Encounter with the Unknown (1973)

Three eerie tales based on actual events are enacted in this film. First, three college students play a prank on a geeky classmate, who is accidentally shot and killed. His vengeful mother ... See full summary »

Director:

Harry Thomason

Writers:

Jack Anderson, Joe Glass,

Stars:

Rod Serling, Robert Ginnaven, Gary Brockette

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rod Serling	...	Narrator (voice)
Robert Ginnaven	...	Father Duane (as Bob Ginnaven)
Gary Brockette	...	Frank Cameron
John Leslie	...	Randy Powell
Tom Haywood	...	Dave Terrell
Fran Franklin	...	Mrs. Davis
James N. Harrell	...	Brother Taylor (as Jim Harrell)
John Cissne	...	Johnny Davis
Mary Jane Wilson	...	Mrs. Wilson
Lyle Armstrong	...	Second Priest
Charles Rumph	...	Student
Kevin Bieberly	...	Jess
Annabelle Weenick	...	Mother
Robert Holton	...	Joe
Frank Schaefer	...	Barber

Storyline

Three eerie tales based on actual events are enacted in this film. First, three college students play a prank on a geeky classmate, who is accidentally shot and killed. His vengeful mother forecasts the deaths of the three young men she holds responsible, on 7, 14, and 21 days hence. And, one by one, her grim predictions come true. Next, a ghoulish sound emanates from a mist-shrouded hole in the Earth near where a Missouri boy has lost his dog. The boy's father is lowered into the hole and lets out an agonizing scream! Finally, a senator returning home from a party finds a lost girl on a bridge and learns from her father that she died years earlier!

---

Plot Keywords:

hole | anthology | flashback | skinny dipping | supernatural power | 

---

Taglines:

An incredible journey into the supernatural.

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 1973 (Canada)

Filming Locations:

Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Centronics International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The graveyard scenes were shot on location at the Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas.

---

Soundtracks

"Sleepy Shores"
(uncredited)
Composed and Performed by Johnny Pearson

User Reviews

Twilight Zone As A Movie

If you're familiar with the Twilight Zone series, it was an anthology of horror and sci-fi stories. Sticking with the horror motif, this movie takes three stories: a traumatic mother's prophecies, a hole in the ground and the traditional story of the ghostly hitchiker, and tries to scare us by claiming they're true. While there are numerous hitchhiker stores out there, Resurrection Mary the most famous, the movie actually makes a slight impact on the atmosphere level, but it is a bit lacking in its suspense factor. The production as well as some of the musical score is a little off-kilter, but the actors do put a fair effort in telling the stories and relating them to the viewer. It's great entertainment for horror fans opposed to the sensationalism of the blood-and-gore pics, but it's just not as scary as it tries to be..