Dead of Night (1977)

Dan Curtis gives us another effective film, told in a trio of stories.First has Ed Begley Jr. as a young man whose love of a car sends him on an intriguing time-travel excursion that, while not original, is at least satisfying.Second has Patrick Macnee in a period piece as a husband worried over his fear that his wife is the victim of a vampire. Film has a clever twist that you may not see coming...Third tale called 'Bobby' is by far the best, reminiscent of "Trilogy Of Terror" in how it tells the scary tale of a guilt-ridden mother who turns to the supernatural to resurrect her drowned son, a decision she comes to regret horribly...tense and effective, with a hair-raising final scene that will not be soon forgotten, after seen...

Dead of Night (1977)Another horror anthology movie, I did get confused with the 1945 version with the same title (which is also an anthology), (I was hoping to see that one), I should read the first review first.First story, I was watching on my Phone, While I was on the Bus, as the movie is on you tube.Second Chance" I not sure think of this story, it did make me think for few hours after wards ,I liked how the story flowed.This man buys classic car and fix up and then takes for Drive only find out that he as somehow went back in time.While back time, The Car he was driving is taken by someone, who he tries stop, soon walks back and then wake up , Knowing he back in really time.He falls love with Girl he never noticed before (That was first hint) Which I didn't get at the time but as the story went, it made more sense.I thought this was very decent story, it wasn't scary at all but It' did make we think and the acting was really good.Next story No Such Thing as a Vampire"(I hope I don't sound like broken record, As you know i am not big fan vamps movie)Patrick Macnee as a doctor whose wife is suffering from the symptoms of vampire attacks.I found this story decent, there were some cool decent and creepy moment in this short that made really well.The music in this segment was okay as it added bit more creepy feel to the story and I really enjoyed how the story came to a end Bobby - (This is where Trilogy of terror 2 got this from) This is was lot more slowly paced then ^ Movie named there and it did have bit more creepy feel to it.I liked how they try not show the face of kids though out the segment, it makes it feel a lot more darker,I loved end of this short, now that is what you call decent Demon face, as that looks at more scary, then end of Trilogy of terror 2 Bobby segment.7 out of 10

It seems every horror fan is aware of Dan Curtis's masterpiece Trilogy of Terror, but this film doesn't seem to get quite as much recognition as Trilogy of Terror and it is just as good in my opinion. The first story isn't exactly horror. It is more of a Twilight Zone like tale of a man who travels back in time using a 1920s car to save the lives of his girlfriend's grandparents. It is a very intriguing tale, and just like an episode of The Twilight Zone, the twist ending captures you by surprise. Ed Begley, Jr. makes the story great and his performance really sells it. The story is interesting and well written. The second story, No Such Thing As A Vampire, starts out as your typical vampire story in that there are mysterious attacks and everyone in the village is in fear. But the ending of the story is something I didn't see coming at all. It features Elisha Cook, Jr., who is always a joy to watch in everything he stars in. Bobby, the third of the three stories, is the best and without a doubt the most memorable. Joan Hackett is terrific as a grieving mother who is desperate to have the son she loves so much with her again. Lee Montgomery's performance is unforgettable as Bobby. He is one of my favorite actors and he never played the villain in anything else I watched him in. But he is truly scary and menacing in the role of Bobby. I can see why the mother was so afraid of him.Overall, all of the stories have an atmosphere of mystery, suspense, and intrigue about them. All of them were wonderfully written by the brilliant Richard Matheson. If you like horror movies full of shock and suspense, this is one film you cannot afford to miss. I feel this film is a terrific, underrated masterpiece.

I really like these 70's made-for-TV horror movies, perhaps because I saw a lot of them as an impressionable young kid. I never saw this one, but it was directed by Dan Curtis the master of small-screen suspense, who was behind both "Dark Shadows" and "Kolchack, the Night Stalker" and who directed several superior TV movies like "The Norliss Tapes" and "Trilogy of Terror" as well as the very scary theatrical film "Burnt Offerings". This is actually a failed pilot that is not quite at the level of the previously mentioned films--but then very few TV movies are. Like "Trilogy of Terror" this is an anthology of three tales, and as with "Trilogy" the quality of the three tales is rather uneven. Curtis' direction is pretty serviceable, and famed horror writer Richard Matheson's stories are all above par, but the length and some of the acting is a problem.The first story about an old car that transports its new owner back to a time when it's original owner was killed trying to beat a train is obviously intended to be more of a supernatural mystery tale than a horror. Still, it is overly long and hampered by a bland central performance from 70's douchebag, I mean actor, Ed Begley Jr. It does feature the very sexy Christina Hart in a regrettably small part (you can see a lot more of her--in every sense of the word--in 70's sex films like "The Games Girls Play"). The second story "There's No Such Thing as Vampires" is a period piece about a jealous brother who uses the local superstitions about vampires to get rid of his sister's paramour in a pretty imaginative way. This tale features performances by the late, great Elish Cook Jr. and the stunningly voluptuous Anjanette Comer (who they REALLY manage to waste by dressing her in Victorian garments and having her bedridden for most of the segment). While the first story is too long, this one unfortunately is actually a little too short.As everyone seems to agree, the last story "Bobby" is the best. It has elements of "The Monkey's Paw" where a distraught mother (Joan Hackett) wishes her drowned son (Lee Montgomery) back from the dead. It also has elements of "Prey" the final Matheson-scripted tale in "Trilogy of Terror" with "Bobby" taking the place of the African fetish doll. Imagine the ending of "Pet Sematary" some years later, but with GOOD acting and you'll some idea of the effectiveness of this tale. The three tales are definitely uneven, but I would still recommend the whole thing, especially if you like 70's TV movies.