Post by Todd Tjersland on Dec 14, 2006 9:03:35 GMT -8
The Norliss Tapes is a failed pilot for a TV series by Dan Curtis (Dark Shadows). Written by William F. Nolan (Logan's Run) from a story by Fred Mustard Stewart (author of The Mephisto Waltz).
Basically, it is a clone of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, only author David Norliss (Roy Thinnes) has disappeared while investigating the supernatural. He left behind a series of tapes that tell of his strange adventures and it's up to his friend and lawyer to put together the pieces...
***SPOILERS FOLLOW!***
In the pilot, a sculptor rises from the grave as a super-strong, super-fast zombie! He is draining the blood out of people and using it to sculpt a statue of his demon-god, Sargoth. When it is complete, the zombie will be granted true immortality and Sargoth will possess the statue and enter our physical world. It's up to David Norliss to solve the eerie mystery and stop the zombie and his demonic master.
The zombie makeup is minimalistic but frightening nonetheless--very similar to that used in Bob Clark's Deathdream. What really sets the makeup off are the horrifying blood-red contact lenses!
Roy Thinnes is the one weak link in this film. The script, direction, music, special effects makeup, and supporting cast were all excellent, but Thinnes just doesn't have any of the charming character flaws or humor that make Darren McGavin perfect as Carl Kolchak in the Night Stalker series. Still, this is well worth a look for all '70s horror fans. Angie Dickinson (Police Woman) co-stars as the zombie's wife, who begs Norliss to investigate her husband's reappearance as one of the undead.
The DVD had no special features but was beautiful, crisp, clean transfer. The run time is rather short (72 minutes) and the non-ending sets it up for the series to continue, with the lawyer getting ready to listen to the next of the Norliss Tapes...
This gets a solid three and a half stars (out of five) from me. Check it out!
Basically, it is a clone of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, only author David Norliss (Roy Thinnes) has disappeared while investigating the supernatural. He left behind a series of tapes that tell of his strange adventures and it's up to his friend and lawyer to put together the pieces...
***SPOILERS FOLLOW!***
In the pilot, a sculptor rises from the grave as a super-strong, super-fast zombie! He is draining the blood out of people and using it to sculpt a statue of his demon-god, Sargoth. When it is complete, the zombie will be granted true immortality and Sargoth will possess the statue and enter our physical world. It's up to David Norliss to solve the eerie mystery and stop the zombie and his demonic master.
The zombie makeup is minimalistic but frightening nonetheless--very similar to that used in Bob Clark's Deathdream. What really sets the makeup off are the horrifying blood-red contact lenses!
Roy Thinnes is the one weak link in this film. The script, direction, music, special effects makeup, and supporting cast were all excellent, but Thinnes just doesn't have any of the charming character flaws or humor that make Darren McGavin perfect as Carl Kolchak in the Night Stalker series. Still, this is well worth a look for all '70s horror fans. Angie Dickinson (Police Woman) co-stars as the zombie's wife, who begs Norliss to investigate her husband's reappearance as one of the undead.
The DVD had no special features but was beautiful, crisp, clean transfer. The run time is rather short (72 minutes) and the non-ending sets it up for the series to continue, with the lawyer getting ready to listen to the next of the Norliss Tapes...
This gets a solid three and a half stars (out of five) from me. Check it out!