21 reviews
Macabre and Highly Entertaining Voodoo H.H.H. Episode
The only thing I lament about the great British Hammer Studios' short running TV-series "Hammer House of Horror" (1980), is the fact that it ran for only one season. This sixths episode, "Charlie Boy", was the last episode I had yet to see, which is a strange coincidence since it was directed by Robert Young, the director of my personal all-time favorite Hammer film, the brilliant "Vampire Circus" of 1971. "Charlie Boy" is yet another episode that delivers the goods, this one treating the wonderful Horror-topic of Voodoo.
Graham (Leigh Lawson) has inherited a collection of valuable art from his late uncle. When he and his girlfriend Sarah (Angela Bruce) make use of an African Voodoo Fetish (which they have named 'Charlie') for fun, they soon have to realize that the thing works... and kills! Even though it is not quite one of the best episodes of the series (the absolute highlight was 7th episode, "The Silent Scream" starring Peter Cushing), "Charlie Boy" overall is a highly entertaining, tense and macabre entry to the series. The story may not be terribly original, but it is very-well executed, and becomes quite tense towards the end. A sense for black humor is not neglected. The voodoo fetish 'Charlie' is a nice little set-piece and looks as if it could come straight from one of Hammer's great Horror films of the 60s and 70s. The episode is also one of the bloodier ones of the series. Overall "Charlie Boy" is not the most brilliant or suspenseful entry to "Hammer House of Horror", but it is doubtlessly a macabre and immensely entertaining one that should not be missed by my fellow Hammer fans.
Graham (Leigh Lawson) has inherited a collection of valuable art from his late uncle. When he and his girlfriend Sarah (Angela Bruce) make use of an African Voodoo Fetish (which they have named 'Charlie') for fun, they soon have to realize that the thing works... and kills! Even though it is not quite one of the best episodes of the series (the absolute highlight was 7th episode, "The Silent Scream" starring Peter Cushing), "Charlie Boy" overall is a highly entertaining, tense and macabre entry to the series. The story may not be terribly original, but it is very-well executed, and becomes quite tense towards the end. A sense for black humor is not neglected. The voodoo fetish 'Charlie' is a nice little set-piece and looks as if it could come straight from one of Hammer's great Horror films of the 60s and 70s. The episode is also one of the bloodier ones of the series. Overall "Charlie Boy" is not the most brilliant or suspenseful entry to "Hammer House of Horror", but it is doubtlessly a macabre and immensely entertaining one that should not be missed by my fellow Hammer fans.
- Witchfinder-General-666
- Jul 26, 2010
- Permalink
One of the Hammer House of Horror TV show
An African voodoo doll has the power to cause death. A man unwittingly sets it in motion but doesn't really catch on until most of his family has died from "accidents" and him and his wife are targeted next...
The tale is VERY familiar but this is very well done (for a TV show). It's well-acted, very well-directed (there are some striking visuals) and puts in a few twists that I didn't see coming. Also the killings are bloody (but not really graphic) and shocking--and the ending is really gruesome.
Worth catching--it's only 50 minutes long.
The tale is VERY familiar but this is very well done (for a TV show). It's well-acted, very well-directed (there are some striking visuals) and puts in a few twists that I didn't see coming. Also the killings are bloody (but not really graphic) and shocking--and the ending is really gruesome.
Worth catching--it's only 50 minutes long.
Hammer House Of Horror: Charlie Boy (Roger Young, 1980) (TV) ***
This is another solid HHOH entry dealing with a favorite theme (voodoo) and especially reminiscent of the famous Zuni doll segment from the made-for-TV anthology TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975); the "Charlie Boy" of the title is a similarly creepy (and powerful) fetish doll though, rather than come to life and cause mayhem, it wills a number of people to their death after a knife has been stuck, almost in jest, into the puppet! A number of subplots, then, are added to the fray revolving around a family inheritance a long-serving housekeeper is overlooked, the heir suddenly deciding to invest his money into something more secure than a film company (which he had promised a partner/relation he would do in case the estate reverted to him) and a strange incident involving a facially-scarred road-hog. Most of the cast are unfamiliar but reasonably adequate; it was, however, a joy to watch Marius Goring (a stalwart of Powell & Pressburger films) as an antique dealer. The downbeat finale is typical of the cynical era in which this was made. By the way, director Young had helmed the unusual Hammer outing VAMPIRE CIRCUS (1972).
