After the tragic death of her fiancé a young woman see visions of her boyfriend in an old mirror he bought one day before their car accident.The psychiatrist who is interested in esoteric knowledge and occult decides to help her...First of all I haven't seen "Ritual of Evil" yet,so I won't compare "Fear No Evil" to it.Basically "Fear No Evil" contains no gore and nudity.Still the story is captivating and the acting is very good.The plot moves slowly and the climax is quite eerie and memorable.Several plot twists are quite unexpected.If you are into late 60's or 70's TV-made horror "Fear No Evil" is worth checking out.The evil in the mirror concept is usually fascintaing.7 mirrors out of 10.
17 Reviews
Now on Blu Ray
TeenVamp29 November 2020
I'm writing this review to let people know this obscure movie finally has a real release and a great looking blu ray at that. I'm also writing this to let you know that this is overrated by the 11 reviews on here haha. This movie moves at a snails pace being 98 minutes. If it had been the typical tv movie length of 73 minutes it would have kept my attention better. I LOVE 60's and 70's tv movies especially horror but this not one of the best by far. The story was interesting but never really took off. The last 20 minutes are good but just not done that well. I feel like those with fond memories of it 51 years ago may be let down seeing it again but the transfer looks amazing and the blu ray has the sequel and commentary tracks!
a frightening, errie experience
yah_kob27 September 2002
I have a taped copy of this movie ...... somewhere. It is quite special, so I was surprised to find it unlisted in guidebooks such as Mauldin's. An important element involves a demonic force trying to seduce a young woman when she gazes into a mirror. Maybe it's just me, but the idea of an evil force from inside a mirror trying to distort your view of reality and control you seems particularly frightening --- of course one thinks of Dead of Night (1945), the old classic horror film. Also, the scenes where the demon is being summoned are quite disturbing --- the makers of the film seem to have had some special insight into demonology. Bradford Dillman is already dead for most of the movie, but he plays a great haunted spirit on both sides of the grave, and Louis Jourdan is good as the calm, rational psychiatrist trying to help the woman by any means possible, including unorthodox ones.
I was really excited about this movie
Neptune16518 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Bit disappointing this. Was a bit slow, although it did pick up pace later. Honestly, I was expecting something because of the rating, but this is still a boring, At the beginning it looks cool but slowly it become something really strange. There is part in the middle of movie where I thought that it will end, nope. When it actually ends it doesnt feel right, the story could go further but its suddenly over. There was a few good moments i enjoyed, like at the biginning. Great actor but they just can't save this film.
A creepy and creative suspense thriller
billpane28 January 2006
This hard to find made for TV movie is one of my all time favorites in the suspense department. The movie's plot is innovative and creepy without resorting to any of the hackneyed standard scare tactics that discredits so many other horror films. Outstanding performances by Carroll O'Connor and Louis Jourdan are a highlight and Marsha Hunt is also excellent as the mother who secretly does not have her son's fiancé best interests at heart. The movie's climax is also extremely well crafted and gripping as psychiatrist Louis Jourdan uses guile and creativity in his attempt to save Barbara from the antique mirror that seeks to possess her. I would recommend this movie to fans of the genre-if you can find it.
Looks better than what it is
hlnmcgu16 December 2021
Sophisticated blend of suggested horror and surprising sexual content for its time ('69) and place (tv).
Antknee-212 October 1999
FEAR NO EVIL is a sophisticated blend of suggested horror and surprising sexual content for its time ('69) and place (tv). I haven't seen this movie since it was first broadcast, and I wish it were available on video so I could reconfirm my impressions about it. The opening scene, at a party, in which Louis Jourdan intrigues and frightens his friends about the contents of a box in his possession, sets the tone for the film and is a masterfully edited sequence of the unknown and unseen that scares the viewer without resorting to gore or cheap shocks.
The plot of the picture, dealing with passion from beyond the grave, is exceptionally well done and quite daring and bold for a late-sixties tv movie. Again, I wish I had the opportunity to re-view the movie to re-experience the pleasure it gave me, so that the story would be fresher in my mind and I could do it more justice here.
The plot of the picture, dealing with passion from beyond the grave, is exceptionally well done and quite daring and bold for a late-sixties tv movie. Again, I wish I had the opportunity to re-view the movie to re-experience the pleasure it gave me, so that the story would be fresher in my mind and I could do it more justice here.
