Reviews

Trillogy of Terror - New to DVD

Director: Dan Curtis
Screenplay: Richard Matheson and William F. Nolan based on stories by
Richard MathesonStaring: Karen Black

Trilogy of Terror is a made-for-television anthology consisting of three
stories created to send chills down your spine. Or if you agree with Karen
Black, maybe it was created to send chills to another part of one's body.

In the first story, "Julie", Karen Black plays a prudish professor who
becomes victim to the desires of a student. Story two, "Millicent and
Therese", has Ms. Black dueling with herself as twin sisters. One twin is a
spinster and the other a blonde vixen both of whom use black magic to try
and gain control over the other. The final and most memorable story,
"Amelia", has Black pitied against a Zuni hunting fetish brought to life by
the accidental removal of it's protective gold chain.

Trilogy of Terror is part of a slew of made for t.v. horrors that stands
well above its peers. This can only be credited to the individuals who
brought it to life on the small screen. Starting with the source material
written by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man, The
Twilight Zone). The adaptations of the first two stories by William F. Nolan
(Logan's Run, Burnt Offerings) are masterfully handled especially when you
consider that the second story's source material was only a page and a half
long. Matheson wrote the teleplay for the third story himself, and does a
wonderful job capturing the terror from his short story "Prey". Karen Black
turns in very memorable performances for all four of her characters. Dan
Curtis should be heralded not only for his work on Trilogy, but for any of
the numerous films he produced and or directed over his lifetime.

This is the second time Trilogy of Terror has been released on DVD and a
much needed improvement over Anchor Bay's long out of print disc. This
version from Dark Sky Films contains a superior print of the film with
colors that are clear and natural. Only minor grain appears in a few brief
moments and there are no real blemishes to be found. The sound is crystal
clear with no fading.

There are two featurettes included on the disc. The first, Three Colors of
Black, is an interview with Karen Black and briefly covers her career from
stage to screen and of course focuses on her work in Trilogy of Terror.
Unfortunately she somewhat dismisses the idea of her roles in various horror
films by referring to them as science-fiction. I think someone may want to
send her a dictionary. The second featurette, Richard Matheson: Terror
Scribe, contains an interview with Matheson, who seems very pleased with the
final results of Trilogy.

Also included is an audio commentary with Black and William F. Nolan. The
two take turns discussing their work on the movie. Nolan comments on his
role of adapting the stories and does his best to prompt memories of the
production from Black. Black spends time talkling about her approach to each
role and points out various little nuances she brought to each. Nolan only
participates on the first two stories of the film and excuses himself before
the start of the third. At times the commentary seems to be a bit on the
uncomfortable side due to Blacks responses or lack thereof to Nolan's
questions.

This release of Trilogy of Terror is recomended upgrade over the prior DVD
release and well worth the double dip.
9/10
-J

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