TV Movies Rule

And now I have the proof!

I came across this list of Scariest Cinematic Masked Killers via IMDb’s Hit List and thought it was pretty dang accurate. What does it have to do with TV Movies, you ask? Well, look at #1 (or just check out the above photo)! I have to agree!

What a great Halloween treat!

This House Possessed (1981) & More!

Like you would need more than just This House Possessed!

My friend Paula Haifley asked me to contribute an article to a site she writes for called CC2K (aka cincity2000) for their Fright Week. Well, being all about TV Movies and stuff, I gave them a review of the best TV Movie ever, This House Possessed. The layout is fantastic, so I’d like to send a big thank you to CC2K for doing such a great job and to Paula for thinking of me.

You can read my review HERE.

I hope to be giving some more love to This House Possessed in the future. I just adore that movie!

I also have a new post up at Retro Slashers called Ten Things the New My Bloody Valentine Needs to Not Suck. And I have a new review at Horror Yearbook for my Not so Basic Instincts column. This time I take a look at The Banker.

If everything goes as planned, I'm going to have another article about TV Movies on another site coming up. I’m finishing it now - Like, as we speak! The article has been THREE YEARS in the making, so I hope you all enjoy. I’ll post a link when all is said and done.

For now… Enjoy!

The Failing of Raymond (1971)

Network: ABC
Original Air Date: November 27th, 1971

Jane Wyman made her small screen movie debut in The Failing of Raymond, a movie that will come across as a fantasy for those who felt the school system let them down. I’d ask you to raise your hand but there’s just way too many of you – and that’s too school-like anyway. Raymond (Dean Stockwell in a brilliant performance) is an outsider whose fate was set the day he failed a test in high school. What followed over the next ten years was a life of misery and more disappointments, landing him in a mental institution. When he figures out that the teacher who done him wrong, Ms. Bloomquist (Jane Wyman) is retiring, he escapes the institute and terrorizes her.

Creepy dream sequence

The Failing of Raymond is an interesting comment on the education structure and places the blame of Raymond's horrible life on both his and his ex-teacher’s shoulders. Raymond definitely had issues, he suffers from paranoia and can be a little slow on the uptake, but Ms. Bloomquist also put her married lover (Dana Andrews with a really bad tan and dye job) over her students. I won't say she's a bitch, but she certainly does come off as self-centered and partially unable to communicate with her kids. How ten years have changed both she and Raymond, only her life seemed to get better, or at least more centered. Raymond spent his days in ridicule and abuse. It's a compelling take on the trigger effect concept. The fact that one test in high school can map out the rest of your days makes for a disturbing premise, and the ideas are handled with a lot of thought here.

A very young Katey Sagal and a middle aged Murray Hamilton

I like that Raymond isn't portrayed as pure evil. He's really a very sad character who just wants to prove that he could have passed the dang test if only Ms. Bloomquist had attended to him properly. He even has a girlfriend at the institution who is this lost, wide-eyed creature (a very young and pretty Katey Sagal in her first role! Her father Boris was the director). It's obvious Raymond would never hurt her, and you can tell by the gentleness of their situation that he really doesn't want to hurt Ms. Bloomquist either, he just needs to prove his case.

The cast is amazing and besides Stockwell and Wyman you’ll also see the late great Murray Hamilton and Tim O’Connor. Boris Sagal was quite the television film and mini-series director before his untimely death in 1981. Besides fathering the lovely Katey Sagal, he was also the dad of Jean and Liz Sagal from Double Trouble. I.E. The best show that ever aired in the history of the world and even the whole universe. Really.


One colored Dana Andrews. Why Dana - Why?!?
Like my last post on the ultra rare Seven in Darkness, The Failing of Raymond kind of symbolizes the problem with being nostalgically inclined. Here is an ultra-rare TV movie that I have spent years searching for, based solely on the enticing premise. The upshot of being so inclined to love and seek out these films is that I’m seldom disappointed. I guess that’s why you won’t find too much in the way of negative reviews here. But as I’ve said before, I’m not here for that. But I’d like to think I watch these movies with more than just a pair of rose colored glasses. The Failing of Raymond is a well thought out thriller that will please any fans of the sub-genre. It’s not so hard to find now that the internet exists – and frankly, the internet and my iPod about the only two things I think I’d have trouble giving up if I got a chance to go back in time. Oh yeah and my friends and family too, I guess.

Seven in Darkness: The Golden Chalice

Seven in Darkness seems to be the one TV movie that no one has been able to locate. It originally aired in 1969 and is actually the first original film in the ABC Movie of the Week releases.

