Spectre

Interesting buddy-teaming of Robert Culp as a criminologist in England who specializes in paranormal matters and Gig Young as a disbelieving physician never quite catches fire. The two are on the spooky trail of someone or some THING who scares his victims to death and rips apart their bodies. A trip to the shady mansion of a haughty financier--and possible devil-worshiper--takes up too much time on the clock (the would-be sins and titillation therein fail to come off in a movie made for television). Culp and Young trade dry, beleaguered quips in a riff on Holmes and Watson while the wind whips up a tempest and a wolf howls in the background. Gene Roddenberry penned the teleplay from his original story, making the film a curiosity for "Star Trek" fans, however the scenario offers nothing particularly special. Wait for a showing of "Curse of the Demon" instead!

Spectre definitely isn't the type of film that'll be featured on Svengoolie. They often show horror movies that are quite lame by today's standards. It's ideal for people who like to go down memory lane and revisit the silly creature features they watched in the theater for the first time as a teen, or just to laugh at, but not if they want something that's actually frightening. I'm not big on paranormal stuff, but I thought Robert Culp was brilliant in Columbo, and that made me curious enough to check this out, despite it's spooky storyline.

He plays occult criminologist William Sebastian, who develops a heart condition after a supernatural experiment. He wants his friend, Dr. "Ham" Hamilton (Gig Young), to help him with a case that involves traveling to London and investigating a wealthy businessman, Geoffrey Cyon (Majel Barrett), partaking in the dark arts. It's funny to watch them together. I don't know about anyone else, but I got the impression they don't like each other because they both have an elevated IQ. It was humorous how in the midst of the plane having mechanical problems on their way to London, William is having a discussion on philosophical and psychological reasoning, while Ham is looking worried and nauseous. Once they arrive, they stay in Cyon's house, which is also occupied by his other family members. William and Ham encounter a demon, along with other terrifying occurrences.

Honestly, I haven't finished the movie. I managed to get about 10 to 15 minutes to the end, so I've watched enough of it to have an opinion. I wasn't scared, but I found aspects of the content to be unsettling. Demons, monsters, BDSM, possessions. It just seemed wrong to be watching as a Christian. I know people say it's only entertainment, but it's more than that to me. Anything you take in through your eyes and ears can have a powerful influence on you. It had become quite disturbing, so I'm hesitant to see what the ending is like. I think it had a negative affect on my brain, honestly. I watched it on a Tuesday night, and woke up the next day thinking it was Saturday. That probably came from me being tired, because my job is hectic - the constant business always has me feeling exhausted - but I doubt this helped. It's a weird movie. Not appropriate for family night, so if you have kids, I'd stick with Svengoolie. Unless you don't mind taking a chance on having unsettling dreams, then by all means, check this out, but otherwise, I would skip it and go with something that doesn't have so much creepiness.

What a disappointment to learn that this wonderful occult thriller is NOT available neither on DVD nor VHS. Gene Roddenberry did this made for TV movie and it is superb! The best role for Robert Culp and the superb Gig Young plays the sidekick in a wonderful energy with Culp. The lovely wife of Roddemberry, Majel Barrett. plays the mysterious Lilith, housekeeper of William Sebastian. The English settings and a wondrous cast of British actors make this a really exquisite example of the genre. The phenomenally talented John Hurt in a standout performance. This is what American television was capable of at one time.

Shame on the movie industry for letting this classic of horror and the master Gene Roddenberry disappear. SHAME ON THEM!!

...from co-writer and producer Gene Roddenberry.

Robert Culp stars as William Sebastian, a renowned criminologist whose attentions have turned to occult matters in recent years. He re-teams with old colleague Ham Hamilton (Gig Young), an alcoholic medical doctor who's hit hard times,vand they journey to England to investigate reports of supernatural powers targeting the wealthy Anitra Cyon (Ann Bell). Also featuring John Hurt and James Villiers as Anitra's brothers, Gordon Jackson as a Scotland Yard inspector, and Majel Barrett as Lilith, Sebastian's spell-casting housekeeper.

If Star Trek was Roddenberry's rumination on 60's-era idealism, this failed pilot was his look at 70's hedonism and the search for spiritual meaning. Modeled after Holmes & Watson, Culp and Young's characters encounter a cult of Dionysian sex-addicts and demon worshipers, all living an anything-goes debauched lifestyle that ultimately leads to their destruction.

This film suffers from poor production values, shoddy editing, terrible pacing, and laughable effects in the big finale. The identity of the mastermind behind everything is.

This would have made an excellent television series. Robert Culp has rarely been better as Sebastian, a psychic sleuth and expert on the occult. He takes on a case that threatens the world. Not bad for your introduction. An excellent Gene Roddenberry creation. I give it a "7" out of "10."