- Bunuel1976
- Oct 26, 2007
- Permalink
Charlie Delivers The Goods
"Charlie Boy" is a voodoo-type piece of wood, like a short totem poll, an object from Africa with powers to maim and kill those whom the owner wishes.
Here, the owner is "Graham Elder" (Leigh Lawson), whose uncle recently died and willed him his art work, paintings, sculptures and artifacts like this one from Africa. Graham's wife "Sarah" (Angela Bruce) picks him out among the collection to take home and names his "Charlie Boy." After a frightening "situation" with a crazed motorist, Graham and Sarah go home and kiddingly stick a knife into Charlie asking, in mock 1930s American gangster accent, to knock off that weirdo driver with the scar on his face. At the same time, we see scene with the latter being stabbed to death somewhere.
Well, without going into all the details, suffice to say this sort of thing begins to escalate until the Elder couple - who I thought were punks - begins to realize there might be something to Charlie more than meets the eye! For me, this was a satisfying ending as Graham and Sarahh were so annoying to me that I rooted for "Charlie" and was quite pleased with his efforts.
Here, the owner is "Graham Elder" (Leigh Lawson), whose uncle recently died and willed him his art work, paintings, sculptures and artifacts like this one from Africa. Graham's wife "Sarah" (Angela Bruce) picks him out among the collection to take home and names his "Charlie Boy." After a frightening "situation" with a crazed motorist, Graham and Sarah go home and kiddingly stick a knife into Charlie asking, in mock 1930s American gangster accent, to knock off that weirdo driver with the scar on his face. At the same time, we see scene with the latter being stabbed to death somewhere.
Well, without going into all the details, suffice to say this sort of thing begins to escalate until the Elder couple - who I thought were punks - begins to realize there might be something to Charlie more than meets the eye! For me, this was a satisfying ending as Graham and Sarahh were so annoying to me that I rooted for "Charlie" and was quite pleased with his efforts.
- ccthemovieman-1
- Jul 18, 2008
- Permalink
Dangerous Piece of Wood
After the death of his uncle, Graham (Leigh Lawson) inherits his Arts collection and his beloved wife Sarah (Angela Bruce) decides to keep a weird fetish and gives the name of Charlie Boy. A friend of them explains that it was a voodoo toy. When the other inheritor, Peter, calls of the idea of raising a movie production company, Graham uses a picture with five persons, including Sarah and himself, to wish Peter died. When the persons in the picture die, Graham tries to find a way to save Sarah and him.
"Charlie Boy" is a well constructed episode, but with a common and predictable voodoo story. Anyway it is a reasonable entertainment, with good direction and performances. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Charlie Boy"
Note: On 03 Aug 2020, I saw this film again.
"Charlie Boy" is a well constructed episode, but with a common and predictable voodoo story. Anyway it is a reasonable entertainment, with good direction and performances. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Charlie Boy"
Note: On 03 Aug 2020, I saw this film again.
- claudio_carvalho
- Aug 4, 2006
- Permalink
One of the most memorable HHH episodes
I was about 10 years old when the Hammer House of Horror series aired on TV and I consider myself lucky that my parents allowed me to watch them. Charlie Boy is one of the most memorable episodes, in 40 years I have never forgotten what Charlie Boy is. A very simple plot about a couple, who obviously aren't short of money, who buy an African "voodoo" doll, which then starts of a chain of seemingly unstoppable, macabre deaths. It does look a little bit tame now but back in 1980 this was essential viewing for me and my horror loving pals.