I have probably seen this movie half a dozen times, and all before I turned 7 years old. I don’t remember much about it except that it stars Milton Berle and it’s about a plane crash in the forest where the only survivors are blind.

That’s right. I did not stutter. Milton. Berle.

The premise is top notch and I remember being so enraptured by it.

I did a random Google search and found very little about Seven in Darkness and the IMDb message board is basically just a bunch of lost souls like myself searching for this movie. I couldn’t even find any pictures of it to feature here. Hence the cartoon Chalice. I'm so clever...

Still, I thought it was a film worth mentioning because I’d love to know if anyone else out there remembers it and I would also like to know if anyone knows were I can find it.

Help!

Mr. Roarke Said There'd Be Days Like This...

As the world slips back into Monday, I am reminded of one of my favorite episodes of Fantasy Island, titled Reunion (OAD April 29th, 1978):

Like any good Friday, the blonde starts here:



Gets to here somewhere in the middle:



And ends up here:



Do your best not to end up like her! And have a great Monday!!!

This Just In...

Read an interview with my boyfriend at Dread Central for the new Saw Video Game, which he is producing!

I think there will be some more interviews coming so please check back.

I’m SO proud of him!

Lifetime Kills... And Kills Again!

Thinking about the month of October conjures up all kinds of images into the holiday lover’s head. One of them probably doesn’t involve sitting around watching the Lifetime Movie Network, but what the hell? It’s blatantly obvious that they are in full spirit with a week of fun thrillers running all the way through to the 31st. My favorite network plans to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve … Lifetime-style. Don’t go in expecting the conventional horror film marathons - think high drama with a little suspense and you’ll do just fine. So, just sit back and let Lifetime take you away. It’s kind of like Calgon except its got people in it, which makes it kind of like Soylent Green! Oh, I’m so confused!

You can check out their full schedule here, but I thought I'd list some of the highlights (all listings are Eastern Standard Time):

*Please note LMN blocks their days as starting at 10 am going through until 8 am the next day and it’s confusing, so please double check the site when setting your timers!



October 24th, 2008

6 am - Haunting of Sorority Row – Fitting in might turn deadly in this supernatural tale of a sorority with something sinister to hide.

8 am - Carrie - Doy, this is total horror for women.


October 25th, 2008

10 am - The Rage: Carrie II - Double doy. This is an underrated late 90s horror outing, that isn't nearly as much of a sequel as it is a terrifying excursion into teen angst. If you haven't seen this, now is a good time to catch it.

8 pm - Nightmare at the End of the Hall – Suicide, reincarnation, nasty pranks and then some! (playing again 10/25/08 at midnight)


October 26th, 2008

10 am - Soul Survivor - Troubled teens, summer vacations, workaholic moms and cute boys, oh my!

2 pm - Secrets of the Summer House - A haunted house and Lindsey Price from 90210. Umm, what more could you ask for?

8 pm - In Her Mother’s Footsteps - OK, so who actually inherits a house when a relative dies? I know I certainly haven’t. So do I mind if someone gets a house and it’s cursed? Nah, they probably deserved it, those greedy bastards! Here, a woman not only inherits a house but also starts having visions! Well, some people get everything they want, I guess! (playing again 10/26/08 at midnight & 10/27/08 at noon)

2 am - Past Tense - More visions abound but here’s the twist – A woman is having a vision of her daughter’s death… in a past life! I’m sorry, that just sounds awesome! (Playing again 10/26/08 at 8 am EST)

3:50 am - Imaginary Playmate - It might be getting a little late into the evening, but this thriller is directed by legendary horror filmmaker William Fruet (Killer Party, Death Weekend), and he apparently goes all Lifetime in this tale of a little girl’s ‘pretend’ friend. Thank the Lord for Tivo!



October 27th, 2008

2 pm - Disappearance - A ghost town that is really a ghost town! I know, but it’s the only potentially interesting thriller playing this day! (also playing 10/26/08 at 10pm)


October 28th, 2008

10 pm - Night of Terror - Oh my, a scary assailant stalks a family on a boating trip. And there’s a storm! Neat! (playing again 10/29/08 at 2pm)

3:50 am - Wishcraft - It’s like The Wishmaster meets The Craft meets Friday the 13th meets Teen Witch (dude, it even features Zelda Rubenstein!)! Wishcraft is actually a bit of a cult item and considered an underrated thriller. Now is a good time to see what all the cool Lifetime kids are talking about! Like I said, YAY for Tivo!


