Les sorcières de la nuit

A new student from the East Coast (Mary Beth McDonough) enrolls in Ocean High in SoCal where she immediately meets a potential beau (Patrick Cassidy), which means becoming the rival of his dubious ex, who just so happens to take the black arts seriously (Melissa Sue Anderson). Cathryn Damon plays the mother of the latter while Marion Ross is on hand as a wise mentor.

Although "Midnight Offerings" (1981) was originally released to TV, it's a formidable witchcraft-oriented horror featuring several iconic television stars from the 70s and the younger brother of Shaun Cassidy. It's basically a mixture of "Carrie" (1976), "Summer of Fear" (1978) and the forthcoming "Christine" (1983).

It works well because the story draws you into the drama of the romantic triangle and everything culminates with a hellish, but fitting, climax. King D no doubt ripped-off the set for the occultic rituals for his diabolic photo ops.

The film runs around 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles.

GRADE: B.

After a high school teacher dies in a tragic, fiery "accident", we're introduced to honor roll student and Homecoming Queen, Vivian Sotherland (Melissa Sue Anderson). It's made clear right from the beginning that Vivian is a practitioner of the dark arts, spouting incantations and performing devilish mumbo jumbo in her bedroom.

Viv's oblivious father (Gordon Jump) is wrapped around her pinky, while her mother (Cathryn Damon) sees through her daughter's overly-sweet veneer.

When new student, Robin Prentiss (Mary Beth McDonough) enters the picture, daring to befriend Vivian's boyfriend (Patrick Cassidy), things get very interesting. Vivian is about to discover that Robin might not be an ordinary girl.

MIDNIGHT OFFERINGS is a wonderfully wicked, made-for-TV horror film, delving into deviltry, and allowing Ms. Anderson to shed her wholesome, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE image. She's perfect in her delectably eeevil role!

Fearful fun right up to the final showdown...

I fell in love with "Midnight Offerings" when it aired August 6, 1996 on MonsterVision on TNT. The movie makes sense if you watch it more than once, it also has a few good lines. For example:

"Tell the police? They'll Put me in a basket-weaving class for sure."

"The police have better things to worry about than your extra-curricular activities dear."

Melissa Sue Anderson is great as a bitch-witch and it totally shows. This one was never released on VHS although, I have a copy with no commercials. Here is a quick review: Robin Prentiss (Mary Beth McDonough; The Waltons) is new to Ocean High School. She makes a boyfriend her first day. But that boyfriend belongs to Vivian Sotherland (Melissa Sue Anderson; Little House On The Prairie), who is a Hectite witch.She tries to kill Robin, because she knows Robin is a witch too. Can Robin save herself or be destroyed by Vivian?

If you ever have a chance, check out this movie. I gave it a 10!

What impressed me the most about the script writer Jaunita Bartlett (who also wrote episodes for the Greatest American Hero) was her in-depth research into the darker side of witch craft. The Demonic charges that Vivian Sutherland summons to do her bidding actually came from various text of witch craft. Star packed actors like Melisa Sue Anderson (Little House On The Praire) and Mary McDonough (The Waltons) Patrick Cassidy and Marion Ros (Happy Days) the movie was shocking for it's time. Vivian's complete lack of concern for the welfare of others is disturbing! However, in retrospect the magical show downs between Vivian and Robin are anti-climatic and appear weak and awkward by standards expected by the audiences of today. Yet it still remains a favorite of mine. I keep waiting for this movie to be released on DVD. Two other movies around this period come to mind. The original 1978 "Initiation of Sarah" similar to "Carie" and "Stranger In Our House" (also known as Summer Of Fear) staring Linda Blair. Both are recommended if you like "Witchy" movies.

I remember this movie. I was always a fan of TV horror movies. This one takes the cake. Melissa Sue Anderson, who played Mary Ingalls, sister of Laura, daughter of Charles, on "Little House on the Prairie". She was sooo innocent in that TV show. Then, later, TV execs hired her on to play Vivian Sotherland in this movie. She played the part soo well! NOT so innocent anynmore! Downright evil! A very satanic, wicked witch, with a black cat, and reciting spells and incantations in Latin at the beginning of the movie. While she's conjuring evil spirits, and casting spells, we see a car driving down the street. It suddenly crashes and bursts into flames. The driver dies. Vivian got the powers from her mother, originally. Her mother doesn't use them anymore. She wants Vivian to relinquish the powers, and be a normal girl. Vivian won't have any part of that.

A new girl has settled into the town, and is going to the high school attended by Vivian and her boyfriend Dave. Her name is Robin Prentiss, who played Erin Walton on "The Waltons." She was goody two shoes in that TV show, like Mary Ingalls. Well, she doesn't wander far from home in this movie. She's got powers. She's a good witch, but doesn't really realize it until later in the movie. She's trying to protect herself from Vivian. She makes boats move through the water, makes it really windy, and does other harmless things, just to practice her witchcraft. Vivian knows the powers Robin has. She also knows the hold Robin has on her boyfriend, Dave. Jealousy has lead to death threats against Robin. Vivian has given Robin two days to leave town, or she's dead. With the help of the mystical Emily Moore, who played Marion Cunningham on "Happy Days", Robin realizes her special abilities, and masters them, somewhat. They are no way as powerful as Vivian's, but they do protect her from harm half-way through the movie.

In an exciting cliffhanger, we see who wins at the end. This was a pretty good movie back in the day. I remember it like it was yesterday, and have a taped copy from the sci-fi channel.