Ep 119 - TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975) Turns 50: The Legacy of a TV Horror Classic!!

TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975) d. Dan Curtis (USA) Tonight we're talking about Trilogy of Terror, the beloved horror anthology movie from producer/director Dan Curtis starring Karen Black which premiered on ABC television March 4, 1975. Curtis was already a household name in 1975, having created the legendary vampire soap opera Dark Shadows, as well as The Night Stalker, the highest-rated made-for-television movie released at the time, alongside well-received adaptations of Dracula and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (both starring Jack Palance). So when he hired the legendary Richard Matheson to adapt three of his short stories, it seemed like a can't-miss proposition. Black, who was a two-time Golden Globe-winner and Oscar nominee at this point, was apparently reluctant to do the project, but there is no evidence of reticence in her performances, plural as she plays the lead characters in all three segments, including that of twin sisters in the second. Black literally throws herself into the various scenarios with such gusto that it's no wonder this has become one of her most recognizable film projects. Often remembered as "That Movie with the Little Zuni Doll," the preceding two chapters simply can't compete with the final chapter's breathtaking assault, and that's too bad, since they are both worthwhile suspenseful entries and Black is equally captivating in three separate roles. But there's also a reason the Zuni Fetish has become the poster child for the film, because it's hard to beat a little puppet chasing a full-grown woman around her apartment for good-natured thrills and chills. This anthology showcase for Black and Matheson, served up with panache and chutzpah by Curtis, stands as one of the most enduring slices of television terror ever created for the small screen and remains essential viewing for all horror fans, casual or committed. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Jorge Didaco, Dwan L. Hearn, Brett Neveu, Sako Tumi) as we celebrate 50 years of TRILOGY OF TERROR! --------------------------------------------------- JORGE DIDACO is a Brazil-based teacher on theatre, performance, and film. He contributed the essays for The Innocents for Horror 101: The A-List of Horror Films and Monster Movies and In a Glass Cage for Hidden Horror. DWAN L. HEARN, more affectionately known as "The Moon", is an author [The Copperwheat Collection, 2023], co-host of "The Sako and the Moon Horror Podcast," and host of "The Moon = Wrestling Podcast", film-maker with Hallowed Hills Entertainment, and a two-time award-winning screenwriter. BRETT NEVEU is a professor at Northwestern University where he teaches writing for the screen and stage. His film/TV screenplays include Eric LaRue (dir. Michael Shannon) and Night's End (dir. Jennifer Reeder) with Shudder/AMC. Past theatre productions include Revolution with A Red Orchid Theatre, Verböten with House Theatre and Red Bud with The Royal Court Theatre. Brett is also a recipient of a Steinberg/ATCA New Play Citation, The Marquee Award from Chicago Dramatists, The Ofner Prize for New Work and the Emerging Artist Award from The League of Chicago Theatres. SAKO TUMI (aka Cass Voit) is a self-published horror author based out of Northern Virginia. She is also a professional Photographer, Illustrator, Bellydancer and Flow Artist ---------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!