October 29th, 2008

2 am - Lost in the Dark - A blind woman has to fend for herself in an isolated cabin against some mean ol’ escaped convicts.

3:50 am - Visitors of the Night - I have one word – Aliens. Oh and here’s two more: See it.



October 30th, 2008

10 am - The Unsaid - More of a drama than a thriller, The Unsaid has a few shockingly brutal moments and a really strong story about a man trying to find redemption after his son commits suicide with an unstable, potentially murderous teenager.

6 pm - Awake to Danger - Tori Spelling and Michael Gross star as daughter/father on the opposite sides after the brutal murder of Tori’s mom. Tori witnesses the murder, gets hit on the head and forgets who the culprit is. Could it be dear old dad? Of course this stars Tori Spelling, so it’s a must see, but it isn’t quite as good as the film that follows afterwards:

8 pm - Co-ed Call Girl - So. Good. Tori plays a hapless college student lured into the world of high class prostitution. Three words: Best. Movie. Ever. (both movies playing again starting at 10 am on 10/31/08)

3:50 am - Destination: Infestation – What is it with 3:50 am? All of the best is being shown at this weird hour… OK, deadly ants swarm an airplane. I can’t vouch for this movie, but you can bet your bottom dollar I’m taking a shot on it!


October 31st, 2008 – The All Hallows' Eve (aka The Money Shot)

4 pm - A Vision of Murder: The Story of Donielle - This chick Donielle sees violent crimes before they happen! That might be OK and all, but she’s the next victim of a sadistic serial killer!

8 pm - A Deadly Vision – Psychic waitress? It could happen…

10 pm - Hush Little Baby – A mother’s dead child possesses the new child and it ain’t happy!

More Links!

I know, when am I going to do something over here? I’ve got a few fires burning, but without the ability to do it online at home, well… I’ll stop my bitching here.

I have a Traumafession over at Kindertrauma.

So. Exciting.

Check out my warped memories of The Prisoner. Thank you to Unkle Lancifer and Aunt John for giving me a really nice write up along with some linkage to my work! It is most appreciated!

Also, my great online friend Joseph Henson (owner of the now defunct but hopefully not defunt in the future) site/webgroup The Bodycount Continues) is doing a Slasher Cup Championship. Basically, everyday he randomly picks two 80s slashers and pits them against each other. It’s up to OUR votes to determine the winner, so go over there and defend your faves! Joe’s great so leave a comment and say hi while you’re at it!

And I’m feeling the love for Anchorwoman in Peril – Not that I ever stopped, but his Sham Shocktober theme has been great and I’ve been enjoying going over and giving my two cents. Because you know, I’m all about giving the two cents. Also, Ross inspired the above photo because of his awesome review of Aenigma! Way to go Ross - encouraging stalkerdom all through the land!

I think for Made for TV Mayhem, I’m looking at two new lists and I’ve got an idea I want to work on for an article, but I haven’t fleshed out the details yet. So let’s see how it plays out, no?

Be well all!


Two men, one cowboy hat. I could just die!

You Take the Good, You Take the Bad...

...You take them both... And there you have… Amanda’s Facts of Life!

I’m currently not online at home so I have to do all my writing on my lunches and breaks which sucks because you know I like to eat and stuff. Geez.

Capturing images and adding them to a review is not feasible for me at the moment. So you might not be seeing much in the world of Made for TV Mayhem, because most of the reviews I’ve done (well, the two I’ve written and not posted) need captures or there would be no images! Lame obscure movies!

However, I do have a couple of new things up elsewhere:

You can read my newest review for my Not So Basic Instincts column. This time I look at Body Chemistry III: Point of Seduction. No worries if you haven’t seen the first two (I mean, in case you were actually worried!).

Also, I did a little retrospective for Retro Slashers on The Unnamable and its sequel, both of which I love, love, LOVE.

Enjoy!

I’ll try to find some interesting TV Movie stuff to fill up the space until I can get back online. It’s scarce though. How sad is that?!?


Make it better Mrs. Garrett!

More Schtuff!

Well, hello.

I have a new review for my Lifetime Kills ccolumn. This time I take a look at the classic
Lethal Vows (gawd, even though it was made for a network, isn’t the title just so Lifetime?)…

And I did a Top Picks List at Horror Yearbook on Little Known Horror Treasures.

I swear to have more TV Movie reviews soon! Time is a cruel mistress you see.

Enjoy, yo!