Thanks for the memories!

Simply A Masterpiece

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Never judge a book by its cover, and the same applies to TV programmes as well. Because what we've got here is not so much thriller fare in the traditional sense - this only applies to the early and mostly poor episodes of this 60s anthology series. From then on pure Gothic horror reigns, it's all about magic, mystery and supernatural happenings at their very best, typical thriller stuff just makes up the seasoning for the remainder of the show. And as a real treat it's all hosted by the great Boris "Frankenstein" Karloff himself, horror icon of the first hour - back then in the 30s, the golden age of horror, when Universal invented the monster movie. Karloff is also the reason why executives eventually went for the U-turn and gave the audience what they really wanted: sinister suspenseful drama in haunted castles, dubious figures crossing foggy moors, cemeteries that become alive, strange encounters in spooky old houses, skeletons in the closet all inclusive. Monsters, wizards, witches, ghosts, murderers, demons, even the devil and the grim reaper have gathered to send some shivers down your spine... The whole package comes in crisp black and white cinematography, complete with eerie shadows, thunder and lightning, and it's all about mood and atmosphere.With all these tasty ingredients for an exquisite horror show at hand the likable grandfatherly Karloff himself isn't satisfied with just presenting, but joins the cast on several occasions. With him on the show starring in several episodes is one of the greatest unsung villains in film history, Henry Daniell, among other things in an unforgettable pairing with Ted "(Addams Family's) Lurch" Cassidy, also William Shatner shines twice, as does John Carradine, and there's always the character actor in perfection Edward Andrews to name just a few prime examples of audience favorites. In short: "Thriller" became a show inspired by the fans of classic horror, with everything that represents it, as is also made clear by listing some writing credits: Robert Bloch ("Psycho") contributes no less than ten episodes, there's Cornell Woolrich ("Rear Window") in the mix, Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont (both writers along with Serling on the "Twilight Zone"). Furthermore included are adaptations of classic Poe tales or e.g. another version of James M. Cain's classic "Double Indemnity". Head musician of the show and thus crucial for sustaining atmosphere is no other than the legendary Jerry Goldsmith in absolute top form. Sounds thrilling? It is! Guess in a way the title is not that misleading after all...

I recall an episode about a mirror in an upper room of possibly a museum or antique store. People who went into that room never returned. A man and his wife went into the room to check out the mirror. The man noticed a spot in the upper left corner. The longer he watched the spot, the larger it grew. His wife wanted to leave the room, but the man just had to have another look. As he looked, the spot grew larger and took the form of the grim reaper. By the time he realized what he was seeing, it was too late. It took him and he was gone.I don't know if this was an episode of Thriller- does anybody remember it? Email me at chajb@comcast.net

To this day, Karloff's brilliant 60's THRILLER ranks the highest. It also still scares all hell out of me. Do you need a more glowing recommendation than that?Many of the excellent stories were taken from the 'Weird Tales' pulp magazines, and it was that rare case that the writer's adaptations actually surpassed the original bizarre plots. Usually, it's the opposite aggrevations. The notable authors consisted of Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson, Augest Derelith, Cornell ('Rear Window') Woolrich, John D. MacDonald ('Cape Fear'), Philip McDonald and Poe; etc. Also, Donald S. Sanford (the 'Outer Limit's' "The Guests" episode) wrote many outstanding scripts for the show. One was 'Ordeal of Dr. Cordell' as a pre-UNCLE Robert Vaughn appears as a scientist who gets exposed to a deadly nerve gas. He survives, but whenever he hears the sound of a bell, he goes beserk and commits brutal murders. The frightening ending in the bell tower is excruciating. Their only foray into Science-Fiction, complete with a dark and forboding 'Outer Limits' mood.Other memorable episodes were:1) THE CHEATERS - a Bloch tale about a pair of accursed eye glasses, and the devastating effects they have on those who put them on. A true paranoia excursion into hell.2) THE GRIM REAPER - another Bloch story about a grusome painting that carries a deadly curse. Stars a 'pre-Kirk' William Shatner. A thoroughly chilling score from Jerry "Alien" Goldsmith.3) WAXWORKS - Bloch again. A creepy wax museum of infamous murders may be responsible for a few grisly murders. Superb script is a clever blending of the film noir mystery crossed with the supernatural horror genres. A great performance from Oscar "Mr. Sardonicus" Homolka & a "pre-Tarzan" Ron Ely. 4) PIGEONS FROM HELL - scary Robert E. Howard story about two teenage brothers who end up having to spend the night in an old, deserted southern mansion. They soon learn the meaning of 'regret'. I'll stop here, and encourage you to check out this haunting memorable show.

"Thriller" was a fantastic black & white TV series hosted by Boris Karloff that did adaptions of classic weird tales such as Robert Bloch's "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper" & Robert E. Howard's "Pigeons From Hell"- In that story, the inhabitants of a southern plantation (that utilized slaves from the west indies), all disappear. Many years later--in a hair-raising moment that has to stand as one of literature's & television's greatest scares--it's revealed that one of the daughters was turned into a "zuvumbie" by one of the West Indian slaves. She slaughters whoever comes to the deserted old plantation by burying a hatchet in their brain!