After networks passed on this projected tv series, originally called THE HAUNTING, writer/director Joseph Stefano (of PSYCHO fame) expanded this very ‘60s, dread-filled pilot episode into a creepy little feature about Architect & ParaNormal Investigator Martin Landau. Think TWILIGHT ZONE; OUTER LIMITS; ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS. (Note past Hitchcock credits not only for Stefano & Landau, but also co-stars Judith Anderson & Diane Baker.*) The trouble begins with Baker’s rich, blind husband who’s been getting sobbing phone calls on the direct line that runs from his mother’s mausoleum to the family manse. Dead for years, Mama always feared being buried alive. Hence the phone line. And now, RING . . . RING . . . RING . . . RING. Yikes! Lensed by Conrad L. Hall not long before he moved into features, the film builds some nice atmosphere and has a few effective scares to it (along with some not so effective F/X). But ends up just one more SuperNatural Tale that wants to believe and debunk. Great sobbing though.
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *Landau: NORTH BY NORTHWEST/’59; Baker: fresh off MARNIE/’64; Anderson: reviving her Mrs. Danvers characterization from REBECCA/’40.
DOUBLE-BILL: While ZONE, LIMITS and HITCH retain much affection & attention, this series might have played more like the now overlooked enjoyable nut-job case ONE STEP BEYOND. (Try it free on YouTube - though preferably not Season 1: Episode 2 on the Titanic.)
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