Farcical
saint_brett16 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
If it's from the 1960s, then rest assured, there's nothing to fear with this movie. Weren't they raised to believe in UFOs?
It looks like Tommy Lee Jones just escaped a two-story house from the movie 'Manos: Hands of Fate' and then just wandered the streets in the wee hours, thankful that he didn't have to participate in that movie.
Was this recorded in mechanical television format?
The quality of this movie is just atomic. What in hell have I signed up for tonight? This movie is leaking radiation poison and was sealed in asbestos.
It looks like it was filmed on an overhead projector, and if it overheats, fallout is immediately released.
The Tommy Lee Jones clone, Paul, drunkenly stumbles into a 24-hour furniture store and buys a mirror on impulse.
Apparently this mirror is possessed by a demon, or demons plural.
Oh, not this again! Satanic lessons in black magic that I have to translate? This is the third time in six months that I've attempted to do this. A bunch of scholars sit around an apartment building telling ghost stories, and this Dr. Sorell fella names off all these demons' names.
Get a load of this.
Bail and Forkus demon (already, Word is telling me there's no such word as Forkus.) Markorsias (he's a Greek soccer player turned occult.) Bur, Astarop, Bee'Him'Off, Assmodius, and Thintus.
Word's having a field day with all my typos. So, they're not real names.
Again, fifteen minutes in, and no plot has even been laid for this garbage other than some drunk buying a mirror and this is all brought to you by Quadruplex videotape quality vision.
A horse-drawn cart, powered by steam, is run off the road, and I'm hoping that annoying actor, Paul, doesn't pull through. He started to turn blue before the incident, so all signs were positive.
I think my taxidermy head mounted on a wall plaque like a deer would look good in my room. The text engraved would read "survived by the horrible movies that murdered him."
Let's go check what other people have rated this on IMDb. If I see anything higher than one, then I truly am not educated and have been left behind. 6.4/10 overall? Good God. Serious?
My Lord, there are high ratings for this movie, and only 16 people have contributed. This is not a 10/10 movie, nor is it a 9 either. I'm guessing the people who reviewed those ratings were participants in the filming crew and cast.
I'm glad I wasn't reared on 60s TV.
P'worrr, another wasted night on horrible entertainment that wasn't designed for me.
This movie's like the science classes I never paid attention to back in high school. (It was always math after science for some reason.)
I'm sure there are a few fossils out there who view this movie as the way of the future. They probably watch the boxsets of 'Petticoat Junction' and 'Hogan's Heroes' religiously, too.
Barbara becomes a widow overnight due to the silly flat wagon wheel accident, and the dumb mirror purchased at the beginning acts as some sort of Mario Brothers warp zone to the land of the dead, where the blue fella keeps turning red. She enters the damn thing to make love to a dead man.
The fact that this is playing on my DVD player and insulting my senses is irreversible psychological damage, not to mention that I own this movie.
50 minutes in, and I've already rated it 1/10.
Nothing can save this movie.
11 minutes have since passed the 50-minute mark, and I'm still sitting here stunned and unable to contribute anything worthwhile to my review as this is just holding me up from going to bed.
There's nothing worthwhile to write down in my report as nothing's happening. They're just standing around talking all the time.
I just fed my cats, and it hit me when I was pouring the kibble that the only people who would find this movie scary are senior citizens with dementia or the elderly who have passed away already and are fortunate enough not to have to endure this movie anymore. It's a corpse that was buried in the early 70s that doesn't belong in 2024.
If this movie becomes obsolete a thousand years from now and a scientist extracts a mosquito from -
Never mind.
A psychologist named Dr. Sorell steals most of the limelight with his dry acting, and do I detect a French or German accent? He plays detective in search of answers - to what, who knows? I guess the shady taxation details for the mirror purchase or the contents of a reel-to-reel tape recording that contains a group of Jonestown members vying to be Jim Jones second in command? It's all debatable and left to interpretation.
Elsewhere, Barbara, the horrible co-star, drugged for most of the movie, is all set to wed the dead blue guy, Paul, even though he perished in the wagon incident on Highway 73.
Apparently this movie appeared on Chicago TV under the banner of The Light at Night, Movies All Night channel. If it's a pay TV channel, I'd be canceling my subscription immediately.
Can I sue this movie for lost time?
Nope! I can't take any more of this!
Putrid.
