Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

This was a 1973 or 1974 made-for-TV film that scared the hell out of most of us old enough to remember when it came out (like ME, lol) and it was a great example of why 1970's era TV horror ruled with an iron fist. 

Sure, the monsters might look ridiculous by today's standards, but the atmosphere and the fright factor were there w\o a doubt. Here's a small clip of the opening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry1J56zjLXU

[venomx]

OMG! thats the movie with the fireplace and the little coconut head men!

I love that movie. I remember back 78 or 79 my Grandpop let me watch it.

That movie still scares me.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

OMG! thats the movie with the fireplace and the little coconut head men!

I love that movie. I remember back 78 or 79 my Grandpop let me watch it.

That movie still scares me.

"Coconut head men", that's a great description.   

I got to see it when it premeired on ABC in 1973 or 4'. I didn't sleep well that night,
Not to mention those shag rugs they had for fur.   Guess who one of those little guys who played the creatures was?  Felix Silla who played Cousin IT in the 60's Addams Family show!  I read about that somewhere..

Funny how now, this movie is very tame and not really scary by today's standards.

[venomx]

That's another person going to be at Monster Mania Con - Felix Silla! (2 more days, I can't wait)

http://www.monstermania.net/index.html

[The Burgomaster]

I loved thsi movie when I was a kid.  It was available on VHS for awhile many years ago (it came in one of those old oversized VHS boxes).  If it gets a DVD release, I will surely buy it.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

I loved thsi movie when I was a kid.  It was available on VHS for awhile many years ago (it came in one of those old oversized VHS boxes).  If it gets a DVD release, I will surely buy it.

I remember those VHS cases.

I got a georgeous DVD-R of DBAOTD at the east coast Chiller Theatre convention, about 3 years back, and it has an old commercial for "The Vault Of Horror" on it.  It's also for sale at some stands at Chiller, but I think it's one of those "you have to ask for it" deals, well worth it though.

Oh hey while I'm at it, nice to meet you, Burgomaster 

[Trevor]

It seems that creepy movies ruled the TV roost in the 1970's:

Don't Be Afraid of The Dark
Baffled!
Crowhaven Farm
Black Noon
Sole Survivor
Duel
Something Evil

I just need someone to whisper the word "Sallllleeeeeeeeeeeee....." in my ear and watch me jump. 

[The Burgomaster]

Crowhaven Farm

This is another movie I wish would get a DVD release!

[The Burgomaster]

Oh hey while I'm at it, nice to meet you, Burgomaster 

Pleased to meet you.  And thanks for starting this discussion!

[Trevor]

Crowhaven Farm

This is another movie I wish would get a DVD release!

It's on www.amazon.com as an import: I don't know where it was imported from though or if it is a genuine release.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Oh hey while I'm at it, nice to meet you, Burgomaster 

Pleased to meet you.  And thanks for starting this discussion!

Right on, fellow fright master

Another 70's TV TV movie comes to mind as well...anyone remember "Gargoyles"?  I have that one on DVD as well.  According to the liner notes it was Stan Winston's first makeup job, ( I believe) and Richard Moll (Bull from Night Court) was the huge gargoyle hit and killed by the truck. 

The gargoyles were impressive, esp. the scene where the head gargoyle flies off into the night with the full moon behind him. I was scared by that one as a kid but also fascinated. I think I was more fascinated because they were so cool looking.

[jimmybob]

I'm pretty sure this is available from Cultra Rare Videos.com as a download, but it seems the site owner has decided to make some cash from these downloads. I burned a lot of the more interesting stuff when it was free.

You are fools for not exploiting this resource! 

-Jimmybob

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

I'm pretty sure this is available from Cultra Rare Videos.com as a download, but it seems the site owner has decided to make some cash from these downloads. I burned a lot of the more interesting stuff when it was free.

You are fools for not exploiting this resource! 

-Jimmybob

Nah my DVD-R is fine. It's pristine and clear and only cost me 5 bucks.  But if the movie is only avaliable in dowload-for-cash format, it's better than nothing.

There was supposed to be a remake from Ang Lee, but I guess the prospect of doing a Hulk movie was a stronger calling, as well as a better paycheck!

[venomx]

Funny question - would anyone here be scared if somebody played a prank on you and put those little men (replicas) by your bed and woke up in the middle of the night ... you hear whispers "kill him, kill him, kill him" ... ???

I would have a heart attack! No joke. I never want that to happen to me. EVER lol. That movie still creeps me out.

Fact - this IS the movie that made me afraid of the dark!

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Funny question - would anyone here be scared if somebody played a prank on you and put those little men (replicas) by your bed and woke up in the middle of the night ... you hear whispers "kill him, kill him, kill him" ... ???

I would have a heart attack! No joke. I never want that to happen to me. EVER lol. That movie still creeps me out.

Fact - this IS the movie that made me afraid of the dark!

Good question: I think I'd be scared, and then severely pi**ed at the person who did it.
And yeah man, I was scared of the dark for a long time after this. I was only 8 when I saw it.   

Pranks?
I got one for ya': a bit off topic, but when I was around 8, my friend and his sister were doing homework at the living room table at his house. His mother was there with us.

His 2 older brothers and their 2 friends (brothers too) took a mannequin head and stuck it on a pole, and raised it up to the window.   His mother jumped up and screamed like she was being murdered, and went into the other room and got a Remington .870 12g and pointed it at the window.  Luckily she didn't shoot.

The guys hauled ass out of there and later got punished when they admitted to it. Good times!