TV Movies
TV movies are often overlooked, but they deserve a place among the all-time genre classics. In many ways, they mirror the charm of B movies – low-budget productions that rely more on creativity than spectacle. This list celebrates the best of genre TV movies, especially from their golden era in the 1970s. That decade marked a turning point, when television became a refuge for aging Hollywood stars and a launchpad for rising talents – none more notable than Steven Spielberg, who made his feature-length directorial debut with the 1971 TV thriller Duel.
TV movies didn’t shy away from controversy. They tackled taboo topics head-on – teenage pregnancy, sexual assault, alcoholism – some earning the nickname “disease of the week”. But it was horror that truly thrived in this format, especially thanks to the ABC Movie of the Week, terrifying generations of viewers. So, here’s to the humble TV movie – and to the writers, producers, directors, and stars who poured their hearts into content that was never meant to last yet continues to haunt and inspire.
Links take you to the IMDd. Circled titles: A Point Blank Films fav!
And the Bones Came Together (1973) 7/10
An elderly Jewish caretaker threatened with eviction exacts a terrifying vengeance in the best Classic Ghosts/Wide World of Mystery entry – despite its modest budget it delivers the supernatural goods.
Ants! (1977) 3/10
The lesser ant movie of 1977 because the ants are normal sized; Myrna Loy is confined to a wheelchair, there’s some soapy melodrama, and the finale is absurd – but it’s a TV movie so it’s still watchable. aka Ants; It Happened at Lakewood Manor See also Nature Runs Amok
Are You in the House Alone?! (1978) 5/10
Babysitter in peril thriller with a young Dennis Quaid as an obsessive psycho; quite routine with a weak second half.
Bad Ronald (1974) 7/10
Ronald is an odd teenager hiding from the police in the walls of his house in this strange, amusing but also effective and affecting TV thriller.
A Cold Night’s Death (1973) 8/10
Robert Culp and Eli Wallach are perfect foils in this tense TV movie with a chilly Arctic setting and a satisfying share of surprises.
Crawlspace (1972) 6/10
A childless elderly couple adopt a troubled youth they find living in their crawlspace in this TV thriller that builds toward an inevitable climax but provides enough of interest along the way.
Sinister tale of witchcraft with hints of Rosemary’s Baby – not very original, but well-made and effectively creepy.
Cry Panic (1974) 7/10
John Forsythe accidentally hits a pedestrian outside a small town, beginning an intriguing mystery that packs a punch before a rather abrupt ending.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981) 10/10
One of the greatest TV terror movies, this has a lot of heart, a genuine mystery, and wonderful direction by horror author Frank De Felitta; an absolute must-see.
Kurt Russell stars in chilling recounting of the Charles Whitman story; sober storytelling and all the better for it, it set the scene for Russell’s later career in more serious-minded fare.
Perry King stars as a writer boarding in a spooky house in another ABC Classic Ghosts entry that is well acted and mildly interesting, but also silly and featuring a rather vague ending.
Deliver Us from Evil (1973) 8/10
George Kennedy leads a solid cast in effective outdoors thriller clearly inspired by Deliverance with plot much like A Simple Plan – great characters grappling with moral dilemmas, all in 75 minutes.
The Devil’s Daughter (1973) 6/10
Old pros Shelley Winters and Joseph Cotton have a devilishly good time in this thriller borrowing freely from Rosemary’s Baby – “Hail Diane, Princess of Darkness!”
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) 8/10
Trauma-inducing for children everywhere, this modest but nifty TV movie about demonic creatures in the basement provides a thoroughly enjoyable thrill ride.
Duel (1971) 9/10
Steven Spielberg’s first really great movie was made on a modest budget for TV, and is a suspenseful tale of a man, two trucks, and terror on the highway – technically brilliant, cinematic, and thrilling.
Cloris Leachman stars in this very good and suspenseful TV movie set at an Arizona desert diner.
The Eyes of Charles Sand (1972) 6/10
Uneven TV movie about ESP with borrowed Henry Mancini score; has its moments, but it’s not surprising a series didn’t eventuate.
Fear No Evil (1969) 8/10
Absorbing and eerie made-for-TV horror about a devilish mirror, aided by an excellent cast and some surprising eroticism.
The Ghost of Sierra de Cobre (1964) 7/10
Martin Landau stars as a skeptical paranormal investigator in this flawed TV movie high on atmosphere with a satisfyingly spooky ghoul.
Ghostwatch (1992) 8/10
Terrifying “live” broadcast featuring Michael Parkinson, which plays like a real British talk show about a reported poltergeist – it was enough to fool an entire nation and still provides chills.
The Haunted (1991) 7/10
Based on the Smurl haunting, an Ed and Lorraine Warren case, this is an effectively spooky TV movie with well-drawn characters and a somewhat abrupt ending.
The Haunting of Rosalind (1973) 6/10
ABC Classic Ghosts/Wide World of Mystery entry with a Dark Shadows vibe and early Susan Sarandon performance – based on a Henry James story, it’s spooky but not engaging enough.
Home for the Holidays (1972) 7/10
Four sisters come home for the holidays while someone in a yellow raincoat dispatches them one by one; a good yuletide horror but a little soapy. See also Slashers
The Horror at 37,000 Feet (1973) 5/10
Daft horror in the skies with William Shatner as a fallen priest delivering unintentional laughs.