A commercial claimed that the first-place Miami Dolphins are taking on the Baltimore Colts this weekend. So, Baltimore was once known as the Browns? And the Browns were originally the Cleveland Panthers? Where's the loyalty? Well, then, who were the Oilers?
Never mind.
Tip Top, Mr. Big natural unbleached flour and no preservatives added are on sale and are baked for 8 hours as if grandma were watching. In stores now. Hurry while stocks last. The offer ends in 1970. It's a good bet all the loafs will be blue-molded by now, right?
This movie and its commercials have been brought to you by WMAQ-TV Chicago.
If this was the crap they were watching in Chicago back in 1969, then heaven help them.
I don't even know why I awarded this movie a point in my rating either.
It looks like Tommy Lee Jones just escaped a two-story house from the movie 'Manos: Hands of Fate' and then just wandered the streets in the wee hours, thankful that he didn't have to participate in that movie.
Was this recorded in mechanical television format?
The quality of this movie is just atomic. What in hell have I signed up for tonight? This movie is leaking radiation poison and was sealed in asbestos.
It looks like it was filmed on an overhead projector, and if it overheats, fallout is immediately released.
The Tommy Lee Jones clone, Paul, drunkenly stumbles into a 24-hour furniture store and buys a mirror on impulse.
Apparently this mirror is possessed by a demon, or demons plural.
Oh, not this again! Satanic lessons in black magic that I have to translate? This is the third time in six months that I've attempted to do this. A bunch of scholars sit around an apartment building telling ghost stories, and this Dr. Sorell fella names off all these demons' names.
Get a load of this.
Bail and Forkus demon (already, Word is telling me there's no such word as Forkus.) Markorsias (he's a Greek soccer player turned occult.) Bur, Astarop, Bee'Him'Off, Assmodius, and Thintus.
Word's having a field day with all my typos. So, they're not real names.
Again, fifteen minutes in, and no plot has even been laid for this garbage other than some drunk buying a mirror and this is all brought to you by Quadruplex videotape quality vision.
A horse-drawn cart, powered by steam, is run off the road, and I'm hoping that annoying actor, Paul, doesn't pull through. He started to turn blue before the incident, so all signs were positive.
I think my taxidermy head mounted on a wall plaque like a deer would look good in my room. The text engraved would read "survived by the horrible movies that murdered him."
Let's go check what other people have rated this on IMDb. If I see anything higher than one, then I truly am not educated and have been left behind. 6.4/10 overall? Good God. Serious?
My Lord, there are high ratings for this movie, and only 16 people have contributed. This is not a 10/10 movie, nor is it a 9 either. I'm guessing the people who reviewed those ratings were participants in the filming crew and cast.
I'm glad I wasn't reared on 60s TV.
P'worrr, another wasted night on horrible entertainment that wasn't designed for me.
This movie's like the science classes I never paid attention to back in high school. (It was always math after science for some reason.)
I'm sure there are a few fossils out there who view this movie as the way of the future. They probably watch the boxsets of 'Petticoat Junction' and 'Hogan's Heroes' religiously, too.
Barbara becomes a widow overnight due to the silly flat wagon wheel accident, and the dumb mirror purchased at the beginning acts as some sort of Mario Brothers warp zone to the land of the dead, where the blue fella keeps turning red. She enters the damn thing to make love to a dead man.
The fact that this is playing on my DVD player and insulting my senses is irreversible psychological damage, not to mention that I own this movie.
50 minutes in, and I've already rated it 1/10.
Nothing can save this movie.
11 minutes have since passed the 50-minute mark, and I'm still sitting here stunned and unable to contribute anything worthwhile to my review as this is just holding me up from going to bed.
There's nothing worthwhile to write down in my report as nothing's happening. They're just standing around talking all the time.
I just fed my cats, and it hit me when I was pouring the kibble that the only people who would find this movie scary are senior citizens with dementia or the elderly who have passed away already and are fortunate enough not to have to endure this movie anymore. It's a corpse that was buried in the early 70s that doesn't belong in 2024.
If this movie becomes obsolete a thousand years from now and a scientist extracts a mosquito from -
Never mind.
A psychologist named Dr. Sorell steals most of the limelight with his dry acting, and do I detect a French or German accent? He plays detective in search of answers - to what, who knows? I guess the shady taxation details for the mirror purchase or the contents of a reel-to-reel tape recording that contains a group of Jonestown members vying to be Jim Jones second in command? It's all debatable and left to interpretation.