- Stevieboy666
- May 28, 2020
- Permalink
voodoo dolly
Simple story, done a thousand times but here it works. Hammer uses small things to keep you watch it. Again they have nudity but you have to be quick to see it. As stated before, nudity couldn't be done on television. The first episode had frontal nudity, but due complaints it was cut out in the other episodes. Also in this episode is a bit of gory stuff, but still watchable for the squeamish. For the time being this episode has the most of blood in it. remember that it was aired in the early evening so people were offended by it, that's why it became cult and why this is already on DVD. In fact, it's a nice box to buy and start with if you will watch horror with friends.
That old black voodoo magic
- Woodyanders
- Jan 25, 2017
- Permalink
Voodoo-themed TV episode
CHARLIE BOY is an episode of TV'S HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR that shares a few narrative similarities with the Tom Baker segment of the Amicus anthology outing THE VAULT OF HORROR. It concerns a young couple who find themselves in possession of a voodoo doll which has the power to make the supernatural come true. Soon enough the guy begins dabbling with black magic, only to suffer some unforeseen consequences.
I enjoy British-made voodoo stories because they always seem so quaint and out of place and the same can be said for CHARLIE BOY. It's an enjoyable instalment of the show, one which has a fairly entertaining plot line even though nothing we see is very novel. The episode manages a spooky atmosphere without ever actually being frightening. The two main actors, Leigh Lawson and Angela Bruce, are well known faces on British TV while DR WHO actress Janet Fielding has a minor role.
I enjoy British-made voodoo stories because they always seem so quaint and out of place and the same can be said for CHARLIE BOY. It's an enjoyable instalment of the show, one which has a fairly entertaining plot line even though nothing we see is very novel. The episode manages a spooky atmosphere without ever actually being frightening. The two main actors, Leigh Lawson and Angela Bruce, are well known faces on British TV while DR WHO actress Janet Fielding has a minor role.
- Leofwine_draca
- Jul 22, 2015
- Permalink
Curses . If It Wasn't For The Director ...
After the death of a rich relative Graham Elder inherits some antiques including a wooden African doll which Graham refers to as " Charlie boy " . Apparently the doll contains voodoo qualities which Graham dismisses as being ridiculous but when another relative dies Graham starts wondering if there might be truth to this . When a chain of events happen he is convinced that Charlie boy does indeed contain a supernatural curse
What'd you think of curses ? Absolute nonsense aren't they until you find yourself being hit by constant bad luck that you have no control over then start to believe there is a supernatural spirit controlling the universe and this supernatural spirit has it in for you and you'll never escape this type of pre destination no matter how much you try . This episode revolves around that type of premise and I thought it one of the stronger episodes on initial viewing if only because it contained explicit sex and bad language . We are talking 1980 ITV explicit sex and strong language however
What the episode suffers from is some rather bad directing from Robert Young where in the pre title sequence someone dies from a fall and two characters witness it but because the characters are in different locations this would be rather improbable for them to witness this . There's also an obvious goof where a white mini car approaches a road accident then when Graham drives past the mini is no longer in shot even though it plays a pivotal part of that scene and the greater narrative . If I remember correctly this type of careless editing and continuity let down Young's VAMPIRE CIRCUS he made for Hammer a few years earlier . It also contains some inappropriate music during key scenes which resembles jazz funk and defuses the menacing atmosphere in a episode that could have been much better
What'd you think of curses ? Absolute nonsense aren't they until you find yourself being hit by constant bad luck that you have no control over then start to believe there is a supernatural spirit controlling the universe and this supernatural spirit has it in for you and you'll never escape this type of pre destination no matter how much you try . This episode revolves around that type of premise and I thought it one of the stronger episodes on initial viewing if only because it contained explicit sex and bad language . We are talking 1980 ITV explicit sex and strong language however
What the episode suffers from is some rather bad directing from Robert Young where in the pre title sequence someone dies from a fall and two characters witness it but because the characters are in different locations this would be rather improbable for them to witness this . There's also an obvious goof where a white mini car approaches a road accident then when Graham drives past the mini is no longer in shot even though it plays a pivotal part of that scene and the greater narrative . If I remember correctly this type of careless editing and continuity let down Young's VAMPIRE CIRCUS he made for Hammer a few years earlier . It also contains some inappropriate music during key scenes which resembles jazz funk and defuses the menacing atmosphere in a episode that could have been much better
- Theo Robertson
- Sep 8, 2013
- Permalink
What's your fetish?!
