Summer of Fear (1978)

[bruce holecheck]

It appears Illinois-based outfit Doppelganger Releasing are preparing Wes Craven's made-for-TV shocker SUMMER OF FEAR (1978) for Blu, DVD and VOD later this season. (Doppelganger are the genre-centric offshoot of Music Box Films.) More details from Bloody-Disgusting:

http://bloody-disgusting.com/home-vi...u-ray-release/

In the wake of Wes Craven directing The Last House on the Left and Linda Blair starring in The Exorcist, Craven and Blair joined forces for Summer of Fear (aka Stranger in Our House), a made-for-TV movie that premiered on Halloween night, 1978. We’re excited to report today that the film is soon making its Blu-ray debut with a Special Collector’s Edition alongside a DVD and VOD release! The disc, available this summer from Doppelgänger Releasing, will contain a slew of exciting special bonus features that will be announced shortly. Based on the best-selling young adult novel by Lois Duncan of I Know What I Did Last Summer fame, Summer of Fear tells the tale of plucky teenager Rachel (Linda Blair), whose life is turned dangerously upside down when her cousin Julie (Lee Purcell) moves in following the death of her parents in a car crash. Julie enchants everyone in the family and appears to be a loving relative, but Rachel knows her cousin is up to something creepy… something like witchcraft! Jeremy Slate, Jeff East and Fran Drescher also star.

TV Promo:

youtube.com/watch?v=2ydkwGGUGHg

[PowellPressburger]

That would be cool. I just watched this recently, it has its moments, and Fran Drescher plays Blair's best friend. Fun TV movie.

Lots of great TV thriller and Horror movie goodness.

I bought this book about a week ago, recently released Edited with lots of writings from Amanda Reyes who does the Made For TV Movie Mayhem Podcast.

a must own for others with love for the TV movies now long gone.

AreYou.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Are-You-House...he+house+alone

[omenboy]

For those who are region free, it was actually released on blu ray in France six years ago:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Summe...Blu-ray/28119/

I have the French release but I do love this film and would be more than happy to double dip if the transfer is new and/or the special features are extensive enough to warrant it.

[The Great Owl]

This is encouraging news, to see Stranger in Our House (Summer of Fear) announced for Blu-ray. Officially-pressed Blu-rays, I'm assuming.

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

a must own for others with love for the TV movies now long gone.

There are so many great made-for-TV horror movies.

When I visit this Blu-ray.com forum several times a day and scan the topics, Don't Go to Sleep (1982) and The Babysitter (1980) are two announcements that I'm always praying to see.

[omenboy]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I just watched this recently, it has its moments, and Fran Drescher plays Blair's best friend. Fun TV movie.

It's hilarious how the movie takes place in an unnamed small town which I assume is somewhere in the heartland of America, however Linda's best friend has a thicker-than-pea-soup (no pun intended) Brooklyn accent that is never explained! LOL!

[AKORIS]

I welcome and will support all 70's horror TV-movies

[PowellPressburger]

I had no idea it was released years back in France, I'm region free but sadly the forced French subtitles will keep me from ordering it.

As long as this company scans it full frame and doesn't do any heavy DNR they can't really lose.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

There are so many great made-for-TV horror movies.

I'd love a double-feature disc of Crawlspace (1972) and Bad Ronald (I know the latter is with WB so not possible to pair up the two, but they'd go perfectly together).

[PowellPressburger]

We certainly need to purchase and support classic Made For TV movies that get Blu-Ray and even any DVDs releases so possibly we can get more.

Please also support Screams upcoming The Spell!

[postmodel]

I wasn't the biggest fan of this, but would definitely give it a re-watch and will pick this up!

I am always down for some Wes Craven.

[thatguamguy]

The Wes Craven completist in me wonders if this means that we can hold out hope to someday get the uncut "Chiller" in all its boring, terrible glory.

[Hedji]

Cool use of (another TV movie) Salem's Lot style contact lenses. Me like!

[Mose Harper]

Another one of my most wanted. I first saw it when they telecast it Halloween night back in '78 and developed a huge crush on LB that lasted quite a while.
Now I'm just as big a fan of Lee Purcell who was a frequent face in a lot of TV product of the time, as well as some fine theatrical features.

I'm surprised to see this isn't still controlled by Lionsgate. And since it doesn't seem to be, I'm equally surprised a label like Shout, Synapse, or some other didn't grab it. Very curious.

I'm gonna be on pins and needles till I see the actual disc 'cause there is always some doubt when a new label is involved. Special features will be nice, but not at the expense of solid compression/encoding from a clean master.

I'm gonna be kind crushed if they drop the ball. Something like this usually only gets one shot- and has been pointed out, there is already a French disc that is a non starter due to the forced subs.

[redrunner97]

Fantastic news.

Now can Scream Factory finally man up and release When a Stranger Calls... Back!?

[bruce holecheck]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I'd love a double-feature disc of Crawlspace (1972) and Bad Ronald (I know the latter is with WB so not possible to pair up the two, but they'd go perfectly together).

I be shocked if we didn't see Warner Archives Blus of DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK and BAD RONALD at some point -- especially with their increased schedule.

[Adcatalano]

Will have to check this out. Really need John Carpenter's Someone's Watching Me on blu.

[NeMo_ET]

Never heard of this one but it definitely sounds like something I'd be interested in. Equally surprised one of the larger labels didn't pick this up (Shout).

[Mose Harper]

For anyone that hasn't seen it- don't look at Wes Craven's name and get your expectations ratcheted up.

It's not on par with Salem's Lot, which is a much more adult, and still creepy as hell, chiller.

This is much closer to a supernatural version of an ABC After School special (which is understandable given it's adapted from a 70's YA novel). Taken in that spirit, it still has a metric ton of nostalgic appeal for someone like me. And it's milder horror elements, and gentler nature in general, make for a nice palate cleanser now.

Most of it's effectiveness is due to it's psychological elements- chiefly the new daughter figure in the house supplanting the real daughter's place. That's the kind of fear that will be intuited more by a child than an adult viewer. Similarly, there are instances of the witchcraft that would seem much more traumatic and world shaking to an adolescent than an adult.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of checking it out. It's not a bad film at all. And Craven does give the material a solid polish. Just don't want people to go in with the wrong idea and come out hating it.

[PowellPressburger]

Another slice of awesomeness in this film is fashion! (aside from the crazy hair!)

I've used spoiler tags for those who haven't seen the film.

Linda Blair has been hard at work on a

[Show spoiler]dress for a dance.... keep in mind her family has money... and isn't that thrilled with how the dress comes out. What's a girl to do?!? I say go buy a new one! You aren't poor!

Then of course some witchcraft has caused issues so she can't attend the dance after all... and guess who puts on that dress and makes it work!

Clearly a completely different cut dress on the other actress.

[omenboy]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Another slice of awesomeness in this film is fashion! (aside from the crazy hair!)

I've used spoiler tags for those who haven't seen the film.

Linda Blair has been hard at work on a

[Show spoiler]dress for a dance.... keep in mind her family has money... and isn't that thrilled with how the dress comes out. What's a girl to do?!? I say go buy a new one! You aren't poor!

Then of course some witchcraft has caused issues so she can't attend the dance after all... and guess who puts on that dress and makes it work!

Clearly a completely different cut dress on the other actress.

Well the bigger problem is

[Show spoiler]that by the time Linda would have finally decided to give up and buy herself a dress that fit, her face was already covered in nasty red welts that insured she would not be making it to the dance, dress or no dress!