Surprisingly Good Television Movies

[JaseSF]

The Television Movie. Most often these efforts prove dismal and disappointing. Most TV Movies seem to have a certain feel and a dull, drab look; most often seem to a lack any real action and suspense and certainly lack gore, suspense and violence in many cases. Still there are exceptions to these rules and this thread is devoted to those television films that pleasantly surprised you by being much better than your immediate given expectation of them. Here some TV goodies I was glad I caught and very much enjoyed:

Trilogy of Terror (1975): Directed by Dan Curtis and written by the one and only Richard Matheson, this creepy horror anthology film starring Karen Black in four different roles delivers chills and thrills than you won't soon forget especially the appearance of the Zuni Fetish Doll.

The Night Stalker (1972) and The Night Strangler (1973): The two TV Films produced by Dan Curtis (John Moxey directed Stalker while Curtis directed Strangler) that introduced the world to reporter Carl Kolchak, a man determined to prove strange and bizarre creatures do inhabit our world. Unfortunately he always seems to run into obstacles along the way not to mention having to put his neck on the line against a vampire (Night Stalker) and a strangler (Night Strangler), both who seem to have a taste for blood, while trying to get his proof.

Trapped In Space (1994): Jack Wagner actually turns in a good performance as one of a crew of passengers stranded on a derelict spaceship that is much too rapidly running out of oxygen. This film is based on the short story entitled "Breaking Strain" by Arthur C. Clarke. It has a neat buildup of suspense and a surprise twist ending to boot.

Intruders (1992): Here again we have Dan Curtis, who directed this genuinely creepy alien abduction movie which chilled me to the bone first time I watched it  and gave me nightmares for about a week. The snowplow going down the road took on new fright dimensions after watching this film unfold.

Deep Red (1994): A young crippled girl (Lindsey Haun) is mysteriously infected with alien nanobots which heal her and might hold to key to her immortality but someone else, a mad scientist named Dr. Newmeyer (John DeLancie) has discovered this secret and is extremely determined to steal its benefits for himself through any means necessary. This stars Michael Biehn, as a burned out detective for hire, in a movie that crosses elements of the cop buddy genre with science fiction and film noir. Overall this was surprisingly good and involving for a Sci-Fi channel type film. All the familiar faces involved (including Steven Williams and Joanna Pacula)certainly doesn't hurt.

12:01(1993): a man finds time repeating after a shock to his system and now must find a means to save the woman he loves from being killed every night, the same night, repeatedly. A science fiction style romantic comedy, this stars Jonathan Silverman and Helen Slater.

Harrison Bergeron (1995): "Welcome to the future – it's a no brainer!" –Tagline. In a future world where everyone is expected to act the same--where conformity is enforced--one kid named Harrison Bergeron (Sean Astin) begins to see it all for the nonsense it really is. Based on the story by Kurt Vonnegut, this is one of the best Canadian TV films I've ever seen.  It doesn't hurt it's loaded to the gills with famous and talented Canadians.

[Jack]

Babylon 5 Thirdspace - An ancient alien artifact is found drifting in space, and it's up to the crew of the Babylon 5 space station to figure out what it is.  I though this was great.  Really epic sort of plot, and I love pretty much anything dealing with ancient alien artifacts. 

Snowbeast - A bigfoot is on the rampage near a ski resort, and after the usual melodrama is taken care of, a group of people go into the hills to hunt it down.  I think the best part of this movie is that you only get glimpses of the creature, so it never looks silly.  Good characters and an excellent sense of suspense.

The Librarian:  Quest for the Spear - a good, silly Indiana Jones type movie.  Very entertaining and fun.

[JaseSF]

I know there are more goodies we could add here especially from the 1970s and 1990s...those two decades seem great for quality genre TV.

Agree with Snowbeast...I really enjoyed that one. Very suspenseful, quality monster film.

[indianasmith]

A few  historical films worth a mention:

HITLER: THE RISE OF EVIL


IKE: COUNTDOWN TO D-DAY


THE CROSSING

THE PLOT TO KILL HITLER

All worth checking out.

[fortunato]

Lonesome Dove, It, The Stand, and Comanche Moon

[JaseSF]

Have Hitler: Rise of Evil, The Stand and the Babylon 5 movie all on DVD but I haven't got around to watching them yet.