This is another hugely enjoyable episode from the classic TV series that lit up our Saturday nights with some scares back at the tail-end of 1980.
This time, the story revolves around a cursed African 'fetish' - a rather scary-looking old wooden figurine that's been imbued with voodoo-like powers.
When it falls into the the hands of young couple Graham and Sarah, they amusingly nickname him 'Charlie Boy' - but the fun starts to stop soon after...
Following a terrifying road rage incident that leaves the couple shaken, it appears Charlie Boy has taken on their feelings of revenge towards the other motorist - and its dormant voodoo powers are unleashed.
But, things get even grimmer when people close to the couple also start to fall victim to Charlie - and very soon they're desperate for a way to reverse the curse they've unwittingly released, before it's too late...
This has always been one of my favorite episodes, and the tension builds nicely as we learn of Charlie Boy's powers - and share the couple's desperation to stop them. The road rage incident is a memorable scene, and there are some imaginative deaths for Charlie's victims along the way. Back as a child in 1980, I don't believe I'd heard the term 'fetish' before, so I imagine Sarah's quip probably went over my head! I also got excited that they mentioned my hometown of Maidenhead at one point - although sadly for me, the scene wasn't actually filmed there.
Leigh Lawson and Angela Bruce (before her 80s stint as the Brigadier in Dr Who!) are good as the leads, and there's plenty to enjoy in this slightly tragic tale which will leave you maybe slightly wary of what you might wish for - especially if there's a fetish about.
This time, the story revolves around a cursed African 'fetish' - a rather scary-looking old wooden figurine that's been imbued with voodoo-like powers.
When it falls into the the hands of young couple Graham and Sarah, they amusingly nickname him 'Charlie Boy' - but the fun starts to stop soon after...
Following a terrifying road rage incident that leaves the couple shaken, it appears Charlie Boy has taken on their feelings of revenge towards the other motorist - and its dormant voodoo powers are unleashed.
But, things get even grimmer when people close to the couple also start to fall victim to Charlie - and very soon they're desperate for a way to reverse the curse they've unwittingly released, before it's too late...
This has always been one of my favorite episodes, and the tension builds nicely as we learn of Charlie Boy's powers - and share the couple's desperation to stop them. The road rage incident is a memorable scene, and there are some imaginative deaths for Charlie's victims along the way. Back as a child in 1980, I don't believe I'd heard the term 'fetish' before, so I imagine Sarah's quip probably went over my head! I also got excited that they mentioned my hometown of Maidenhead at one point - although sadly for me, the scene wasn't actually filmed there.
Leigh Lawson and Angela Bruce (before her 80s stint as the Brigadier in Dr Who!) are good as the leads, and there's plenty to enjoy in this slightly tragic tale which will leave you maybe slightly wary of what you might wish for - especially if there's a fetish about.
Voodoo Charl'
A decent, if slightly underwhelming sixth episode of HHOH from "Fierce Creatures" director Robert Young. Notable, to me anyway, for a couple it's stars.
Upon their father's accidental Rod Hull-esque death, Graham (Leigh Lawson) inherits much of his art collection, including an African tribal statue that apparently has powers similar to a voodoo doll. When his older brother, who's inherited more of the estate, changes his mind about a joint investment, Graham inadvertently sets the statue on Peter (David Healy). His unfortunate moment of anger though may cost him much more than he could possibly anticipate.
