- Director: Dan Curtis
- Writers: William F. Nolan, Richard Matheson
- Stars: Karen Black, Robert Burton, John Karlen
- Run Time: 1 Hour, 12 Minutes
- Link: https://amzn.to/3bk3rxn
Synopsis
“Julie”
A pair of college boys wonder what their math teacher looks like under all those clothes. Chad stays after class to help the teacher, Julie Eldridge, with her books. Julie’s roommate, Ann, wants her to go out more often, but Julie works too hard. Ann says Julie could be really pretty if she just tried to put some effort into it.
Chad hangs around outside her apartment that night, and he watches her undress through the window. The next day, he invites her to go see a French vampire movie on the weekend. Like all good 1970’s-era dates, he puts something in her drink. She passes out after just a sip, and he heads to a local motel.
He lays her out on the bed and starts taking pictures; he’s both an amateur photographer and a rapist! He puts her back in the car and drives her home— “You must have really been tired,” he explains.
He develops the pictures later that night. The next morning, Chad calls her, and he insists that they take a drive together. He shows her the photos, and she realizes what he’s done to her. He’s going to force her to do things after class.
This goes on for a month. Suddenly, she explains to Chad that it’s all over because she’s bored with him. “Whose idea do you think this whole thing was?” She asks. She enchanted him from the start; it turns out this was all according to her plan. As she explains, Chad starts to choke; she’s poisoned him. She sets his darkroom on fire and walks out through the flames.
“Millicent and Therese”
Millicent writes in her diary that Therese is out skanking around the neighborhood. Millicent is a frumpy, prudish, vindictive woman.
Mr. Anmar comes to the house, and he’s surprised the two sisters look so much alike. Their father’s funeral was just this morning, so naturally Therese has gone to a party. Millicent tells Anmar that her sister is evil; she killed their mother many years ago. Millicent shows him Therese’s evil witchcraft books. She can’t help Therese, but maybe she can help Anmar, who is Therese’s boyfriend. Anmar believes her and abandons Therese, whom we haven’t seen yet.
Millie calls her Dr. Ramsey and complains that Therese has been spreading lies about her. He promises to come by tomorrow. When he arrives, Therese answers the door, and Millie is nowhere to be found. The slutty Therese hates Millie as much as Millie hates her. When he ignores her advances, she gets angry and throws the doctor out.
Millicent decides to kill Therese. She pulls out a book on voodoo and decides to use it against her sister. She calls the doctor and explains that she doesn’t need his help any more. She pulls out the voodoo doll and a long pin The doctor rushes over and finds Therese’s body on the floor, holding the voodoo doll. Turns out the two sisters were just one person with a dual personality.
“Amelia”
Amelia heads home to her high-rise apartment, and she’s carrying an old box. She unties the string holding the box shut, and inside is a little wooden Zuni fetish doll called “He Who Kills.” She’s bought the doll as a gift to her boyfriend. She calls her mother and has a conversation with the naggy old woman.
It’s got a gold chain around his neck that is said to keep the Zuni hunter’s spirit contained. She puts down the doll, and the chain falls off. What could go wrong?
First, she can’t find the doll, then she starts hearing the pitter-patter of little feet. Then the doll attacks her and chases her all over the house, that’s what could go wrong. The two do battle for a very long time. Finally, she throws it in the oven and destroys it. That’s gotta be the end, right? Where does the spirit of a Zuni warrior go when their fetish doll gets burned up?
Commentary
The first two stories are completely forgettable, but boy, is that third one ever a classic. It’s good enough to save the whole anthology all by itself. The stop-motion creature and the incessant chattering from the little guy are simply must-see horror viewing. This was clearly one of the major influences for Chucky and the “Child’s Play” movies many years later. It couldn’t have cost more than ten bucks to make this story, but this is how you do it!
Karen Black plays four different roles, and it looks like someone wanted to show what she could do, so she plays all the main characters. Very nicely.