User Reviews

Sarah Marshall does a double turn, and stars as both 17th century witch Elspeth Clewer, burned at the stake in 1661, who issues a death curse to her family, promising that she will one day return to claim a new body, which 300 years later arrives in the form of Lady Margaret, a near physical double of her ancestor Elspeth, who rises from her grave in spectral form to make repeated attempts to possess her body, killing the other's spirit. Margaret, near exhausted from the nightly fight, realizes that there can be only one way to end this nightmare, and dispatch Elspeth for good... Atmospheric and effective episode with the beautiful Marshall believable in both parts, and Ronald Howard is also good as her dedicated doctor.

The story it's based on is quite different and suggestive--while the episode holds few surprises and lacks key chemistry. Though THRILLER was generally best when doing horror and supernatural stories this one just doesn't have any twist on the shop worn material.

It's a Gothic period piece with some atmosphere --and Jerry Goldsmith score--but the story is plodding and obvious in a poor adaptation of the original story. I only read the story after being let down by the episode and feeling something must have gone wrong or been left out--then I read the original story--so I went into the show not expecting anything--just being disappointed by the lack of imagination used in adapting it and the number of clichés it employs.

The whole witches curse element in the set up is largely vacant from the source material, the other problem being that in the story the GHOST is done in a first person kind of perspective while in the episode who and what the ghost is immediately obvious and you just have to wait for the characters to catch up to you.

Human interest would be in a love story between doctor and patient but there is no chemistry between the leads and the middle part of the script is pretty dull where it introduces a bunch of characters not in the original story who then mostly vanish in the last act anyway.

The ghost effects seem to have all been done in camera--rather than in post production and this makes them pretty effective. The ending of the episode is also kind of moving--helped by Goldsmith's final music cue.

Henry Daniel is good as always in a character not in the original story--but his part works well. Boris intro has him quoting THE BARD which is fun--but the show is kind of a missed opportunity. The episode CLOSED CABINET reuses music and much of the feel of this episode to equally unimpressive results.

The wicked Elspeth Clewer (Sarah Marshall) is burned at the stake for witchcraft in 1661 England, but not before placing a curse upon her descendants, one of whom will be the instrument of her revival. After 300 years, Lady Margaret Clewer (also Marshall) returns to the ancestral estate in time for her 21st birthday, unaware of Elspeth's ghostly presence in the adjoining graveyard. Low-key and effectively creepy, featuring Ronald Howard (son of Leslie;he died in 1996) in his second of three episodes (the others being "Well of Doom" and "The Specialists"). Seen earlier in "The Poisoner," lovely Sarah Marshall (daughter of Herbert) later did a STAR TREK, "The Deadly Years," while Victor Buono also makes a second THRILLER appearance (after "Girl with a Secret"; he died in 1982), in one scene as a psychiatrist who diagnoses Lady Margaret's delicate condition. In the sizable dual roles of Vicar John Weatherford and his namesake 300 years later, Henry Daniell enjoys his fifth and final performance on THRILLER (after "The Cheaters," "Well of Doom," "Prisoner in the Mirror," and "The Grim Reaper"). Best known for his starring sparring opposite Karloff and Lugosi in 1945's "The Body Snatcher," Daniell died at 69 in 1963.

This is one of many cinematic ventures where a "witch" is being burned at the stake and launches a curse on those who sentenced her. In this case, it appears we actually have a witch and not some innocent who was thought to be one. We move 300 years into the future and find that a young woman has returned to her ancestral home to face her 21st birthday. She is a fragile thing, seemingly at the mercy of forces. While in bed, who should show up at her window but Elspeth, in ghostly form. From then on, there is a continual effort to save her, even though those around her don't understand anything. It seems that every time she is alone, there is a dramatic encounter or near death experience. That's why people don't seem to resist leaving her alone. The handsome doctor that takes care of her begins to fall in love with her. There is also a weird vicar who hangs around, moping, and coming on the scene whenever some major catastrophe occurs.

The story begins in the 17th century. Elspeth is about to be burned as a witch and vows to one day return. The scene then switches to the present day. Now, Elspeth is trying to take control of her exact double (apart from the hair)...Lady Margaret. The rest of the episode consists of doctors trying to save her life as well as visits from a strange vicar (Henry Daniell). Ultimately, the show just ended...with a completely tension-free and full ending.

This was the fifth time I saw Henry Daniell on "Thriller". He didn't always star in the show but was excellent in his many portrayals. Apart from the host, Boris Karloff, I think he appeared in more episodes than anyone else. Too bad in this case he was wasted because the script ended so poorly and left me flat.