As I said, it's a fine, if slightly placid story, with a few moments of gore but nothing too dramatic or particularly scary. Its plot makes sense, which has not always been the case with this series, though I'll admit it lost me a little bit around the burglary scenes. There's no staggering twist to it, but it has a classic bleak ending that most of these episodes do. The music choices are pretty bad. You can maybe forgive the faux African music due to lack of exposure at the time, but the weird jazz at the ending is not as excusable.
Performances are fine, everyone keeps things relatively naturalistic. As I said above, a couple of the stars were of note. Angela Bruce plays Graham's wife Sarah. She's worked consistently on UK TV right up to today, but will always be female Dave Lister in the parallel universe episode of "Red Dwarf" to me. And, much sadder, Frances Cuka, who was Good Grandma in "Friday Night Dinner" plays Gwen, Matron of the house and hinted at lover of the family patriarch. Cuka passed away back in February of this year.
Solid enough stuff, if perhaps lacking any sparks of true brilliance.
Upon their father's accidental Rod Hull-esque death, Graham (Leigh Lawson) inherits much of his art collection, including an African tribal statue that apparently has powers similar to a voodoo doll. When his older brother, who's inherited more of the estate, changes his mind about a joint investment, Graham inadvertently sets the statue on Peter (David Healy). His unfortunate moment of anger though may cost him much more than he could possibly anticipate.
As I said, it's a fine, if slightly placid story, with a few moments of gore but nothing too dramatic or particularly scary. Its plot makes sense, which has not always been the case with this series, though I'll admit it lost me a little bit around the burglary scenes. There's no staggering twist to it, but it has a classic bleak ending that most of these episodes do. The music choices are pretty bad. You can maybe forgive the faux African music due to lack of exposure at the time, but the weird jazz at the ending is not as excusable.
Performances are fine, everyone keeps things relatively naturalistic. As I said above, a couple of the stars were of note. Angela Bruce plays Graham's wife Sarah. She's worked consistently on UK TV right up to today, but will always be female Dave Lister in the parallel universe episode of "Red Dwarf" to me. And, much sadder, Frances Cuka, who was Good Grandma in "Friday Night Dinner" plays Gwen, Matron of the house and hinted at lover of the family patriarch. Cuka passed away back in February of this year.
Solid enough stuff, if perhaps lacking any sparks of true brilliance.
- southdavid
- Jul 29, 2020
- Permalink
Charlie's out for blood !
- leavymusic-2
- Sep 23, 2019
- Permalink
"... it's just a lump of wood!"
- classicsoncall
- Dec 15, 2021
- Permalink
Good pacing, acting... and an ending!
Oh, Charlie Boy (to the tune of Danny Boy)
Oh, Charlie Boy The pyres, the pyres Are calling... Oh Charlie Boy How the fires... burn Oh, Charlie Boy The ones you touch are calling So far away, never to return...
(Ehem, sorry about that one...) I'd been disappointed so far in this series by endings that weren't quite right. The actors and atmosphere were there, but oftentimes, things weren't quite wrapped up. But, Charlie Boy was an episode that kept its promise.
A divided family experiences a shocking death in the opening act. We see a woman concentrating near a strange, perhaps even offensive, African doll collection. Her husband tumbles off the roof quite dead. Is the toothsome doll responsible?
An heir and his beautiful black partner soon find the dolls in their possession. The woman calls the creepy doll "Charly Boy" and its hideous face seems to accept the new moniker. What mayhem will begin?
Oh, Charlie Boy The pyres, the pyres Are calling... Oh Charlie Boy How the fires... burn Oh, Charlie Boy The ones you touch are calling So far away, never to return...
(Ehem, sorry about that one...) I'd been disappointed so far in this series by endings that weren't quite right. The actors and atmosphere were there, but oftentimes, things weren't quite wrapped up. But, Charlie Boy was an episode that kept its promise.