Elsewhere, Barbara, the horrible co-star, drugged for most of the movie, is all set to wed the dead blue guy, Paul, even though he perished in the wagon incident on Highway 73.
Apparently this movie appeared on Chicago TV under the banner of The Light at Night, Movies All Night channel. If it's a pay TV channel, I'd be canceling my subscription immediately.
Can I sue this movie for lost time?
Nope! I can't take any more of this!
Putrid.
A commercial claimed that the first-place Miami Dolphins are taking on the Baltimore Colts this weekend. So, Baltimore was once known as the Browns? And the Browns were originally the Cleveland Panthers? Where's the loyalty? Well, then, who were the Oilers?
Never mind.
Tip Top, Mr. Big natural unbleached flour and no preservatives added are on sale and are baked for 8 hours as if grandma were watching. In stores now. Hurry while stocks last. The offer ends in 1970. It's a good bet all the loafs will be blue-molded by now, right?
This movie and its commercials have been brought to you by WMAQ-TV Chicago.
If this was the crap they were watching in Chicago back in 1969, then heaven help them.
I don't even know why I awarded this movie a point in my rating either.
The devil uses a mirror to possess souls!
garrard19 January 2006
When first aired in 1969, this TV production was a ratings powerhouse for NBC. Starring the infrequently used Louis Jourdan as David Sorell, an L.A. psychiatrist with an interest in the occult, the film tells the story of a mirror that holds a demon that possesses the soul of newlywed Bradford Dillman. Lynda Day (the future wife of actor Christopher George) plays Dillman's hapless wife who herself is to be the next victim of the mirror's machinations. A pre-Archie Bunker Carroll O'Connor is on hand as Dillman's friend that's hiding a sinister secret. Veteran actress Marsha Hunt is very good as Dillman's adoring and devoted mother. English stalwart Wilfred Hyde-White plays Jourdan's apparent mentor in things that go bump in the night.
The film has a nicely creepy feel, befitting the studio (Universal) that brought the world so many classic horror films during the 30's.
Also, the score by Billy Goldenberg is effectively spooky, especially the scene wherein the entranced George descends from the stairs to be "rejoined" with her deceased husband.
"Fear No Evil" yielded a sequel a year later, the somewhat weaker "Ritual of Evil" with Jourdan returning in the lead role.
The film has a nicely creepy feel, befitting the studio (Universal) that brought the world so many classic horror films during the 30's.
Also, the score by Billy Goldenberg is effectively spooky, especially the scene wherein the entranced George descends from the stairs to be "rejoined" with her deceased husband.
"Fear No Evil" yielded a sequel a year later, the somewhat weaker "Ritual of Evil" with Jourdan returning in the lead role.
Golden Age of Television
sdesanctis22 May 2006
The late 60's in the US produced some unforgettable TV-movies. 1967 had "Games" with Simon Signoret, 1969 gave us the strangely forgotten prize-winning "Male of the Species" with Anna Calder-Marshall & Sir Paul Scofield, and 1969 the erotic thriller "Fear No Evil". The casting was perfect, the writing intelligent, the direction impeccable. These were shows that didn't condescend to a TV audience nor pander to the lowest common denominator - all of these (note the latter 2 of the 3 sadly unavailable to date, and the former available as a used VHS at exorbitant prices) were examples of television that had the best of cinema, provoking, haunting, memorable, risk-taking, trail-blazing. In some ways the eroticism of these 3 TV shows was more daring than the X-rated "Midnight Cowboy". Hard to imagine network television today producing anything of comparable caliber, or to imagine people reminiscing and seeking out copies of the pap we are fed today 30-40 years from now. I would love to get my hands on these last 2, very different but equally entertaining and memorable shows, if only to explain to my offspring that once upon a time there was network television - and it was good. Bradford Dillman and Louis Jourdan were perfect opposites, both seductively charming opposite the virginal blonde beauty Lynda Day (later George), I can't imagine any other actors before or since taking this supernatural horror premise and making it so plausible. Excellent work by all -- so where is the DVD??? (an aside, did Louis Jourdan play Count Dracula before or after Fear No Evil? God, even RENFIELD was sexy in that one, in one memorable scene at least - although Frank Langella was also a honey - and the female star also played Claire in Zeffirelli's "Brother Sun Sister Moon". Must have been later, as he looked a lot older, and I had already left the States when it aired and didn't get to see it until the 80's)
An Antique Mirror Gives a Beautiful Young Lady a Devil of a Time
snicewanger17 February 2015
The story opens with a seemingly groggy and disoriented Paul Varney banging on the door of closed antique shop. Varney flashes a wad of cash at the shop owner and once inside, purchases a beautiful full length antique mirror and arranges to have it delivered to his apartment. Hosting an all night party at his apartment, psychiatrist David Sorell meets Varney and his fiancé Barbara Anholt through his friend Miles Donovan. During a discussion about evil spirits and demons, Varney brings up the demon Rakashi. When Sorell questions Varney about it he gets a a bit touchy and leaves with Barbara to race in a vintage car road rally. Looking in his rear view mirror during the course of rally, Varney seems overcome by a reflection in the mirror and wreaks the car killing himself and injuring Barbara.
