Review of The Strange and Deadly Occurrence

You bet, I remember this one. As a young lad back in the day, I really dug the cool story lines of these erstwhile "Movies of the Week". If the creepy teaser ad with the "headless dummy" didn't get you to tune in, nothing would! That, and the reliable Robert Stack in the offbeat role of the head of a family being menaced by the supernatural. Between the thumpings, howlings in the night, and the weird psychiatrist hanging around the neighborhood, my heart-rate was up there, for sure. The solution to the mystery may be a bit weak, but I loved the O. Henry-style final scene. What's really sad is that when I saw "Cold Creek Manor", which had an amazingly similar plot,a much bigger budget, bigger name-stars, bigger EVERYTHING--it still didn't hold a candle to "--Occurrence". If ever you find it in your local listings, watch and compare. Trust me. TRIVIA: I was surprised to see Sandor Stern in the writing credits! Very apropos, considering later he went on to adapt and direct "Pin", another suspense featuring a "menacing dummy"--one with an even NASTIER disposition.