A few more to add:

Duel (1971): Steven Speilberg directed this superb film that examines road rage gone mad in this very suspenseful film. The kind of film that makes you realize this can happen to you or anyone else. The kind that makes you stop and take notice long after you've finished watching. Dennis Weaver is the everyman type this film focuses upon.

Frankenstein: The True Story: A mini-series that sees Dr. Frankenstein succeed in creating the perfect man or does he? In the end, the film moves more firmly into the that realm of psychogical horror first created in Mary Shelley's novel. Stars James Mason, David McCallum, Leonard Whiting and Jane Seymour.

The Day After (1983): startling story that sees the world in the aftermath of nuclear war. This story focuses on small town Kansas and the struggle to survive and stay alive in a world blown to Hell.

Threads (1984): an arguably even more realistic and brutal portrait of the world in the aftermath of nuclear war. This takes place in Sheffield, England.

Salem's Lot (1979): the first film (actually a mini-series) to scare the beejezus out of me. The risen vampire kids are the stuff of nightmares that's for sure and if that's not enough, our main baddie here could rival Nosferatu. Just a great unpredictable story.

[Paquita]

Don't be Afraid of the Dark - My husband would shed a tear if this movie wasn't mentioned.

[Jack]

Duel (1971): Steven Speilberg directed this superb film that examines road rage gone mad in this very suspenseful film. The kind of film that makes you realize this can happen to you or anyone else. The kind that makes you stop and take notice long after you've finished watching. Dennis Weaver is the everyman type this film focuses upon.

That's an awesome one.  I always got a kick out of how they re-used footage from it for an episode of the Incredible Hulk with Bill Bixby.

World War III (1982) - The Russians send a military force into Alaska to sabotage the oil pipeline, and Rock Hudson and a small group of poorly armed National Guard troops try to stop them.  Excellent characters and a very interesting and well told story.

[JaseSF]

World War III sounds really good from your description. I'd like to check that one out.

[RCMerchant]

Dan (DARK SHADOWS) Curtis's DRACULA (1974) with Jack Palance!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwf0pPAzWkY

Ray Milland and Pamela Ferdin in DAUGHTER of the MIND (1969)
"Oh Daddy-I hate being dead."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTiZm9MwWso

[SPazzo]

I agree with It, The killer clown one with Tim Curry based on a Stephen King novel.  Also, The Haunted.  I really enjoyed it, it's pretty bad.  But, then again, isn't that why I'm on this website?

[Allhallowsday]

Snowbeast - A bigfoot is on the rampage near a ski resort, and after the usual melodrama is taken care of, a group of people go into the hills to hunt it down.  I think the best part of this movie is that you only get glimpses of the creature, so it never looks silly.  Good characters and an excellent sense of suspense.

SNOWBEAST works for precisely the reason you cited: we only get a glimpse...

Others in a similar creepy vein:
CROWHAVEN FARM (1970)
BAD RONALD (1974)
THE NORLISS TAPES (1973) DAN CURTIS is a favorite of mine... I don't even mind THE NIGHT STRANGLER and watch it every year or so, right after watching STALKER - probably the best made-for-TV movie.  And speaking of DAN CURTIS and JACK PALANCE, don't forget their first work together THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JECKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1968)

All of the above films have in common an implausibility, cheap-thrill cheesiness, and chintzy-ness that make them riveting viewing for the Badmovie lover.

BTW, let's not forget LOUIS JOURDAN as COUNT DRACULA (1977 made for BBC I think) which was damned fine and never shown nowadays.  

There are lots of great made-for-TV films, THE LATHE OF HEAVEN, PAUL'S CASE, (both 1980) THE BLUE HOTEL (1977) and I'M A FOOL (1977) are all very good if not sublime and are from the American Short Story Collection.
 

[The Burgomaster]

BRIAN'S SONG - James Caan and Billy Dee Williams

[Warp Ninja X]

I-Man - Scott Bakula

[JaseSF]

Great stuff guys. Allhallows has listed (pretty much his entire list) a whole bunch of TV movies I really want to see but haven't got around to just yet.