loomis78-815-989034 Review of Trilogy of Terror

Trilogy of Terror (1975 TV Movie)

Zuni Fetish Doll is one scary mother!

[7/10 · 30 July 2014]

Dan Curtis directs this TV movie with 3 stories from Richard Matheson and all three starring Karen Black. The first story is about a prudish school teacher named Julie (Black) who is blackmailed into an affair with a scheming student (Burton) of hers. At first Julie seems dominated and completely controlled until a final twist shows she had the upper hand all along. Black is terrific but the story is a bit slow moving and very TV quality. "Julie" is watchable but not entirely engaging. The middle segment is "Millicent and Therese" has Black playing a dual role as a woman with a severe split personality. The twist ending can be seen from the beginning and even though the cast is good, this one is pretty weak. The third story is "Amelia" and is the segment that has reached true Classic status. This terrifying tale traumatized many young horror enthusiasts on late night TV for decades. Black plays the title character who has bought a fierce looking doll known as a Zuni Fetish Doll for her boyfriend's birthday. The evil looking doll has the spirit of a native hunter being held within it by a gold chain. When the chain slips off the doll literally comes to life armed with a spear and a large kitchen knife. The doll chases and attacks Amelia all around her apartment in a struggle of life and death that reaches horror highs. This classic tale has suspense to burn and is relentless in the doll's bloody rampage. This thing just won't stop and the audience is in for the same terror the character goes through. Curtis sets up the final shot of the short and movie in chilling fashion. Amelia is believed to have defeated the doll and invites her mother over to her apartment. When she gets off the phone, we see that Amelia has been possessed by the doll's spirit and is waiting for her mother! This final image of Black banging a large knife into a wooden floor is the best moment in the entire film and chills the viewer long after. The overall anthology is uneven with the first two segments being watchable but unspectacular. But the final tale makes this must see viewing for any Horror fan.