CATACOMB OF TERROR
|
 |
A strange series of 13 episodes with the emphasis not as horror-intense as one may imagine. Primarily we get a mix of the psychological, the dramatic and the ghostly along with a few good scares along the way and some quite absorbing tales. One or two episodes are fantastical and a couple lacking the true terror tinge but, this is still a series worthy of ones attention. |
EPISODE 1 - MARK OF THE DEVIL - A neat opening tale that sees a desperate gambling man kill a tattooist and fall under a curse that sees ink spread whilst relating the truth behind the misdeed. There is good tension throughout this Bradbury-esque tale with the ending perhaps a little obvious but still good enough to round off a complete yarn. |
EPISODE 2 - LAST VIDEO AND TESTAMENT - A predictable story that sees a young woman and her lover attempt to kill her aging millionaire husband in order to get the usual financial gain. The man with the money has a weak heart and needs risky surgery, he leaves a videotaped last will and testament that toys with the couples plans, and then comes the final malicious twist. This may be an obvious chain of events but it is still a good romp. |
EPISODE 3 - CZECH MATE - A quite suffocating and stress-inducing episode as a young lady reacquaints herself with her ex-husband, goes abroad to communist Prague on a business trip and becomes embroiled in a terrifying espionage drama that sends her reeling off the rails. We are left wondering what is happening throughout most of the episode which is always a good thing, especially for the kind of audience this is aimed at. |
EPISODE 4 - A DISTANT SCREAM - A strong tale that is delivered with good impact and leaves a lasting impression. David Carradine and Stephanie Beecham put in good stints as a couple having an affair that ends in disaster. The story is related from an imprisoned man who has been wrongly jailed for murder and who transcends time from his deathbed and goes in search of the real killer. The finale rounds of a very complete story. |
EPISODE 5 - THE LATE NANCY IRVING - An almost vampiric episode that sees a wealthy businessman prey on a famed US golfer who has an extremely rare blood type. After falling ill the potential victim is taken to hospital where she makes a few friends but seems to have no hope of escape. When she learns about her own death and grows more poorly by the day, the full extent of the horror unfolds. |
EPISODE 6 - IN POSSESSION - A series of weird occurrences arise just prior to a couple moving out of their apartment. There is an unsettling haunting, a previous murder has taken place and the couple become witness to the events that unfolded. A certain suffocating madness is felt with a twist in the tale finalising a good ghostly drama that has a feeling of inevitability. |
EPISODE 7 - BLACK CARRION - A very weak tale that is too reminiscent of 80's video drivel that was poured forth with wild abandon. Here we see a hired pop journalist looking to track down a 60's pop duo that had the world at their feet before disappearing. An isolated village and manor are found, a situation of madness is uncovered with a soundtrack that really dampens the tones of horror. |
EPISODE 8 - THE SWEET SCENT OF DEATH - A stressed and overworked US Ambassador wants to spend more time with his wife so sets up residence in a secluded country home. When the husband is away however, the wife is terrorised by a man she thinks is from her past. A psychological drama unfolds, and of course, all is not what it seems. |
EPISODE 9 - PAINT ME A MURDER - A struggling artist and his scheming wife come up with a plan. Seeing that the artist is not making any decent sales the faking of his death seems the only way to make some serious dosh. The plan is carried out, an oily art dealer enters the fray and after initial success things start to fall apart and the artist strives for a new life. A very decent episode with a bittersweet finale. |
EPISODE 10 - THE CORVINI INHERITANCE - David McCallum stars as Frank Lane, a man who works as a security head at a local auction house. Mr Lane is obsessed with surveillance, something which becomes more apparent as well as his leanings towards his female neighbour. A cursed jewel is being auctioned and Lane's mind appears to be cracking in many ways in an episode that is smartly played out. |
EPISODE 11 - AND THE WALL CAME TUMBLING DOWN - An old church, some walled up Satanists and the usual strange forces see this episode unfold in a somewhat predictable way with a few pseudo-scares thrown in for half-measure. A plodding pace to this one but with a certain Hammer-ised feel. Not my favourite episode but good to see Peter Wyngarde in the role of the baddie. |
EPISODE 12 - CHILD'S PLAY - A really warped tale that crosses the barriers into the utterly fantastic. A family wake up one morning and find, for no explainable reason whatsoever, that they are trapped inside their house by an impenetrable steel wall. Try as they might, there is no escape and an omnipresent symbol suggests a clue but no answer is given until the very last scenes. An outlandish tale and one not easily forgotten. |
EPISODE 13 - TENNIS COURT - A couple learn that the house that they have gained through an inheritance has a possessed tennis court. The reason for the possession is borne through deceit, adultery and cowardice. This is one of those absorbing tales where the viewer wants to see justice. Despite the outlandish premise this is a really good way to full-stop the series. |