended in the original book!

The TV movie was faithful.

They completely changed the ending in the screenplay for the Kubrick movie (and made it work much better on film).

I agree with you it wasn't nearly as good, but it shows that "faithful" isn't always the right way to go.

...I mean in film adaptations.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 11:56am

That actually looks pretty cool.

I also remember DIARY OF A TEENAGE HITCHHIKER with Charlene Tilton as a teen who dresses like a slut to get around town by hitchhiking...but, alas, there's an eeeee-ville murderer in a scary black car with a shiny chrome exhaust who preys on young teenage hitchhikers! Will Charlene be his next victim?


Typically, I think it ends with the car blowing up.

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:02pm

this thread makes me long for the old "Movie of the week". The stuff looks dated now, but it was really well done for the era/budget. Alot of failed pilots were shown here, too bad we don't have an outlet for those nowadays. Also they would air a pilot and gage audience reactionrating, rather than relying on the focus groups they use nowadays.

I SAY BRING BACK MOVIE OF THE WEEK!

They were short, sweet, and gave lots of legit actors nice exposure.

And Marjoe should be the host/MC each week.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:04pm

Here you go, Chevstriss!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM-Vkd7On2Q


EDIT: Oh, and the Kim Darby movie "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" was definitely made for TV (1973).

Updated On: 9/10/08 at 12:04 PM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:09pm

Best, what I found revolting about the ending of the TV version of THE SHINING wasn't in the novel. There is an atrocious Spielbergian tear-tugging vomit-making coda added, at Danny's high-school graduation, with Jack as a ghost appearing all teary-eyed and proud of his grown up son, who is played at this point, I seem to remember, by the actor who played Tony in Danny's moments of "shining."

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:14pm

Yeah, the TVM remake of CARRIE had a similarly sentimental ending with Sue taking Carrie to another town to start over on her own. Ridiculous.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:17pm

LOL, Roscoe. I think I turned it off before I even got to that coda!

How dreadful! They should have ended it when I "ended" it.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:20pm

Yeah, the little coda in the novel is actually kind of sweet, not nearly the pukemaker they thought up for TV.

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 12:46pm

wasn't Don't Be Afraid of the Dark in b/w? isn't this the one with the little trolls trying to drag her into the furnace? I didn't see original airing, but at late night slumber parties. We would grab each other and squeal/shiver. maybe the TV at that basement party was b/w?

trivia - burt Bacharach wrote the MOTW theme song, and orchestrated/conducted the recording

Updated On: 9/10/08 at 12:46 PM

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 1:28pm

I forgot about Harvest Home...I loved that movie!

[clever name]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 1:58pm

Oh, those Linda Blair tv movies. They were always so scandalous. They should sell a box set!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 2:16pm

Linda's "Born Innocent" was horrific, in a juvenile hall rapey kind of way.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 2:31pm

Oh, I saw BORN INNOCENT just recently. Was quite surprised by the unsentimental ending.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/10/08 at 2:37pm

"Born Innocent" had the famous broomstick rape, right?