A switch of the light on or a camera flash going off scares off the nasty little men living behind the basement fireplace closed off for years in the house inherited by socially awkward Kim Darby from her grandfather, and after handyman William Demarest warns Darby and her handsome husband Jim Hutton of the necessity to keep it closed up, Darby decides to dig it open anyway. Out pops these furious creatures intent on grabbing Darby's spirit to join them inside their fireplace home forever, and they are determined that nothing will stand in their way,
Demarest, as we learn, knows of their existence, threatened with violence if he exposes their existence before they make their move on Darby. They also have the tendency to appear to Darby at the most inopportune times, causing Darby to go bonkers during a lavish dinner party she throws which brings alarm to her husband. When they try to attack her while she's in the shower, it becomes apparent what they want but it is also revealed what scares them away. Hutton can't be around his wife 24/7 so this leaves plenty of time for Darby (given the chore of redecorating, so she is always home) to be attacked.
I truly did get frightened a few times in this classic TV horror movie, and indeed, the dark did become very frightening. Darby ("True Grit") and Hutton are certainly an odd couple. She doesn't really feel comfortable in large social gatherings so when she throws the dinner party, her social awkwardness is revealed, making for a unique heroine, sort of like Joan Hackett in the "Bobby" segment of the TV movie "Dead of Night" and more famously Karen Black in "Trilogy of Terror" dealing with an African warrior doll. Demarest is cranky but honest, even if he can't tell all he knows, and it's nice to see him in one of his very last acting roles, having been around since the 1930's.
Barbara Anderson as Darby's friend and soap veteran Lesley Woods (at least 11 daytime dramas) as the housekeeper also give good performances with Anderson trying to boost Darby's confidence to no avail not only with the dinner party but with dealing with these scary little critters as well. A nice little surprise, reminding audiences of how good these B films made directly for TV (basically replacing the programmers of the golden age of Hollywood) could be when they had a good script and interesting characters to write about.
Demarest, as we learn, knows of their existence, threatened with violence if he exposes their existence before they make their move on Darby. They also have the tendency to appear to Darby at the most inopportune times, causing Darby to go bonkers during a lavish dinner party she throws which brings alarm to her husband. When they try to attack her while she's in the shower, it becomes apparent what they want but it is also revealed what scares them away. Hutton can't be around his wife 24/7 so this leaves plenty of time for Darby (given the chore of redecorating, so she is always home) to be attacked.
I truly did get frightened a few times in this classic TV horror movie, and indeed, the dark did become very frightening. Darby ("True Grit") and Hutton are certainly an odd couple. She doesn't really feel comfortable in large social gatherings so when she throws the dinner party, her social awkwardness is revealed, making for a unique heroine, sort of like Joan Hackett in the "Bobby" segment of the TV movie "Dead of Night" and more famously Karen Black in "Trilogy of Terror" dealing with an African warrior doll. Demarest is cranky but honest, even if he can't tell all he knows, and it's nice to see him in one of his very last acting roles, having been around since the 1930's.
Barbara Anderson as Darby's friend and soap veteran Lesley Woods (at least 11 daytime dramas) as the housekeeper also give good performances with Anderson trying to boost Darby's confidence to no avail not only with the dinner party but with dealing with these scary little critters as well. A nice little surprise, reminding audiences of how good these B films made directly for TV (basically replacing the programmers of the golden age of Hollywood) could be when they had a good script and interesting characters to write about.