• Limited Release
• Director: John Llewellyn Moxey
• Written by: Lane Slate, Sandor Stern
• Running Time: 78 minutes
• Language: English
• MPAA Rating: UNRATED
• Cast: Robert Stack, Vera Miles, L.Q. Jones, Margaret Willock, Ted Gehring, Phil Chambers, Herb Edelman, Aldine King, Dena Dietrich, James McCallion, John Gruber, Gene Massey Jr., E.A. Sirianni, Bill McKinney

With its canned, morose, ‘spooky chanting-children' score, interesting cinematography and superb acting, “The Strange and Deadly Occurrence” measures up nicely alongside the best of the 70’s era ABC tele-movies; films of which still manage to shock even in this cynical we’ve-seen-it-all day and age. For those who remember, I waxed long in my assessment of “Satan’s Triangle”, about how vastly superior the films being churned out by the American Broadcasting Corporation in the 1970’s were (and are) creatively to the cookie-cutter drivel being churned out like license plates today. Most recently I was able to screen “Haunts of the Very Rich” and “The Strange and Deadly Occurrence” on a double bill, and goddamn if they didn’t get under my skin.

While “Haunts of the Very Rich”, a film about a group of wealthy vacationers on a luxurious and remote island who slowly discover the obverse of their paradise getaway; an awakening to the realization that they’ve died and gone to Hell - affected me in a much more profound and visceral way, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up as the sinister implications of the story unfolded (and kept unfolding) up until the very last frame. On the other hand, “The Strange and Deadly Occurrence” is a more straightforward mystery-horror affair, a 'haunted house' movie that never fully gives into its sub-genre mechanics. Is it demonic forces at work or a group of mischievous locals playing havoc with a group of unassuming big city folks living in the newly purchased farmhouse? Unlike other films that work in this subgenre, namely “Cold Creek Manor”  (a film clearly inspired by “Occurrence”) this one never lets the audience in on the reality of the situation until it absolutely has to - even when its trying hard to point you in a certain direction. This, in the end, could be its biggest drawback, as many have noted in varying reviews of the film on the imdb.com. Frankly, the conclusion is a let down, however, any film that spends as much time as this one does coloring in its middle part with otherworldly specifics, aiming a spotlight at the paranormal influences that could be lurking in the shadows behind half open doorways and in closets, it’s almost a guarantee that whatever conclusion that is drawn up, unless tied to said specifics, is bound to be a disappointment. Thankfully, the film as a whole, still stands up as a spooky good time and one of the better haunted house flicks you’ll likely see this year... or any other.

Robert Stack plays Michael Rhodes, a gruff tax attorney who is looking to remove himself from the 24-7 hustle and bustle of the big city. In a haste to make his getaway fantasy a reality, he purchases a plot of land out in the country, complete with an aging but humble farmhouse and some horses. His wife Christine (Vera Miles) and teenage daughter “Mel” Melissa (Margaret Willock) are only too happy to accompany Michael, that is until they are confronted by the reality of their new surroundings – namely that they might have ghosts. Early on Melissa relates a story going back to 1884, of a man driven insane and homicidal after watching his wife die of Typhoid Fever. Apparently, sometimes in the wee hours of the night, he can still be heard calling to his wife. To make matters worse, the previous owner of the house, a reverend, drowned in the family pool. Ah yes, Melissa is pouring the cement, laying the ground work for the fright fest to come. After watching a gopher scamper (at 2X speed, I might add) across the barn, she exits and is immediately overcome with fear --- turning around she thinks she spots someone (or something) in the barn where she was just standing. She is rapt with dread and quickly makes her way inside for the evening. A couple of days later, she is awoken in the middle of the night to what appears to be a backlit headless mannequin walking across the floor towards her. She is so petrified, she can barely scream. These are the makings of a great haunted house movie, and the hits just keep on coming. Another sequence involves Michael and Christine asleep in their bed. The door handle in the room suddenly shifts, and the door pops open and instead of a face peering inside, we are given a P.O.V. shot of whatever it is, observing the couple as they rest. Yes, this is gold!

Drifting in and out of the film early on is Ted Gehring (1979’s “The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again”), playing David Gillgreen, a retired doctor from a San Quentin mental hospital, whose odd, greasy looks and persistence at wanting to purchase their home, severely works to creep out Melissa and fam. In keeping, Michael quickly senses that Gillgreen, in a bid to drive them out, might be behind the recent string of odd occurrences at the farm, namely the mannequin, the peculiar strange noises, their dog being kicked to death in the barn and Christine being locked in a steam room, but under questioning by the police, Gillgreen insists that he’s just looking for a place to settle. “I’m not looking for a bargain, I’m looking to buy,” Gillgreen insists. His arrival at the Rhodes home later that evening, gun in hand, suggests otherwise. The local sheriff (L.Q. Jones) isn’t much help either, as he insists that dreams and pesky gophers are to blame for the strange noises and other curious things happening around the farm. Eventually things come to a head one night as strange, blood-curdling screams and a pounding noise coming from somewhere inside the home, force the Rhodes family to huddle together in a bedroom waiting in terror for the dawn to break. This works as one of the more affecting moments in the film and if it doesn’t send a shiver down your spine, then, well, you probably don’t have one.

It’s not until they awake the next morning to find a dead body floating in their pool, that the various puzzle pieces begin to fall into place. As they elect to unravel the mystery of the house, you’ll be hard-pressed to understand why they even bothered. Personally, I, and just about everyone else I know, would have packed up their shit and left.

As Michael Rhodes, Robert Stack (1988’s “Caddyshack II”) is solid as ever playing a loving husband and businessman who is unexpectedly pulled out of his element and forced to deal with the unknown. His imprudent reaction is understandable, at first it involves reckless denial, but eventually it evolves into practicality; first seeking advice and support from the local authorities, and later, when all else fails, within himself. In his attempt to shield his family from mysterious, seemingly ominous forces, he tips, gun in hand, into those darkened, spooky interiors – confronting his own fears in his bid to protect those he loves. I love Robert Stack. I miss Robert Stack. Vera Miles (1982’s “Mazes and Monsters”), as Christine Rhodes, began acting in the early 1950s and here she seems to be having a great time, while looking as beautiful as ever. Her character Christine seems to work as the voice of reason, off-setting Michael’s sometimes dangerous, rash decision-making skills. L.Q. Jones (1996’s “Tornado!”), as Sheriff Berlinger, is his usual stern, macho self, something that made him a common grizzled face in many a Western. His acting style is similar to Stack’s and it is almost comical watching as these two verbally dose do.

Margaret Willock (1983’s “The Creature Wasn't Nice”), playing the daughter, who mugs more than acts, is absolutely adorable. I mean, like a half-asleep koala bear nodding out on a tree limb adorable. Sadly, she wasn’t able to spin that cuteness into a thriving career, as she pretty much phased out of acting in 88 following a few film roles and a handful of television stints. It’s too bad. It’s interesting to note that director John Llewellyn Moxey would produce and direct numerous suspense/horror-themed made-for-television films including 1970’s “The House That Would Not Die”, 1971’s “A Taste of Evil”, 1972’s “The Night Stalker” and 1976’s “Nightmare in Badham County”. If this film is any indication, all that time spent toiling in the genre has worked well for him. This is a man who knows how to craft a good mystery.

An obscure gem that's definitely worth checking out!!!