The House and the Brain (1973) 6/10
Despite the shoddy video tape aesthetic, this eerie tale of a deadly love triangle is well acted and worth a watch.
The House That Would Not Die (1970) 6/10
Uneven ghost story, but Barbara Stanwyck shines and there are a few chilling moments.
How Awful About Allan (1970) 6/10
Anthony Perkins is wonderful as always – but not the most sympathetic character in this modest, taut and tense psychological thriller, with one or two Psycho throwbacks.
The Initiation of Sarah (1978) 7/10
Carrie clone – and a very entertaining one – about feuding sororities, with cast going way over-the-top, especially Shelley Winters.
The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975) 9/10
Elizabeth Montgomery delivers a riveting performance in this cold, chilling case study – the most compelling retelling of the Lizzie Borden story to date.
Night Drive (1977) 6/10
Valerie Harper has a tough time with a psycho on the road from Phoenix to Denver and this is a straightforward thriller about a woman having a really bad day. aka Night Terror
Darren McGavin leads a wonderful cast and is backed up by a suspenseful Richard Matheson script and great location work in Las Vegas, leading to an equally wonderful sequel and TV series.
The Night Strangler (1973) 8/10
Darren McGavin is back as Kolchak, this time in Seattle on the trail of another vampire in excellent sequel on par with the original.
Nightmare on the 13th Floor (1990) 5/10
Entertaining if obscure mystery – not great but will keep you watching to the end.
Dan Curtis-directed horror with silly plot but great atmosphere and many fine moments; it would have made a solid series but wasn’t meant to be.
Tommy Lee Jones is a Vietnam vet who takes over Central Park in this interesting, different, underrated TV movie with Tangerine Dream score. See also Namsploitation
The Possessed (1977) 6/10
TV movie attempt to rip off The Exorcist, mostly pedestrian and talky but notable for a pre-Star Wars Harrison Ford appearance, and lively nail spitting climax.
Louis Jordan is back as a psychiatrist on the trail of a cult of devil worshippers in sequel to Fear No Evil – certainly inferior, with silly ending.
Spooky ABC Movie of the Week starring Kim Novak that starts with a genuine mystery before slipping into formulaic territory.
African killer bees attack the New Orleans Mardi Gras in this beesploitation movie – talky but enjoyable enough once it gets going.
Savages (1974) 7/10
Andy Griffith plays a solid villain hunting down Sam Bottoms in the desert in this gripping version of The Most Dangerous Game.
Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973) 6/10
Bette Davis stars in TV movie about insanity in the family and secrets in the apartment above the garage; it borrows freely from Psycho and Homicidal, creating a passable thriller. See also Ladies of Grand Guignol
The Screaming Skull (1973) 4/10
Part of an ABC series (The Classic Ghosts), this stars David McCallum as a weird doctor, is shot on video tape soap opera-style, provides no thrills whatsoever, yet somehow manages to be watchable schlock. aka Screaming Skull
The Screaming Woman (1972) 7/10
Olivia de Havilland is reunited with Joseph Cotten but shines in the lead of this gripping adaptation of a Ray Bradbury story about a woman buried alive.
Someone’s Watching Me! (1978) 7/10
Made immediately prior to Halloween, this John Carpenter TV movie is very well-made, with Hitchcockian flourishes – not too original, but fun while it’s on.
Spielberg failed to follow up Duel with another classic TV movie about a demon in the farmhouse, but his skill and style keeps this one afloat.
Spectre (1977) 6/10
Robert Culp leads an excellent cast in this Gene Roddenberry production about occult investigators in modern day England – an entertaining mess.
The Spell (1977) 5/10
‘Fat’ Carrie rip-off - dated and hilarious with a few well executed sequences.
Excellent mix of sci-fi and the supernatural by Nigel Kneale – a shouty but riveting experience.
The Stranger Within (1974) 6/10
Rip-off of Rosemary’s Baby with Barbara Eden going full tilt and Richard Matheson’s script going in a sci-fi direction.
Linda Blair’s cousin is a witch in this Wes Craven-directed TV movie – straightforward fun, with histrionic performances and big hair. aka Stranger in Our House
A remake of the Hammer thriller starring Barbara Stanwyck, this version closely mirrors the original yet remains another forgotten TV gem.
Terror Out of the Sky (1978) 4/10
Sequel to The Savage Bees without that film’s buzz – but it’s still better than The Swarm.
Trapped (1973) 6/10
James Brolin is locked in a department store fighting off guard dogs in this compact thriller; Susan Clark mysteriously hides her face for half the runtime, revealing some of the film’s shoddiness. aka Doberman Patrol
Karen Black goes to town in this well-helmed horror; unsurprisingly, one segment rises above the others, with the Zuni fetish doll creating nightmares for an entire generation.
Winter Kill (1974) 7/10
Andy Griffith is a sheriff on the trail of a sniper at a winter resort; excellent cast helps make up for slowish pace.
The Woman in Black (1989) 10/10
Essential made for TV horror, like an 80s The Innocents or The Haunting – legitimately disturbing and downbeat, filled with tension and terror, and just dripping in atmosphere.