By Melissa Garza
Publisher Sanford T. Evans (Don Porter) finds tapes left behind by missing investigative journalist David Norliss (Roy Thinnes). On the recordings, Norliss describes how he researched claims of paranormal activity and typically found that those who hired him were frauds. That was until he met widow Ellen Sterns Cort (Angie Dickinson). Her husband, Charles (Hurd Hatfield) was an artist who had recently died. Prior to his death, he had entertained the idea of voodoo and the occult. He began building a demonic statue named Sargoth (Bob Schott), but died prior to finishing it. Still, Sargoth’s continues to be constructed without rational explanation.
Soon, David discovers that the statue is made of human blood and that the intention is for the demon to come to life. Charles has returned from the dead and is now a vampire that continues to finish his work. When Charles is revealed, he is by far one of the most frightening vampires ever to be put on screen. His skin is a very pale and deathly gray. His eyes are downright creepy. The eyeball is light blue with just a dot of black in the middle. The whites of the eyes are bright yellow with rays of blood red. It goes without saying that there is no CGI here. It’s all make-up and wonderfully done.
Even his way of dress is interesting as it is most definitely what he would’ve been buried in. He’s in a typical black suit with a matching tie and a white buttoned down shirt. Though he isn’t particularly large, he’s strong and menacing.
David and Ellen attempt to get help from Sheriff Hartley (Claude Akins) who refuses to believe anything that is said. He demands they keep their theories quiet.
The entire cast is fantastic. Akins is one of my favorite actors. Whether starring as the logical voice in one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes, The Monsters are Due on Maple St (1960) or as a hardnosed, uncompromising reverend in the classic Inherit the Wind (1960), Akins always delivered amazing performances that are timeless and captivating.
Roy Thinnes is also a magnificent actor who easily steals every scene he’s in. I recall seeing him in the TV movie Satan’s School for Girls (1973) and thought he was fantastic in that as well. I was first introduced to his acting ability, when he portrayed Sloan Carpenter on the soap opera One Life to Live (1992). I was a teenager then, but I still remember certain emotionally driven performances he gave. It is certainly a testimony to Thinnes talent, for a single scene to stick with a viewer, 21 years after first watching it.
To have these two excellent actors work together was most certainly a treat. In fact, the entire film was a treat. The only flaw with the production is the lack of a definitive ending. One can’t blame the movie for this however as it was a made-for-TV production that was intended to be a pilot for a series.
I had heard about The Norliss Tapes for quite some time, but as vampire movies have often disappointed me, I didn’t seek it out right away. Don’t get me wrong, there are exceptions. Dracula (1931), Nosferatu (1922) and Fright Night (1985) are just a few of the vampire movies that are among my favorite all time movies.
Still, for every great production like Grave of the Vampire (1972), there are a hundred Vampire Hookers (1978) and for every unique and sensual masterpiece like Hunger (1983) there are a thousand El vampire de la autopista (aka The Horrible Sexy Vampire) (1970). One can only watch so many vamp films that have horrible acting, no plot, and terrible sex scenes before they start cringing at the mere mention of the subgenre.
Not to mention, the horror community has been burdened with an even more romanticized image of vampirism thanks of course to the Twilight series. There has always been something frighteningly erotic about vampires, but they are not supposed to be romantic heroes. The fear factor still needs to exist. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) walked this line and one may debate even crossed it in some scenes, but Francis Ford Coppola still understood the fact that vampires are monsters and require a menacing side. Twilight created an entirely different and lame version of vampires. I fully understand that teenagers and my mother clamor for each installment, but I just do not see the attraction.
Also, the most recent mainstream vampire horror entries have been letdowns. I remember looking forward to 30 Days of Night (2007) when I first saw the trailer, but then sadly I watched the whole movie. Calling it mediocre is a compliment. Daybreakers (2009) though superbly cast, failed in all other areas. Even the Blade series became unwatchable after the first film.
Still, when the powers-that-be get it right, they really get it right! The best vampire films treat the beings either like a type of zombie (i.e. Messiah of Evil (1973) or like a vicious cult (i.e. Near Dark (1987) and The Lost Boys (1987)). One can argue that the vampires in Twilight (2008) were in a cult. True, but the execution failed as there were no intimidating elements and it played out more like a high school clique than a cult.
I really miss the days when vampire movies were done right. There are a lot of classics and great movies that utilize vampires. Even brilliant anthologies like The Monster Club (1981) and The Vault of Horror (1973) were able to utilize tales about vampire cults in a unique and creepy manner.
For those who can locate The Norliss Tapes, I definitely suggest watching it as it is most certainly one of the great vampire flicks.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7/10
