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HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (1972)
Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey
Vidmark Entertainment VHS
Reviewed 12.15.05
Review by Joseph A. Ziemba
THE FILM
Try as you might, there's just no
use fighting it. Made for TV horror
films from the 1970s will wrap you
up. Instantaneously. And look here;
it's Christmas! Unwrap your gifts
and then wrap yourself with Home
For The Holidays. Does that
make sense? If not, fix yourself
a Hot Toddy, dim the tree lights
low, and relax. After all, this
is the holidays.
Christmas Eve in the house of old
man Morgan; a place where the thunderclaps
hit just right and the pitchforks
are always sharp. Lying on his death
bed, possibly the victim of slow
poisoning by Alex, his current wife,
Mr. Morgan summons his four estranged
daughters back to the sprawling
homestead. There's drunken mess
Freddie (Arrested Development's
Jessica Walter), cold as ice Jo
(70s UK horror staple Jill Haworth),
way too old Elizabeth (the late
Julie Harris from The Haunting),
and little college grad Chris (young
Sally Field). Morgan instructs the
girls to "get rid" of
Alex and the mystery begins. As
everyone settles in, a pitchfork
wielding killer in a yellow rain
slicker starts to stalk. Girls go
bomp in the night. Is Alex so innocent?
After all, there is that rumor going
around about her lethal Hot Toddies
(!). As the ladies kick off, young
Chris is left to fend for herself
in a spectacular wooded chase through
the moors. The killer closes in.
Yes, but who is it?!
Unfolding like a melodramatic pre-code
comic book circa 1952, Home
For The Holidays is a taught
shot of mischevious goodness. Would
you expect anything less from an
Aaron Spelling movie of the week?
From the sudden violence to the
always talented cast, the film sets
up a swell 70s sheen that lingers
throughout. Long time TV director
John Llewellyn Moxey fills his frames
with what you'd expect; gracious
dolly rides, quick zooms, and tight
compositions. Even when Joseph "Psycho"
Stefano's script starts to dawdle..and
droop...and sag, the ever-present
misty atmosphere makes the ambiguous
ending worth the wait. I think.
Actually, the ending is complete
nonsense. But don't let that stop
you. Who knows? You might even get
a shiver or two. Given the talents
of everyone involved, don't be so
surprised.
Like Satan's
School For Girls, Bad
Ronald, and pretty much every
other made for TV horror film from
the 70s, Home For The Holidays
has the magic. It's 74 minutes of
harmless family bickering, a surefire
sign that the gift-giving season
has arrived! If that sounds familiar,
ask yourself this: does your family
have a goofy raincoat killer stomping
around on Christmas morning? Probably
not. Welcome home.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
Although the print was dark and
the ribbon was worn, I had no problem
with any aspect of this greasy old
ex-rental tape. There was some slight
ghosting and the picture itself
looked doubled at times. The mono
sound was clear as bells.
EXTRAS
No, but ABC had some solid gold
(logo) class in 1972.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Under the festive cover of cold
bodies and one helluva thunder storm,
the TV mirth of Home For The
Holidays will make your seasonal
nights that much more complete.
Grab your loved one and make an
evening of it. |
Hey ladies!
Right back 'atcha
Suicide: Ish don't think so
Dead, but clean
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