A divided family experiences a shocking death in the opening act. We see a woman concentrating near a strange, perhaps even offensive, African doll collection. Her husband tumbles off the roof quite dead. Is the toothsome doll responsible?
An heir and his beautiful black partner soon find the dolls in their possession. The woman calls the creepy doll "Charly Boy" and its hideous face seems to accept the new moniker. What mayhem will begin?
- debbystardust
- Jun 20, 2024
- Permalink
Another top Hammer House of Horror story.
- poolandrews
- May 8, 2007
- Permalink
Mumbo jumbo
An aspiring movie producer fights with his partner after an unexpected inheritance, and the wished for but unwanted show down comes through a voodoo doll.
To start with a cliché is OK, so long as you twist it into a new shape. So we get the ancient artifact with the impersonal supernatural power to visit death on helpless characters, the best example of which is The Monkey's Paw - but these writers make a mess of it.
Horror rules require suspension of disbelief but they still have to make sense, and instead this randoms on, basing its conceit on an accidental death and carrying through with an unconvincing schedule of gory mishaps.
Also the characters have no real choice so they're flat and make little impression. There is an element of be careful what you wish for, but it's not introduced properly or driven to an inevitable conclusion. There was a chance to twist things round by linking the hero's girlfriend with the African origin of the voodoo doll, but that gets passed by without a thought, and we end with a weak climax.
The actors do OK, everything else is bland.
Overall - sadly, a waste of time.
To start with a cliché is OK, so long as you twist it into a new shape. So we get the ancient artifact with the impersonal supernatural power to visit death on helpless characters, the best example of which is The Monkey's Paw - but these writers make a mess of it.
Horror rules require suspension of disbelief but they still have to make sense, and instead this randoms on, basing its conceit on an accidental death and carrying through with an unconvincing schedule of gory mishaps.
Also the characters have no real choice so they're flat and make little impression. There is an element of be careful what you wish for, but it's not introduced properly or driven to an inevitable conclusion. There was a chance to twist things round by linking the hero's girlfriend with the African origin of the voodoo doll, but that gets passed by without a thought, and we end with a weak climax.
The actors do OK, everything else is bland.
Overall - sadly, a waste of time.
Awesome Hammer short-movie!
Yes, yes, YES!! This is exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping to see when I purchased the Hammer House of Horror DVD box set. Fun yet not too overly ambitious tales with a large amount of ingenious death sequences, a fair share of suspense and deliciously macabre set pieces. The premise of "Charlie Boy" is ridiculously simple and maybe even a bit déjà-vu, still it's a fast-paced episode and full of effective thrills. Following the sudden & mysterious death of his uncle, Graham and his cool wife Sarah inherit his collection of African native art. They take a particular interest in a wooden, morbid-looking fetish doll and name it Charlie Boy. Naturally the thing is possessed and contains great evil powers. When Graham playfully 'requests' Charlie Boy to eliminate one of his treasonous friends and it really happens, the couple righteously begins to fear for their own lives. Director Robert Young ("Vampire Circus") often manages to capture the true Hammer-spirit here, with themes like voodoo curses and make up effects that are really bloody. The plot may be very predictable, but still the climax had me on the edge of my seat, also because you really grow to care for Graham & Sarah during the rather short playtime of 50 minutes. The "Charlie Boy" doll is quite uncanny, with its angry eyes and sharp teeth, and Peter's death scene ranks as vintage Hammer nastiness. Perhaps not the best, but definitely the most entertaining H.H.H. episode I've seen thus far.
A slightly more middling entry in the Hammer House of Horror series
Charlie Boy is the sixth episode of the 'Hammer House of Horror' TV series. It's about a man who unwittingly sets off a chain of fatal accidents among his friends and family after he comes into possession of an African voodoo doll. This series pleasingly often gives off the impression that most of its thirteen instalments were conceived by going through a horror check list. To that end there is the witch episode, the haunted house episode, the werewolf episode, etc. This is the one that revolves around a voodoo doll.
