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Norliss Tapes, The (1973)
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Movie Review by The Gravedigger
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04.30.07
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This movie pilot for a possible series stars Roy Thinnes (THE INVADERS) as author/researcher David Norliss, who is working on a book about the existence of the supernatural.
At the start of the movie a haggard looking Norliss calls his publisher and tells him he doesn't' have a word written down for the new book, that it'' all recorded on audio tape. He also says he can't work on it any longer, because of the things he's seen. And by looking at this guy he's clearly seen a lot of weird things.
A few days later it's discovered that Norliss has disappeared without a trace, so the publisher goes to his house and discovers his tapes. He puts in tape #1 and listens - and the story unfolds...
Angie Dickinson is a widowed woman who insists that her dead husband has come back and is trying to kill her. Of course, the police don't believe her, even though her German Sheppard has been snapped like a twig. She's the sister of a friend of Norliss, so he goes to check this out as part his research and becomes involved with a tale of vampirism and the resurrection of a demon.
Stylistically, THE NORLISS TAPES is a lot like the original NIGHT STALKER, though Thinnes voice-over is a bit too heavy-handed and prosaic at times. It primarily worked on THE NIGHTSTALKER because Darrin McGavin's Kolchak was like a gumshoe in a 40's Film Noir movie. It also reminded me of the Gene Roddenberry produced movie SPECTRE.
If you're a fan of Dan Curtis (DARK SHADOWS) you'll enjoy this, as there are some genuinely creepy moments.
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Rating: 6.0 out of 10.0 - 1 vote cast total
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