FEAR NO EVIL (1969)

This well made, atmospheric horror film was originally produced as a pilot for a proposed television series to be called BEDEVILED, starring Louis Jourdan as Dr. David Sorrell, a psychologist and expert on the occult. When the series wasn't picked up, the movie was eventually broadcast as an ABC Movie of the Week in 1969. It was made at Universal Studios. A second pilot, RITUAL OF EVIL, also starring Jourdan, was broadcast in 1970. Wilfrid Hyde-White co-starred in both episodes and was to be Jourdan's co-star in the proposed series.

The story has Dr. Sorrell trying to help a young woman (Lynda Day) whose fiance (Bradford Dilllman) has died tragically in an automobile accident. She has been seeing an image of her fiance in an antique mirror that he mysteriously purchased a few nights before his death. Dr. Sorrell begins to suspect the man was a victim of demonic possession. His investigation leads him to a secretive organization of occult believers who experiment with the conjuring of demons.

There were quite a few made-for-TV movies from the late 1960's and into the 1970's that had horror related themes, and this is one of the best. The idea of a mirror reflecting an alternate evil reality was used very effectively in the 1945 English classic DEAD OF NIGHT. FEAR NO EVIL expands upon that idea very well. Director Paul Wendkos creates an atmosphere of tension and dread with a combination of dark sets and an appropriately creepy music score. The story is intriguing and well acted by the cast, which also includes Carroll O'Conner, Marsh Hunt, and Katherine Woodville.

I remember seeing this movie when it was first shown in 1969 and I found it to be very impressive. Since it was a TV movie, and considering the era in which it was made, the violence is minimal and the sexual content was suggestive rather than explicit. Even with those restrictions the movie packs quite a punch with its dark ambience and supernatural theme. It's no wonder that so many people in my generation ended up losing our minds after watching stuff like this in our living rooms every Sunday night. But I'm not complaining.

FEAR NO EVIL and RITUAL OF EVIL were finally given a 2K restoration treatment and released on a double bill by Kino-Lorber in 2020. This was excellent news for those of us who loved one or both of these films. For years, the only prints available were DVD-Rs with poor imagery. The new Blu-ray versions are beautiful. Extra features include two audio commentaries by film historian/screenwriter Gary Gerani, an image gallery, trailers, and newly commissioned artwork by Vince Evans. Also with optional English subtitles.