"The Dark Secret of Harvest Home" (1978) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Leo Penn

Writers:

Tom Tryon (book)
Jack Guss (teleplay) ...

Release Date:

23 January 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A young couple moves to a quiet New England village, only to soon find themselves mixed up in mysterious rituals.

Plot Keywords:

Ritual | Pagan | Small Community | Cult | Supernatural

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Widow Fortune
David Ackroyd	...	Nick Constantine
Rosanna Arquette	...	Kate Constantine
Rene Auberjonois	...	Jack Stump
John Calvin	...	Justin Hooke
Norman Lloyd	...	Amys Penrose
Linda Marsh	...	Maggie Dodd
Joanna Miles	...	Beth Constantine
Michael O'Keefe	...	Worthy Pettinger
Laurie Prange	...	Sophie Hooke
Donald Pleasence	...	Narrator (voice)
Lina Raymond	...	Tamar Penrose
Tracey Gold	...	Missy Penrose
Stephen Joyce	...	Robert Dodd
Michael Durrell	...	Ty Barth

Runtime:

300 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Kingsville, Ohio, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Quotes:

Justin Hooke: I didn't know you city boys liked to fight.
Nick Constantine: Next to lovin' it's what we do best.

The ghoulish Ms. Davis at her best

This was a terrific mini-series with just the right mix of fantasy and horror. The reverence the people of this matriarchal town holds for its main crop, corn, is nearly as creepy as the out of control little girl who foresees things. Nice touches were the long sharp scissors Ms. Davis wore on a cord hanging from the belt of her long black dress, the shunning of the old couple and the suitable cluelessness of the menfolk.

This was an edge of your seat, can't wait to see what happens next movie. Anyone who missed it one its first run should try to get a copy--it's a truly excellent creepshow.