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Legendary producer / director Dan Curtis (DARK SHADOWS, THE NIGHT STALKER) teams up with writers Richard Matheson (I AM LEGEND, THE TWILIGHT ZONE) and William F. Nolan (LOGAN’S RUN, BURNT OFFERINGS) to present three tales of horrific suspense in this made-for-television anthology that also showcases the tremendous acting talent of Karen Black (FIVE EASY PIECES, THE DAY OF THE LOCUST), who plays no less than four distinct roles. In "Julie," an aggressive college student seduces and ultimately blackmails his seemingly shy English professor. In "Millicent and Therese," two polar-opposite sisters become increasingly hell-bent on the undoing of one another. And in "Amelia," a woman falls prey to a murderous Zuni fetish doll.

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Dan Curtis, the creator and producer of such out-of-the-ordinary TV classics as the willfully offbeat gothic soap opera Dark Shadows and the proto-X-Files series The Night Stalker, remains best known for the Zuni fetish doll that terrorizes Karen Black in Trilogy of Terror. The wild-eyed doll, with its snapping jaws and screeching yells, borders on camp, yet its relentless attacks and single-minded, homicidal drive make it an absolutely terrifying figure in the climactic chapter of this trilogy of short films based on stories by Richard Matheson. In the first story, "Julie," Karen Black plays a mousy college professor blackmailed by an obsessed student, and in "Millicent and Therese" she plays sisters consumed with an intense hatred of one another that comes to a head when their father dies. Both of these films conclude with Twilight Zone-ish twists and are more clever than gripping, kept alive mostly by Black's gleefully theatrical performances. With "Amelia," however, Black delivers an almost solo show, playing against the famous Zuni fetish doll, a wooden statue that comes to life when the a protective chain slips off the figure and releases the evil spirit. Curtis turns her apartment into a claustrophobic cage trapping the increasingly hysterical woman as the unstoppable figure hacks at her legs with a kitchen knife and chomps down on her arms and neck with the relentless intensity of a bulldog. It's still a classic of small-screen horror. --Sean Axmaker

Rating : - The Three Faces Of Karen Black
Dan Curtis, brain child behind such 70's telehorror hits as "Night Stalker," "The Norliss Tapes," and "Dark Shadows," scores another success with "Trilogy of Terror." This anthology showcased Karen Black's versatility as a superb actress. She portrays four different women in three tales of terror. These women range from plain and conservative to wild and sensuous. The three tales are all based on short stories written by Richard Matheson, the best-selling author of I Am Legend, which spawned three theatrical versions; the last one starred Will Smith.

Supernatural deception is the theme in "Julie." A handsome, young college student decides to blackmail his English professor, Julie, into dating him. Naturally, there are deadly consequences. This tale has a nice downbeat ending that is rather shocking.

Identical twins hate each other in "Millicent and Therese." Initially, it appears that one twin is good and the other is evil. However, when the good one begins plotting to kill her sister, it becomes obvious that both are evil. The ending was very predictable; I saw it a mile away. This is my least favorite tale.

"Amelia" is emotionally abused. She can't date a man on his birthday without feeling guilty about cancelling an evening with her overbearing mom even though they see each other three times a week. She buys a Zuni fetish doll as a gift for her boyfriend. When the chain around its body falls off, the spirit inhabiting the doll is freed. The doll comes to life and is relentless in attacking poor Amelia. This was the best of the three stories and clearly influenced future horror films such as "Stephen King's Cat`s Eye," "Chucky," and "Tales from the Hood."

Karen Black (Rob Zombie's "House of 1000 Corpses") gave excellent performances in all three stories; it isn't surprising why Dan Curtis requested her to be a part of his next theatrical film "Burnt Offerings" - a film centered around a secluded country manor that demands human sacrifices in order to be rejuvenated. It was nice to see former stars of "Dark Shadows" such as John Karlen and James Storm. Look for Gregory Harrison in a cameo appearance.

"Trilogy of Terror" is a must see for fans of Dan Curtis. Also, if you enjoy horror anthologies from the 70's such as "The House That Dripped Blood," "Torture Garden," and "Asylum," then you must see this one. The Zuni fetish doll returns in "Trilogy of Terror II," but this film has not been released yet on DVD.