Something Evil *** (1972, Sandy Dennis, Darren McGavin, Ralph Bellamy, Jeff Corey, Johnny Whitaker, John Rubinstein) – Classic Movie Review 11,517

Steven Spielberg’s 1972 TV horror film Something Evil stars Sandy Dennis as a mom going mad over a demon.

Director Steven Spielberg’s 1972 film Something Evil stars Sandy Dennis, Darren McGavin, Ralph Bellamy, Jeff Corey, Johnny Whitaker and John Rubinstein.

Something Evil is an effectively handled TV horror movie from the 26-year-old Steven Spielberg, pumping some fresh adrenaline into an old story about an innocent married couple, Marjorie and Paul Worden (Sandy Dennis, Darren McGavin) with two young children, buying a farmhouse home in Pennsylvania that turns out to be haunted by demons.

Popular child star Johnny Whitaker plays their oldest child, who becomes possessed and torments his TV producer father and his artist mother and their friends. Soon everyone thinks freaked-out Marjorie is going crazy.

Something Evil is capably written by Robert Clouse, briskly done, stylishly directed, and acted with conviction, especially by Dennis, who does a good line in crazy.

Spielberg shot Something Evil immediately after his career-establishing TV movie Duel (1971), and it aired on 21 January 1972.

It was filmed at Golden Oak Ranch, Newhall, California, and in Studio City, Los Angeles.

The cast are Sandy Dennis as Marjorie Worden, Darren McGavin as Paul Worden, Ralph Bellamy as Harry Lincoln, Jeff Corey as Gehrmann, Johnny Whitaker as Stevie Worden, John Rubinstein as Ernest Lincoln, David Knapp as John, Laurie Hagen as Beth, Herb Armstrong as Schiller, Margaret Avery as Irene, Norman Bartold as Mr. Hackett, Sheila Bartold as Mrs. Hackett, Lois Battle as Mrs. Faraday, Bella Bruck as Mrs. Gehrmann, and Lynn Cartwright as Secretary.

It runs just 73 minutes.

Spielberg appears as one of the Worden’s party guests.

Something Evil is directed by Steven Spielberg, runs 73 minutes, is made by Belford Productions and CBS Entertainment Productions, is released by CBS Television Distribution, is written by Robert Clouse, is shot by Bill Butler, is produced by Alan Jay Factor and scored by Wladimir Selinsky.

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,517

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/