Trilogy of Terror

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Dan Curtis directs. Paul Lohmann behind the camera. Bob Cobert scores. Les Green cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Tight 72-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
• 251 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
• 3Part of the "Trilogy of Terror Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
• 4Directed by Dan Curtis, shot by Paul Lohmann. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 5Original score by Bob Cobert. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 6Editor Les Green shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 7Karen Black and Robert Burton and John Karlen carry the top of the cast.
• 8Marketing tagline: "An electrifying experience - you won't believe your eyes!".
• 9IMDB entry: tt0073820 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Paul Lohmann

Original score

Bob Cobert

Editing

Les Green

Makeup / hair

Kathryn Blondell

Runtime

72 min · 1h 12m

Status

Released

Original language

EN

IMDB

Trilogy of Terror (1975) ↗

Rotten Tomatoes

86% 🍅 Fresh

IMDB rating

6.5/10 · 9,309 votes

MPAA

Unrated

Part of

Trilogy of Terror Collection

This collection of horror and thriller films explores how supernatural events and evil arise from seemingly harmless objects and occurrences. The first trilogy involves a college professor stalked by an enthusiastic student, a woman convinced her sister is evil, and a curio store owner releasing the evil in a Zuni fetish doll. The second trilogy features horror through grave robbery, a mother's supernatural reunion with her son, and a murderous doll. These films highlight the horrific consequences of ordinary events and objects, showcasing themes of obsession, sibling rivalry, and grief. The stories by Tanith Lee and David Liss delve into the macabre, blending the real and uncanny, and creating an anthology that explores horror across diverse genres and styles.

• 
  Trilogy of Terror

  1975 · this one
• 
  Trilogy of Terror II

  1996

Also by

Dan Curtis

• 
  Express to Terror

  1979 · ★ 9.0
• 
  Hallmark Hall of Fame

  1951 · ★ 8.8
• 
  St. John in Exile

  1986 · ★ 8.0
• 
  When Every Day Was the Fourth of July

  1978 · ★ 8.0
• 
  War and Remembrance

  1988 · ★ 7.9
• 
  Dark Shadows

  1991 · ★ 7.9

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Trilogy Of Terror (1975) Trailer

  Trailer
• 

  ▶
  Trilogy Of Terror 1 (1975) - clip

  Clip

Community reviews

What people are saying

• John Chard2018-10-02
  ★ 8/10

  Zuni Zest! Trilogy of Terror is directed by Dan Curtis and written by Richard Matheson and William Nolan. A 1975 American TV movie, pic has Karen Black in three stories playing different women who each venture to the world of horror. TV Horror Movies from the 1970s have long since proven to give fond memories to many of us who viewed them through youthful eyes back in that decade. Of course when revisiting them now with mature frame of mind etc, they mostly prove to be a little cornball, cheap, and just not very good in the grand scheme of things. Mostly that is, for there are a few exceptions that still has one just a little bit edgy as we remember how we felt when first catching a sneaky chiller. For sure we don't find ourselves hiding behind the pillows this time, but we still feel a wave of nostalgic terror coursing through our veins. Trilogy of Terror is one such film that holds up for most of a certain age. No getting away from it, it's all down to the "famous" third segment in the trilogy, which finds Black menaced by a cursed Zuni fetish doll. Anyone with a fear of inanimate toys/ dolls etc coming to life was terrified by what Dan Curtis and his team managed to achieve on the screen - and yes even today the fear factor can still gnaw away at the senses. The other two stories were not about terror, choosing to side with a more Twilight Zone approach, which is no surprise with the great Richard Matheson on pen duties, but these are actually better appreciated by a more mature audience as they show some depth to the story telling. With the much missed Black on terrific form closing out the deal, Trilogy of Terror deserves the love and respect it garners even today. 8/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• DA

  Dan Curtis Productions

  US

• 

  ABC Circle Films

  US

Key crew

• Unit Production ManagerRobert J. Koster
• Post Production SupervisorDavid McCann
• Special EffectsRichard Albain
• Assistant CameraMichael Simpson
• Costume SupervisorJohn S. Perry
• CostumerBarbara Seibert Bolticoff
• Sound MixerJames Pilcher
• First Assistant DirectorArt Levinson
• Production AssistantCraig Morse
• Construction CoordinatorLowell Thomas
• Key GripBob Rose
• HairstylistKathryn Blondell
• OtherErik von Buelow
• Production AssistantLois Kerst
• Associate ProducerRobert Singer
• TeleplayWilliam F. Nolan
• Art DirectionJan Scott
• EditorLes Green
• Makeup ArtistMichael Westmore
• ProducerDan Curtis
• Set DecorationLeonard A. Mazzola
• CastingGail Melnick

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• seduction
• sister
• anthology
• evil doll
• horror anthology

Release history · US

When it landed

• Physical1999-08-24· DVD
• Physical2000-07-11· VHS
• Physical2018-10-16· Blu-ray / DVD
• TV1975-03-04

Also known as

International titles

• Trilogie de la terreurFR