Trilogy of Terror (TV 1975)

Three bizarre horror stories all of which star Karen Black in four different roles playing tormented women.

Director:

Dan Curtis

Writers:

William F. Nolan (teleplay), Richard Matheson (story),

Stars:

Karen Black, Robert Burton, John Karlen

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Karen Black	...	Julie / Millicent Larimore / Therese Larimore / Amelia
Robert Burton	...	Chad Foster
John Karlen	...	Thomas Amman
George Gaynes	...	Dr. Chester Ramsey
Jim Storm	...	Eddie Nells
Gregory Harrison	...	Arthur Moore
Kathryn Reynolds	...	Anne Richards
Tracy Curtis	...	Tracy
Orin Cannon	...	Motel Clerk

Storyline

Three stories interwoven together. The first, about a college student infatuated with his teacher. The second, a paranoid tale of two sisters - one good, the other evil, and the third about an African tribal doll that comes to life and terrorizes a woman in her apartment.

---

Plot Keywords:

student | doll | teacher | anthology | twins | 

---

Taglines:

An electrifying experience - you won't believe your eyes!

---

Genres:

Horror | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tales of Terror

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Circle Films, Dan Curtis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the first segment, "Julie", when Chad goes to get a room, he uses the fake name of Johnathan Harker, a name taken from the Bram Stoker novel "Dracula".

---

Goofs

When Amelia has the doll in the oven and is holding the door closed, you can clearly see the tubing that pumped the blood from when the doll bit her neck.

---

Quotes

Amelia: [on the phone, threatened by a supernaturally animated Zuni hunting fetish doll] Operator, get me the police! I DON'T KNOW where I'm located, just get me the police, there's a... there's a... just get me the police, PLEASE?

---

Connections

Referenced in Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King: Battleground (2006)

User Reviews

"TERROR" Comes In 'Basic' Black...

Thank you, Karen Black.

Thank you for being the quirky, unclassifiable, unpredictable talent that you are and blazing the trail for other quirky, unclassifiable, unpredictable actresses who now have solid careers in both indie and mainstream films, (the beauteous Illeana Douglas comes to mind.)

Thank you for bringing that talent into three of the most influential films in cinema history, (EASY RIDER, FIVE EASY PIECES and DAY OF THE LOCUST), and so many awards, nominations, accolades and films later, allowing DARK SHADOWS' wunderkind Dan Curtis to showcase it, in the three-story collection of creepiness that my generation affectionately remembers as TRILOGY OF TERROR…a film that scared many teens and 'tweens (and more than a few adults) out of about five or six years of life.

We also have to thank genre specialist Richard Matheson for providing the material, adapted in part by acclaimed writer William F. Nolan (LOGAN'S RUN), because a decent thriller is nothing without great material to start with, and at a time when certain clichés weren't quite as worn as they are now, giving us three superb tales of absolute terror…

PART ONE: JULIE – The tender story of a horny, sociopathic college frat rat (Robert Burton) who sets his sights on the homely English professor he plans to bed and blackmail. Funny thing is, the more he goes after her, the more desirable she gets, and the more desirable she gets…well, you get the picture. But beauty and evil are both skin deep, and this is one BMOC who is about to bite off way more than he can chew…

PART TWO: MILLICENT AND THERESE – A spinster pinched tighter than a novitiate's Portal of Love, Millicent attempts to enlist the help of her therapist (George Gaynes), to reign in the sordid lifestyle of her sister, the blond, sultry and more than slightly slutty Therese. She even clues in one of Terry's "boyfriends" (DARK SHADOWS regular John Karlen) about her sib's nasty little penchant for some unfortunate faux-pas…like incest, nymphomania, Satanism and murder. I don't need to clue you in about this one, but in case you STILL don't get it, here's a hint-and-a-half: If you saw Brian De Palma's SISTERS, you already know the twist to this tale. Plus there's a little voodoo angle at the end for that extra bit of 'oomph.'

PART THREE: AMELIA – So irresistibly good, Matheson adapted this baby himself, from his short story, "Prey." Even Dan Curtis knew it was better to save the best for last, and so did Karen, because this is the part of the TRILOGY that has become legendary. Oh, you might think it's silly when you start reading the description of it, but turn all the lights off and watch it after midnight…alone. Not so silly NOW, hunh?

Amelia is a 'singleton' returning from a trip. She's not back a hot minute before she gets a load of crap from her nagging ninny of a monster mother (during the obligatory "Mom, I'm Home" call,) who starts in on her about her latest boyfriend (Amelia-tested, Muther- approved…NOT.) The conversation also focuses on something she's brought back with her for her latest other-half, and what a hairy-ass-ugly gift it is! (Maybe she thinks even less of her man than Mom does, but that's another story).

It's a nasty-looking Zuni fetish doll, complete with sharp little spear and even sharper teeth, and a gold-chain around its waist. Of course, while she's handling the damn thing, she accidentally knocks the chain off…and that's where the big fun REALLY begins. If you want to know where CHILD'S PLAY'S Chucky got his inspiration from, you've GOTTA see this little S.O.B. go after his…"PREY."

Many people a lot tougher and sensible than me lost plenty of sleep after seeing this screeching, slavering nightmare of six-inch, supernatural tribal-vengeance attitude. But what really shriveled my young 'nads was not the throat-closing suspense that Dan Curtis and Karen sustain throughout the thirty minute segment…

It's that jaw-dropping money shot at the end, just when you think the horror is over. It's just about every bit as good as the climax to CARRIE, I kid you not.

So thanks again, Karen. And Dan. And Richard. And William. And while I'm in such a thankful mood, thank YOU, Dark Sky Films, for reintroducing this classic to a whole new generation. I never got that five years back that "Amelia" scared out of me. Nice to know that now, I won't be alone…