Bahía Coven

"Bay Coven" is a 1987 TV film also known as "Bay Cove" and (God knows why) "Eye of the Demon." It stars Pamela Sue Martin and Tim Matheson as a couple that move to an island off the coast of Massachusetts where they run afoul of a coven of witches. Woody Harrelson of "Cheers" is also on hand as a friend of the couple.

The story is engrossing, mysterious & creepy and the cast is fabulous. The witches all attempt to present themselves as normal neighbors but fail completely -- there's just something NOT RIGHT about them. The island locations are also a highlight.

Pamela Sue Martin is very alluring as the one who slowly unravels the mystery, which is fitting since she used to play mystery-sleuth Nancy Drew.

"Bay Coven" has been called the TV version of "Rosemary's Baby" and, to some degree, "The Amityville Horror", but -- believe it or not -- although "Bay Coven" is not as good on a technical level due to it's TV budget, it's actually better as far as plot, story and locations go. It's just more engrossing. It also has been compared to "The Devil's Rain," but let's just say it wouldn't take much to be better than that piece of crap.

On the downside, the final act is cartoony with its overt depiction of the coven, but that's almost always the case when films attempt to show witches or satanists and their diabolical doings. Look no further than the final scenes of "Rosemary's Baby." Still, most everyone who signs on for a film like this do so with the understanding that they'll see a group of weirdo occultists and the film provides this, cartoony or not.

GRADE: B+

Occasionally, made-for-television horror movies are surprisingly good, like GARGOYLES, SALEM'S LOT, or Pamela Sue Martin and Tim Matheson as a big city couple who decide to move to the nearby old-fashioned island of BAY COVE, which, it turns out, has some strange content...

Including an eerie old man who stares out a window SENTINEL style; neighbors who hatefully fear dogs like STRANGE INVADERS...

And last but not least, a cemetery that's most recent headstone dates back to the 1700's, possibly making the middle-aged residents a couple hundred years old...

As Pamela Sue's our investigative Mia Farrow ala ROSEMARY'S BABY (sans impregnation) while in-denial Matheson adheres quickly to the weird locals, taking the John Cassavetes soulless husband mantel; and Woody Harrelson's the heroine's best friend who, like Maurice Evans, gets a piece of clothing stolen before buying the farm...

Jeff Conaway is a deceptively mundane, preppy neighbor while the pivotal Ruth Gordon/Satan's watchdog role goes to Barbara Billingsly, who co-starred with Matheson on a few LEAVE IT TO BEAVER episodes. And add an eerie little girl (Marsha Moreau), who possesses an ability to always keep a tight eye on the newcomers, thus providing some EXORCIST vibes...

Produced by future BATMAN moguls Peter Gruber and Jon Peters, the suspense and intrigue goes hand-in-hand as our heroine stumbles upon the truth, getting more in danger while the surrounding residents, especially her seemingly perfect husband, become more enigmatic, possibly lethal...

And while originally named BAY COVEN, without the N lies a more subtle and suitable title as much of the film consists of obscuring that element (EYE OF THE DEMON and STRANGERS IN TOWN are other alternates). And the island itself is called Devlin... so you can't say they weren't warned.

I really miss not seeing Pamela Sue Martin as Nancy Drew. This movie is almost a continuation of that role as she moves to an island [without Gilligan] off the Maine coast that is infested with witches. Tim Matheson of "Buried Secrets" is her handsome husband and Barbera Billingsley plays against type as a chilling housekeeper. There's not much of a psychological developement to this movie, but there's a lot of gripping scenes as Martin learns something may be wrong as all her friends keep dying strange deaths. This movie could also be a reprise of her "Poseidon Adventure" character if you count Woody Harrelson of "Cheers" as the adult version of her little brother from that movie. Susan Ruttan and James Sikking also have compelling roles in this as just two of the witches who wish her harm. The special effects are light but excellant and the ending is just a little anti-climactic. If I had made this movie, Pamela would be warring mano-a-mano with sorcery of her own. I really love this movie, but for some reason I wish the Bots and Mike at MST3K had gotten ahold of it and riffed it a little.

I bought this at the store for a $1.50 expecting absolutely nothing, but actually this is not at all a bad film, and rather interesting. It is slow paced, which is a good thing, the tension builds up as the film moves along and it gets more and more interesting until the climax. This is a suspense film, and a well done one, many movies about witches fail but this is one that does it pretty well. The acting is pretty decent also, good acting from Tim Matheson and Woody Harrelson. Not much gore but it doesn't need it, it was made for TV so most profanity and gore and nudity is absent but it works with the film. This one is recommended to buy for a $1.50 if you want a pretty decent suspense film.

Not meant to be taken too seriously. The plot moves quickly and there is never a scene that is an obligatory "gross out." After a slow start body the story it picks up quickly and it really keeps you on your toes with the psychological teasing.

The acting is not bad and is about as convincing it needs to be for a TV movie (1950's TV mom Barbara Billingsly is in it). The plot does drag on when the main character suspects the secret of the island town. It doesn't take long for your, "rationality senses" to kick on and you start to think the Pamela Sue Martin character is just plain crazy for not leaving when she has a chance instead of trying to find allies where she suspects none exist.

As a cheap buy its not a bad movie, but its quality goes down as the price goes up.