Trilogy of Terror
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Trilogy of Terror (also known in the United States as Tales of Terror and Terror of the Doll ) is a three part television horror thriller film, first aired on ABC on March 4, 1975. The film, directed by Dan Curtis and starring Karen Black in the four lead roles of each chapter, including roles as twin sisters, was originally a failed pilot for a horror anthology television series [New York Times film review].
All three films are based on unrelated short stories written by Richard Matheson, with film titles being based on the name for the film's protagonist, played by Black. Black initially refused the role however accepted once her then husband, Robert Burton, was chosen for the role of Chad .
A television film sequel, Trilogy of Terror II, written and also directed by Dan Curtis was released in 1996.
The first story, "Julie", revolves around a quiet, reserved college English professor, played by Karen Black, who holds a seductive, yet deadly charm underneath her shy exterior. Robert Burton plays the blackmailing student, Chad, who becomes a little too curious of Julie's mysterious ways.
Chad (Robert Burton) and Eddie (James Storm) are university students who admire their English teacher, Julie Eldrich (Karen Black). During one class, Chad is distracted by Julie's low cut skirt and begins to daydream about her. After revealing his fantasies to his friend Eddie, Eddie responds by describing Julie as "ugly" and discourages Chad against becoming romantically involved with teachers.
At home, Julie and her housemate are discussing Julie's single status, and is encouraged to get out and meet more people. Later that evening, when undressing alone in her room, Chad is seen watching through a window. The next day at university, Chad asks Julie out on a date, and after initially refusing, accepts Chad's offer.
During the date at the drive-in, Chad spikes Julie's drink, rendering her unconscious. Chad drives to a motel where he checks in with Julie as husband and wife, where he photographs Julie in a variety of sexually provocative positions. Noticing Julie beginning to regain regains consciousness, he then takes her home, explaining that she fell asleep.
After delevoping the photographs in his darkoom, Chad shows the pictures to Julie, who is furious and threatens to call the police. Chad blackmails Julie and she agrees to see Chad whenever he demands. After several weeks of Chad and Julie becoming romtically involved due to Chad's threats of revealing the photographs, Julie announces "The game is over".
Julie asks Chad, "Did you really think that dull, little mind of yours could possibly have conceived any of the rather dramatic experiences we've shared? Why do you think you suddenly had the overwhelming desire to see what I looked like under 'all those clothes.' Don't feel bad...I always get bored after awhile." [Terrortrap]
Chad realises his own drink has been poisoned. Chad dies, and Julie drags his body into the darkroom where she sets fire to the offending photographs.
Chad's death is later reported in local media as a house fire. Julie adds the newspaper story to a scrapbook containing students of similar fate. Suddenly, there is a knock at the door, and another student in need of a tutor enters.
"Millicent and Therese" features sisters with very different personalities. The icy blonde seductress Therese slips further and further to the edge of destruction, while her grandmotherly-type sister Millicent tries to figure out the perfect way to deal with her. George Gaynes plays the family doctor who knows more than we think.
Featuring sisters, the prudish Millicent, and easy going Therese, Millicent decides the only escape from her sister is murder.
"Amelia", remembered more for the Zuni doll than the title character.[[Citing sources citation needed]] A young woman purchases her boyfriend, an anthropology student, the perfect birthday gift. She ends up being the one to make a wish. Aside from the performance of the Zuni doll (popular enough to warrant its return in the movie's sequel), Black delivers a fine performance as the horrified woman-on-the-run.
She places the Zuni doll on a coffee table whilst she telephones her mother, accidentally breaking a necklace ahanging around the dolls neck at the time. Attached to the necklace is a small notice mentioning a Zuni curse within the doll which will take effect if the necklace is removed.
Afther her telephone call, Amelia later notices the doll missing from where she left it. Amelia searches for the doll about the house but fails to locate it. Amelia is then attacked by the doll which has come to life, and is chased about the house by the doll who brandishes weapons such as a large carving knife in it's pursuit of it's victim.
After a lengthy chase, Amelia attempts to trap the doll inside a suitcase, which fails as the Zuni doll carves it way out using the knife. Amelia eventually manages to trick the Zuni doll into leaping into the oven, where she attempts to end the dolls rampage by cooking it alive. Upon checking the doll by opening the oven door, the dolls spirit is released and overcomes Amelia, who transforms into evil. Amelia's new evil incarnation grabs the carving knife, and stabs the floor repeatedly in wait for her mother.
Trilogy of Terror first aired on ABC on March 4, 1975 to positive reviews and has since reached cult status . Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World wrote, "The third segment in this trilogy is arguably the scariest piece ever crafted under the made-for-TV label". Rotten Tomatoes readers give the film a 100% fresh rating.
Black felt the film typecast her into accepting many roles in B grade horror films following the films release, saying "I think this little movie took my life and put it on a path that it didn't even belong in".
The Simpsons episode 16, Treehouse of Horror is a parody of Trilogy of Terror and the Zuni doll. Homer purchases a talking Krusty the Klown doll which attempts to kill him. It was revealed that the reason it attempted to kill Homer was because a switch in the toy's back was set to "evil."
The film is said to be an inspiration for the 1984 Blaxploitation film, Black Devil Doll from Hell and later the Child's Play series of films starring the evil doll, Chucky (Charles Lee Ray).
A Special Edition DVD is to be released on August 29, 2006 by MPI Home Video and distributed by Dark Sky Films, containing the original film plus additional material.
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.Julie
Plot
Synopsis
Trivia
When Chad is with Julie at the drive-in theater, the film showing is titled "The Night Stalker". This is an in-joke reference to director Dan Curtis's 1974 television movie The Night Stalker [Internet Movie Database].Millicent and Therese
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Amelia
The most famous and remembered of the three films [Slant Magazine review], Amelia was filmed using a human cast of one, Karen Black. It was also the only film of three to be adapted from the short story to the screen by it's author Richard Matheson, who based Amelia on his short story, Prey .
Plot
Synopsis
Amelia is a spinster, living on her own in a high-rise apartment building away from her overbearing mother. She arrives home after a shopping trip where she purchases a Zuni doll statue, equipped with razor sharp teeth and a spear, as a gift for her boyfriend, Arthur, an anthropology student. During a lengthy telephone call to her mother, Amelia intially argues with her mother, then invites her over after cancelling her date with Arthur. Cast
Reception
Popular culture
The star of the third film, the Zuni Doll, became so popular that reproductions and kit models were offered for sale by toy manufacturers. The doll was named the 4th in a poll of the Top 10 Deadly Dolls at About.com [Top 10 Deadly Dolls]. The film is listed 49th in a list of the 100 Scariest Movie Moments by RetroCRUSH [100 Scariest Movie Moments, RetroCRUSH].DVD release
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