George Gaynes, Gregory Harrison, John Karlen

Dan Curtis, the creator and producer of such out-of-the-ordinary TV classics as the willfully offbeat gothic soap opera Dark Shadows and the proto-X-Files series The Night Stalker...( read more  read more... ), remains best known for the Zuni fetish doll that terrorizes Karen Black in Trilogy of Terror. The wild-eyed doll, with its snapping jaws and screeching yells, borders on camp, yet its relentless attacks and single-minded, homicidal drive make it an absolutely terrifying figure in the climactic chapter of this trilogy of short films based on stories by Richard Matheson. In the first story, "Julie," Karen Black plays a mousy college professor blackmailed by an obsessed student, and in "Millicent and Therese" she plays sisters consumed with an intense hatred of one another that comes to a head when their father dies. Both of these films conclude with Twilight Zone-ish twists and are more clever than gripping, kept alive mostly by Black's gleefully theatrical performances. With "Amelia," however, Black delivers an almost solo show, playing against the famous Zuni fetish doll, a wooden statue that comes to life when the a protective chain slips off the figure and releases the evil spirit. Curtis turns her apartment into a claustrophobic cage trapping the increasingly hysterical woman as the unstoppable figure hacks at her legs with a kitchen knife and chomps down on her arms and neck with the relentless intensity of a bulldog. It's still a classic of small-screen horror. --Sean Axmaker

Flixster Users

58% liked it

4,156 ratings

Unrated, 72 min.

Directed by: Dan Curtis

Release Date: March 4, 1975

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: August 24, 1999

Stats: 206 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (206)


  • December 7, 2008
    "Trilogy of Terror" is three short stories, excellent stared by the same actress, ¨Karen Black¨ and the movie itself is definitely well done and the segments are good enough, although somewhat lacking in suspense but really worth watching.
  • August 28, 2008
    Out of the three movies, the last was the best one with the Voodoo doll! That little thing was the creepiest monster I've ever seen when I was a kid, and even watching this movie in mid day time still scared me. It was pretty awesome and to this day, it still creeps me out. ;)
  • October 6, 2009
    Pretty good comic book horror.
  • September 11, 2009
    Psychological horror in first two stories, last short is some amazing often suspenseful stuff. LMAO.
  • August 10, 2009
    Maybe I'll watch this on cable one day..
  • May 29, 2009
    Karen Black at her BEST!
  • May 25, 2009
    the classic Zuni doll!!!! great segment - ya gotta love Richard Matheson.
  • May 11, 2009
    This movie scared the bejesus out of me when I was a youngster. The third tale, with the voodoo doll with the teeth.. ack.
  • May 4, 2009
    The first two stories are fine but the justly famous final one is enough to make you jumpy for days after.
  • March 3, 2009
    fun horror, if there is such a thing

Critic Reviews


No recent reviews.

Comments


Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Creepshow 2
    Creepshow 2 (0%)
  • Devil Doll
    Devil Doll (100%)
  • Dracula
    Dracula (100%)
  • Dolly Dearest
    Dolly Dearest (0%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

Trilogy of Terror : Watch Free on TV


Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for Trilogy of Terror. Want to create one?

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?