Dead of Night: A Darkness at Blaisedon

Failed pilot to a proposed TV series by Dan Curtis("The Night Stalker") features a little known cast in a story about a woman who contacts two paranormal researchers to investigate her reputedly haunted house she has inherited.

Oddly video-taped, rather than filmed, which makes the whole thing look cheap and amateurish, though script isn't too bad really, and there is some atmosphere to be had, it just fails to come to life adequately to engage the viewer, though it may have cult possibilities.

Was released on DVD as a special feature with the similarly titled "Dead Of Night" TV film from 1977, which was a more successful effort, though a TV series never developed from either project.

This un-aired pilot for a series that never was to be,can be seen on the DVD for the "Dead of Night" TV movie. In it, Angela Martin hires Jonathan Fletcher and his assistant Sajid Rowe to investigate the haunted mansion that she's just inherited. A mansion that looks suspiciously like redecorated 'Dark Shadows' sets. It's easy to see why this failed pilot was never picked up for a series, it's not really that interesting & both "Dark Shadows" and the later ""Kolchak: The Night Stalker" were much better. This is only a footnote in 'horror' television (if it even warrants that) and in my mind deservedly so.

My Grade: C-

Modest but engaging 'haunted house' effort with all the typical trappings: sinister custodian, lookalike descendant, possession, séance, ghost, grave-digging, atonement over past crime, etc.

The film was the unsold pilot (running 52 minutes) for a proposed TV series, though the title was later adopted by a feature-length anthology (also for the small screen) by its creator, Dan Curtis; in fact, I acquired this along with that one and I intend the latter's viewing to follow presently. Despite the uncinematic look (redolent of early video quality), the result conjures up sufficient atmosphere and tension throughout (technically via lighting, production design, sound and music and thematically as much by way of conjecture as action scenes) to keep one solidly entertained.

The rest of the protagonists are a couple of men with a passion for and knowledge of the esoteric (one is played by ex-Sinbad Kerwin Mathews, gracefully aged, and the other an Indian) – whom the leading lady calls upon to 'investigate' her brand-new legacy. By the end of the picture, apart from the fact that she starts having mutual feelings for the hero, her companions ask the woman to join their 'business' since, during her tenure inside the house (which obviously goes up in flames at the climax), she had proved especially receptive to the supernatural!

This is a bonus feature included for the TV movie "Dead of Night". Despite the similarity of the titles, the two are unrelated projects by Dan Curtis (of "Dark Shadows" fame). The TV movie is an horror anthology (perhaps originally intended as a TV pilot) and "A Darkness at Blaisedon" was a one-hour failed pilot. Both are well worth your time.

This pilot concerns folks who investigate the supernatural and in many ways it's a bit like the later "Kolchak" series. In this particular case, a young heiress is concerned because she cannot sell the mansion she just inherited because the potential buyers all complain that the place is haunted. While she doesn't believe this, she is willing to pay a paranormal researcher to investigate and give it the all clear. However, it IS haunted and soon this pretty lady finds herself possessed! What's next? See it yourself.

Overall, this is a pretty good show--and perhaps it was good enough for a 7 (it is close). It kept my interest and the only complaint is the cheap look of the production--though the "Dark Shadows" TV show also looked really, really cheap as well and probably used the same sets. Worth a peek.

Angela Martin (soap actress Marj Dusay) hires Jonathan Fletcher (Kerwin Mathews, the dauntless hero in Columbia's classic "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad") and his assistant Sajid Rowe (Cal Bellini, an ethnic 1960s John Stamos) to investigate the haunted mansion that she's just inherited.

Another reviewer referred to this short film (actually a television pilot) as "not really that interesting" and "only a footnote" in the world of horror. I think that sums it up nicely. While this did not turn into a "Dead of Night" television series, it seems to be closely linked to "Dark Shadows".

The writer is Sam Hall (who did 315 episodes of "Dark Shadows") and the director is Lela Swift (who did 585 episodes of "Dark Shadows", as well as 589 episodes of "Ryan's Hope"). We even have great music from Bob Cobert, a Dan Curtis regular, setting the tone. This idea never really went away so much as just became repackaged.

There's some questionable things about the show... like a mummy coffin with hinges? And they have very Broadwayesque stages and acting styles, not unlike soap operas or a high school musical. Personally, I was turned off my this over-the-top approach. But really, if you have a chance to see this, I'd say go for it... once. There's nothing particularly special about this film and it's easily forgettable.