A grief stricken and depressed Barbara moves in with Paul's affluent mother, but instead of recovering, Barbara seems to be drifting deeper into a suicidal state and is becoming obsessed with idea of joining Paul in the afterlife via the antique mirror where she believes Paul's spirit dwells.
To save Barbara's life, David Sorell must investigate the circumstances leading up to Pauls death, including the reasons for his purchase of the antique mirror, his knowledge of Rakashi,and his participation in a demon raising ceremony conducted by a convocation of demonologists immediately prior to his purchasing the mirror.During the course of his investigation, Sorell with the help of his friend and mentor Harry Snowden,and despite the attempted obstructions of Miles Donovan,learns there is much more to the Rakashi legend the he could have possibly imagined and that some people he thought he knew, are not what they seem to be. Every piece of evidence he follows leads him back to the mirror and it's hold on Barbara and in the end he finds himself in a fantastic and horrifying neither world struggling for Barbara's very soul.
Paul Wendkos knew how to direct television drama and he does a top notch job with Fear No Evil. The film boast a wonderful cast with Louis Jourdan,Carroll O'Connor,and Bradford Dillman and they give excellent performances. Beautiful Lynda Day George is sexy and vulnerable as Barbara. Wilfred Hyde-White, Marsha Hunt, and Katherine Woodville are top notch in key supporting roles. If William Goldenburgs eerie musical score doesn't give you goosebumps then nothing will. This is a very hard movie to locate, but it's truly a little treasure if you do.
A grief stricken and depressed Barbara moves in with Paul's affluent mother, but instead of recovering, Barbara seems to be drifting deeper into a suicidal state and is becoming obsessed with idea of joining Paul in the afterlife via the antique mirror where she believes Paul's spirit dwells.
To save Barbara's life, David Sorell must investigate the circumstances leading up to Pauls death, including the reasons for his purchase of the antique mirror, his knowledge of Rakashi,and his participation in a demon raising ceremony conducted by a convocation of demonologists immediately prior to his purchasing the mirror.During the course of his investigation, Sorell with the help of his friend and mentor Harry Snowden,and despite the attempted obstructions of Miles Donovan,learns there is much more to the Rakashi legend the he could have possibly imagined and that some people he thought he knew, are not what they seem to be. Every piece of evidence he follows leads him back to the mirror and it's hold on Barbara and in the end he finds himself in a fantastic and horrifying neither world struggling for Barbara's very soul.
Paul Wendkos knew how to direct television drama and he does a top notch job with Fear No Evil. The film boast a wonderful cast with Louis Jourdan,Carroll O'Connor,and Bradford Dillman and they give excellent performances. Beautiful Lynda Day George is sexy and vulnerable as Barbara. Wilfred Hyde-White, Marsha Hunt, and Katherine Woodville are top notch in key supporting roles. If William Goldenburgs eerie musical score doesn't give you goosebumps then nothing will. This is a very hard movie to locate, but it's truly a little treasure if you do.
a lasting impression...
lab4198627 September 2004
I remember seeing this as a kid and NEVER forgetting it. I found it haunting and also hauntingly beautiful in its way. I have tried to track down a copy but have never been able to find much at all about this movie. I remembered Lynda George and Bradford Dillman and through a bunch of searching finally located info. I am surprised it is so hard to locate unless I am only imagining how good it was. The film was poignant and I especially liked Lynda George's performance. If anyone knows how I can get a copy, please email me. It was one of my favorite movies long ago. I also liked the Borgia Stick and had these two confused in my mind. That movie is also nearly as obscure and hard
Pity they didnt make the series.
mouserd20 January 2020
Another childhood favourite, does it still hold up.
