La dynastie de l'horreur

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.

"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+

A married couple named "Jerry Lebon" (Tim Matheson) and "Linda Lebon" (Pamela Sue Martin) are living in Boston and decide to move off the coast to a place called Devlin Island. On the island is a small community which goes by the name of Bay Cove and is populated by people who have lived there a very long time. However, things are not as they seem. Not only do the neighbors act a little weird but there are a number of strange occurrences which being happening shortly after Jerry and Linda arrive. Anyway, rather than spoil the film for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this wasn't a bad movie, all things considered. Even so, because this was a made-for-television movie there were some parts which I thought were rather tame. Especially in the horror department. I liked the performance of Pamela Sue Martin and the fact that the director (Carl Schenkel) managed to keep the suspense going for the most part and that proved enough to justify the time spent watching it. I give it an average rating.

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.

A couple move to a small community and island to get away from the lights and sirens of Boston. Once in Bay Cove, they wish they had never left the big city.

We meet Linda who has just been promoted to junior partner at the big city law firm she works for. She's married to a man named Jerry who seems to despise his big city life and career and wants to move back to the country doing "hard labour" jobs. After speaking to a couple who live on Devlin Island, and a small secluded community called Bay Cove, Linda and Jerry decide to move there and buy a house. They meet the neighbours who are very strange and then their dog starts reacting around them as well. Pretty soon Linda's dog is killed, her best friend dies in a mysterious accident while visiting on the island, and Jerry becomes extremely distant. Are these all coincidences, or is there a supernatural force at work?

I enjoyed Bay Cove for what it was - a late 80's made for TV chiller about a community of witches trying to secure their sacrifice in order to have immortality. I think that because it was made for TV it's potential wasn't used to the full extent, due to budgetary reasons and other restrictions that comes with being made solely for late night television. The story itself was told very well and it was easy to follow. There was enough mystery and suspense surrounding Bay Cove and it's residents that it made me as a viewer stick around and be invested the whole way through.

Acting was pretty good from all involved, especially Pamela Sue Martin who played the lead role of Linda. You feel for the character as you see all of these strange things happening around her and she can't do a thing about it. Tim Matheson was his usual fine self in the lead male role. Woody Harrelson makes an appearance in a very minor part as well and you can see the star quality even this early on in his career.

Overall I liked Bay Cove. It fell apart in the second half for sure which is why I rated it so average. The first 45 minutes to an hour were really good and the director did a great job creating the story and characters and atmosphere. The ending was a bit dull and ho hum and very made for TV.

5/10