Unter Mordverdacht

Four sisters come 'Home for the Holidays' when it appears that their father is dying. Their father tells them that his new wife Elizabeth is slowly poisoning him to death, and that he summoned them all there to kill her before she kills him! They just think he's a silly old man, but eventually the sister's begin being stalked (and some of them even killed) by a person in a bright yellow raincoat. This new wife of his was also suspected years ago of killing her first husband, but was never charged. It's a Christmas murder mystery, and with seemingly unhinged Elizabeth as the main suspect... will anyone survive?

I enjoyed 'Home for the Holidays', it's even become a Christmas tradition here at my place to watch it. However, it's not the best "Made for TV" movie put out there that's for sure. It drags on just a little too much, so some people might lose interest with it early on. Some of it plays off like a soap opera, with all of the in fighting with the sisters. It can get a little tedious, but I enjoyed the family squabbles to be honest. The acting was very dramatic and over the top, perfect for 1972. Sally Field puts in a good performance as the good sister Christine, and Julie Harris does well as Elizabeth.

'Home for the Holidays' has an interesting twist to the end of the mystery, which most people could probably see coming a mile away. Nevertheless, it's a good one and adds up to the story we get from the four sister's and how messed up they all are (minus Christine). I'd check this one out if you find it, it's a good addition to the "Holiday Horror" sub-genre.

7/10

Enjoyably outlandish made for TV movie. The plot is nothing new, just another rehash of the danger in the old creaky house thriller. What really is of interest in this is the cast. The great thing about these television films from the 60's and 70's is the ability they had to pull together high quality performers that you normally wouldn't see cast together. While this one manages to gather an awesome group of actresses the absurdity of casting them as sisters and Julie Harris as their stepmother, since none of them favor each other in the least nor Walter Brennan who is supposed to be their father, is a head scratcher. To add fuel to this particular fire is the fact that Sally Field and Eleanor Parker had just played mother and daughter the previous year in Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring. Fun in an absurd way but not believable for a minute.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS is the story of the Morgan family, and their Christmas reunion. Patriarch, Benjamin Morgan (Walter Brennan) is near death, which is the only reason his daughters, Frederica (Jessica Walter), Joanna (Jill Haworth), Christine (Sally Field), and Alex (Eleanor Parker) have reunited.

The siblings have reason to believe that their father's current wife, Elizabeth (Julie Harris) just might be trying to speed up his departure. They already suspect that Elizabeth had something to do with their mother's untimely death, and are now asked to commit their own unspeakable act in order to save their father's life.

Stranded by a severe storm, with the phone line dead, what unfolds is a story of family dysfunction, bitterness, and insanity. Not surprisingly, nothing is quite as it appears, and no one is above suspicion! Oh, and there are murders as well! Several murders in fact.

Sort of an updated "old dark house" suspense / thriller, this made-for-TV movie is a wonderful example of the above average quality of such movies of the period. It also has a fairly menacing killer, straight out of a giallo! Annnnd, the final twist is perfectly... executed!...

This Christmas thriller is unique for a bunch of reasons. In addition to a solid cast and good acting, this TV movie creates a surprisingly early slasher atmosphere, replete with a mysterious hooded killer, wet rain, and woodsy setting. Julie Harris, Sally Field, Jessica Walter, and Eleanor Parker are all superb.

For those who like their Yuletide cheer mingled from time to time with a good thriller or slasher flick, try this kissing cousin to Bob Clark's "Black Christmas." It's sure to bring a smile to your face around the warm, Christmas fire!

A really entertaining proto-slasher with an all star cast that tells the story of a dying man who summons his daughters back home for Christmas when he thinks his new wife might be poisoning him. Someone in a yellow raincoat and carrying a pitchfork doesn't want that secret getting out and, one by one, the daughters are terrorized and murdered. Acting is better than most films like this thanks to the great cast and the rainy atmosphere helps a lot in keeping things creepy. The only downside is that, given its TV movie origins, it can't embrace the slasher aspects as much as if it had been a theatrical release so all the horror scenes are kept in PG territory.