For a made for TV film, hell yes!
There is: no big budget sets no big budget special effects no blood or splatter
but it works as the cast & story just work so well: A cast of excelent actors. Atmosphere and cheap 70s TV chroma key.
I think this film worked because of its limits. Yes some of the film looks a bit cheep when the scene isnt at night or in shadow but hell it works.
I hope this comes on bluray someday.
For a made for TV film, hell yes!
There is: no big budget sets no big budget special effects no blood or splatter
but it works as the cast & story just work so well: A cast of excelent actors. Atmosphere and cheap 70s TV chroma key.
I think this film worked because of its limits. Yes some of the film looks a bit cheep when the scene isnt at night or in shadow but hell it works.
I hope this comes on bluray someday.
An Opinion.
rae15717 November 2012
One of the most brilliant made for television films ever aired, it is sad to say, appears to be now a "Lost" film as Universal Pictures, after I did research on this title, has no print or material on this title in their vaults.
I know this as a fact when I worked with film historian, Philip J. Riley, when working together on my book of the making of "Fear No Evil" (BearManor Media 2012).
There is a 16mm in the Library of Congress, and there are prints in the hands of private collectors, but, it appears, that all 35mm materials were possibly junked before the idea recycling titles for VHS/laserdisc and DVD were thought of.
Hopefully, someone, or someplace (France?), has the materials so a beautiful digital restoration can be made.
I know this as a fact when I worked with film historian, Philip J. Riley, when working together on my book of the making of "Fear No Evil" (BearManor Media 2012).
There is a 16mm in the Library of Congress, and there are prints in the hands of private collectors, but, it appears, that all 35mm materials were possibly junked before the idea recycling titles for VHS/laserdisc and DVD were thought of.
Hopefully, someone, or someplace (France?), has the materials so a beautiful digital restoration can be made.
First Made-For-Television horror film Restored and Released!
norseoak11 August 2021
FIRST OFF-it is nice seeing the poster I created for my book, "The Rakashi File: Fear No Evil" (BearManor media) being used here!
This outstanding television pilot was feared for many years to be a lost film. There was a fire, some years ago, in the Universal vaults, and it was thought all original materials were lost.
Some years ago, I wrote a piece on this gem for "Films In Review" (online), and felt there was so much more to be said.
I had planned writing a book on this film while working with the very impressive and talented Philip J. Riley on getting film novelization adaptions back in print from BearManor media.
The both of us contacted Universal on requesting all information in regard to the negative and IP on this title, as this movie was NEVER released on vhs, laserdisc or dvd/Bluray.
Universal responded to us both they had NO information on this film or the location of printing materials or if they existed. Filmmaker Gary Gerani ("Pumpkinhead", "Trading Paint") was working on a film documentary on composer William Goldenberg when he joined us on the book and in turn, to the delight of us all, located the "Fear No Evil" materials in the vault. After the book ("The Rakashi File: Fear No Evil"-BearManor media) was published, we decided to explore the possibility of getting this, and the sequel ("Ritual Of Evil") back in circulation. Gary had funded restoring "Ritual Of Evil"-the IP-out of pocket so we were set there.
I first contacted Robert Blair of VCI for getting the Rights but Universal wanted too high a price. Gary then contacted Frank Tarzi of Kino-Lorber who decided to release it. The dvd/Bluray was released in a restored 2k transfer with commentary by Gary himself. Actress Lynda Day George, who had in the meantime, became a friend of mine, praised the final product as beautiful.
I hope this gives a idea the road to how "Fear No Evil" & "Ritual Of Evil" found their way back to be enjoyed!
This outstanding television pilot was feared for many years to be a lost film. There was a fire, some years ago, in the Universal vaults, and it was thought all original materials were lost.
Some years ago, I wrote a piece on this gem for "Films In Review" (online), and felt there was so much more to be said.
I had planned writing a book on this film while working with the very impressive and talented Philip J. Riley on getting film novelization adaptions back in print from BearManor media.
The both of us contacted Universal on requesting all information in regard to the negative and IP on this title, as this movie was NEVER released on vhs, laserdisc or dvd/Bluray.
