Movie Type: Haunted House Film, Supernatural Horror
Themes: Demonic Possession
Main Cast: Steven Spielberg
Release Year: 1971
Country: US
Run Time: 73 minutes
Plot
A young Steven Spielberg helmed the made-for-TV Something Evil. Johnny Whitaker (Family Affair) is cast as Stevie Worden, an angelic child whose parents move into a foreboding Pennsylvania mansion. It isn't long before Stevie is possessed with the house's resident demonic spirit. In anticipation of The Exorcist and The Omen, the spirit within Stevie never lets anyone know when it's going to strike -- but everyone knows full well when it does. Spielberg evokes horror throughout by contrasting the most terrifying events with the plodding commonplace of day-to-day life. Something Evil was Spielberg's last TV-movie assignment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
One of several 1970s made-for-TV horror films that left an indelible impression upon audiences at the time, Something Evil is most noteworthy now for the participation of its then-unknown director, Steven Spielberg. Young and hungry, Spielberg approaches Evil with clear enthusiasm, and there's a vigor and excitement to his work that makes up for the fact that the material with which he's working is fairly standard issue. That's not to say it isn't effective, mind you; a whole generation of viewers can recall the "glowing eyes in the window" moment, long after they have forgotten the rest of the film. Spielberg and writer Robert Clouse are mining familiar territory, but they do so with skill and with an appreciation for what can cause those creepy-crawly feelings that people love so. Sure, this sometimes means throwing logic out the window in search of a good chill, but when that chill is ice cold, no one cares too much. They also have to deal with the demands of creating an interrupted-by-commercials product, such as sometimes arbitrary before-commercial climaxes, but they handle this relatively well. They're also aided by a solid cast, with Sandy Dennis' mannerisms used to good effect and fine work from Darren McGovern and Johnny Whitaker. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