It's constructed in a similar way to the Omen films in that it is made up of a series of inventively gruesome set-pieces. To this end, it's a little bloodier than most of the other episodes in the series. Although the most memorable encounter was a strange encounter with a maniac driver which was more strange than violent. In all honesty though, despite a very solid central idea, this episode on the whole could have been better handled. The dynamics between the characters wasn't maybe as good as they needed to be so the violent set-pieces don't have the impact that they should have. Nevertheless, this one is still okay and has a nicely macabre ending which was typical of the series as a whole.
It's constructed in a similar way to the Omen films in that it is made up of a series of inventively gruesome set-pieces. To this end, it's a little bloodier than most of the other episodes in the series. Although the most memorable encounter was a strange encounter with a maniac driver which was more strange than violent. In all honesty though, despite a very solid central idea, this episode on the whole could have been better handled. The dynamics between the characters wasn't maybe as good as they needed to be so the violent set-pieces don't have the impact that they should have. Nevertheless, this one is still okay and has a nicely macabre ending which was typical of the series as a whole.
- Red-Barracuda
- Feb 8, 2015
- Permalink
One of the show's most entertaining episodes.
Graham and Sarah inherit a fetish, a wooden voodoo doll, one they amiably name Charlie Boy, unfortunately Graham brings Charlie Boy to life, and a series of macabre, grizzly deaths begin.
Charlie Boy is one of my favourite episodes from this short lived period. It's a plot that's been lifted from any number of Hammer films, but it's a winning formula, it's gory, amusing, fast paced and features some wonderfully macabre moments.
There is a real sense of urgency, imagine and then there were none, with a horror vibe and a countdown timer running, that'll give you a sense of the mix.
This was made in 1980, I don't recall seeing many mixed race relationships on the box back then, so this makes something of a refreshing change.
Doctor who fans will recognise two familiar faces from the 1980's (and a later appearance in 2022) we have The Brigadier Bambera and of course the wonderful Tegan Jovanka, namely Angela Bruce and Janet Fielding.
Worth watching for Marius Goring (another face Dr Who fans will know well,) alone, he's so wonderfully charismatic as Heinz, what a character actor.
8/10.
Charlie Boy is one of my favourite episodes from this short lived period. It's a plot that's been lifted from any number of Hammer films, but it's a winning formula, it's gory, amusing, fast paced and features some wonderfully macabre moments.
There is a real sense of urgency, imagine and then there were none, with a horror vibe and a countdown timer running, that'll give you a sense of the mix.
This was made in 1980, I don't recall seeing many mixed race relationships on the box back then, so this makes something of a refreshing change.
Doctor who fans will recognise two familiar faces from the 1980's (and a later appearance in 2022) we have The Brigadier Bambera and of course the wonderful Tegan Jovanka, namely Angela Bruce and Janet Fielding.
Worth watching for Marius Goring (another face Dr Who fans will know well,) alone, he's so wonderfully charismatic as Heinz, what a character actor.
8/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Jun 10, 2023
- Permalink
A right ole Charlie
A young man named Graham inherits an African voodoo fetish from his late uncle. After a harrowing incident with a motorist, his girlfriend Sarah and he use the voodoo doll, unwittingly releasing it's power. The desired effect backfires however as the mystical power of "Charlie Boy" begins killing off people in one of Graham's family photos. Desperate to bring this horror to an end, Graham seeks the advice of an antiquities dealer named Heinz Hoffman.
It's a familiar tale, has some spooky atmosphere, good acting, but the first half can be slow. However, things hot up a little towards the end. Still, it wasn't a standout episode, not engaging enough.
It's a familiar tale, has some spooky atmosphere, good acting, but the first half can be slow. However, things hot up a little towards the end. Still, it wasn't a standout episode, not engaging enough.