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Directed
by: Daniel
Petrie
Written
by: Alvin
Sapinsley
Leslie H. Whitten (Novel)
Starring:
David Janssen ....
Sheriff Aaron Whittaker
Barbara Rush .... Louise
Rodanthe
Bradford Dillman ....
Andrew Rodanthe
John Beradino .... Dr.
Druten
Geoffrey Lewis ....
Lawrence Burrifors
Royal Dano .... Tom
Gurmandey Sr.
John Davis Chandler ....
Tom Gurmandy Jr.
Claudia McNeil .... Sara
Release
Date: Made-for-TV:
September 26, 1972
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On
a southern island called Marsh
Island county sheriff named Aaron
Whittaker (David Janssen)
discovers that a woman named
Ellie has been torn to shreds by
what seems to be a pack of wild
dogs.
However, a medical examiner named
Dr. Druten (John Buradino), whom
he got her impregnated and also
discovered that whatever attacked
her weren't dogs who attacked her
and she was murdered.
Then her family gets suspicious
and Ellie's brother named Tom
Gurmunty Jr. (John Davis
Chandler) thinks that Druten
murdered her but Tom gets slayed
himself and the sheriff realises
that there's something more
terrifying out there although Tom
still tries to unravel these
terrible murders thinking there
may be a killer on the loose.
However, he may have to face up
to a werewolf.
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A nicely made TV
movie that borrows in the same
vein as those old fashioned Bela
Lugosi werewolf films.
At first it seems more like a
mystery suspense but keep
watching as it does turn out into
a horror film but not a bloody
horror film because this is made
for TV so it has to be for all
ages basically.
The acting is good
for a TV movie but would be
considered average if this was a
motion picture.
The main cast member that stands
out is Barbara Rush with
her unusual behavior and does
well when she gets frightened by
the shocking truth of what is
going on.
Supporting actor John Davis
Chandler also stands out
quite well as a redneck
determined to seek revenge on who
killed his sister as his emotions
looked good.
Lead actor David Janssen
does well as the head sheriff and
delivers his lines clearly too.
Some bloody clawing
nut hey this is a TV movie so the
gore is rated G.
Daniel Petrie
knew his craft as a director
making out that this TV film is
only a mystery/crime but it gets
surprising quarter way through it
which keeps people to stay glued
to the set to find out what will
happen.
His best work was with supporting
actor Royal Dano at
coaching him on how to be a
mysterious sick old man in bed
and being superstitious about
werewolves.
Of course when the werewolf
events unravel Petrie
knew how to design the scenes on
it being an old fashioned
werewolf attack.
We have the good
old classical violin playing
composed by the late Bernardo
Segall along with piano
playing and other interesting
music too. He does well.
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