Universal responded to us both they had NO information on this film or the location of printing materials or if they existed. Filmmaker Gary Gerani ("Pumpkinhead", "Trading Paint") was working on a film documentary on composer William Goldenberg when he joined us on the book and in turn, to the delight of us all, located the "Fear No Evil" materials in the vault. After the book ("The Rakashi File: Fear No Evil"-BearManor media) was published, we decided to explore the possibility of getting this, and the sequel ("Ritual Of Evil") back in circulation. Gary had funded restoring "Ritual Of Evil"-the IP-out of pocket so we were set there.
I first contacted Robert Blair of VCI for getting the Rights but Universal wanted too high a price. Gary then contacted Frank Tarzi of Kino-Lorber who decided to release it. The dvd/Bluray was released in a restored 2k transfer with commentary by Gary himself. Actress Lynda Day George, who had in the meantime, became a friend of mine, praised the final product as beautiful.
I hope this gives a idea the road to how "Fear No Evil" & "Ritual Of Evil" found their way back to be enjoyed!
Spooky made-for-TV horror winner
Woodyanders4 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Psychiatrist and occult expert Dr. David Sorell (smoothly played with considerable suave charm by Louis Jordan) investigates the history of an old mirror that turns out to be possessed by a powerful demonic force. Said mirror has already claimed the life of Paul Varney (a brief, but fine performance by Bradford Dillman) and threatens to claim Varney's fiance Barbara Anholt (an excellent and appealing portrayal by the lovely Lynda Day George) next.
Director Paul Wendkos relates the absorbing and intelligent story at a steady pace, ably crafts a supremely eerie mood, and stages the exciting climax with flair. The ace acting from a tip-top cast rates as another substantial asset: Carroll O'Connor as the amiable Myles Donovan, Wilfrid Hyde-White as kindly mentor Harry Snowden, Marsha Hunt as Paul's concerned mother Mrs. Varney, and Katherine Woodville as the deceitful Ingrid Dorne. Andrew J. McIntyre's sharp cinematography makes neat use of an occasionally prowling camera and boasts some cool askew camera angles that convey a sense of dread and unease without ever becoming overly flashy. Bill Goldenberg's spirited shivery score hits the shivery spot. A superior terror telefilm.
Director Paul Wendkos relates the absorbing and intelligent story at a steady pace, ably crafts a supremely eerie mood, and stages the exciting climax with flair. The ace acting from a tip-top cast rates as another substantial asset: Carroll O'Connor as the amiable Myles Donovan, Wilfrid Hyde-White as kindly mentor Harry Snowden, Marsha Hunt as Paul's concerned mother Mrs. Varney, and Katherine Woodville as the deceitful Ingrid Dorne. Andrew J. McIntyre's sharp cinematography makes neat use of an occasionally prowling camera and boasts some cool askew camera angles that convey a sense of dread and unease without ever becoming overly flashy. Bill Goldenberg's spirited shivery score hits the shivery spot. A superior terror telefilm.
A Wonderful Erotic Horror Movie Made-For-TV
youtha-0711515 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I was 13 when I first watched this very special tv-movie. I'm a horror fan and I especially love my horror tinged with eroticism. This movie really hit me hard. It boasts a great cast, all top-notch actors, but Bradford Dillman as Paul Varney, possessed and dead, yet living in the mirror, is sexy as hell!!
I never forgot this movie and I bought a copy from a company that sells old tv-movies, but the print is not too good. I couldn't complain though, I had something. Now, January 2022, I've ordered the restored print and I can't wait to see how it looks.
There was a lot going on in 1969, the Vietnam War, Woodstock-(I wanted to go but I was 13 in California), me going through puberty and this tv-movie. For a young girl, this tv-movie had a lasting impression. This is such a well-made tv-movie and horror fans should love its eroticism and the subtly paced atmosphere in the beginning makes for quite a shattering ending.
I never forgot this movie and I bought a copy from a company that sells old tv-movies, but the print is not too good. I couldn't complain though, I had something. Now, January 2022, I've ordered the restored print and I can't wait to see how it looks.
There was a lot going on in 1969, the Vietnam War, Woodstock-(I wanted to go but I was 13 in California), me going through puberty and this tv-movie. For a young girl, this tv-movie had a lasting impression. This is such a well-made tv-movie and horror fans should love its eroticism and the subtly paced atmosphere in the beginning makes for quite a shattering ending.
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