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L'Été de la peur

Original title: Stranger in Our House
  • TV Movie
  • 1978
  • 12
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
Linda Blair and Lee Purcell in L'Été de la peur (1978)
HorrorThriller

A teenage girl's life is turned upside down after her cousin moves into her house, and as time goes by she begins to suspect that she may be a practitioner of witchcraft.A teenage girl's life is turned upside down after her cousin moves into her house, and as time goes by she begins to suspect that she may be a practitioner of witchcraft.A teenage girl's life is turned upside down after her cousin moves into her house, and as time goes by she begins to suspect that she may be a practitioner of witchcraft.

  • Director
    • Wes Craven
  • Writers
    • Lois Duncan
    • Glenn M. Benest
    • Max A. Keller
  • Stars
    • Linda Blair
    • Lee Purcell
    • Jeremy Slate
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    3.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writers
      • Lois Duncan
      • Glenn M. Benest
      • Max A. Keller
    • Stars
      • Linda Blair
      • Lee Purcell
      • Jeremy Slate
    • 57User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos73

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    Top cast22

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    Linda Blair
    Linda Blair
    • Rachel Bryant
    Lee Purcell
    Lee Purcell
    • Julia Trent
    Jeremy Slate
    Jeremy Slate
    • Tom Bryant
    Jeff McCracken
    Jeff McCracken
    • Mike Gallagher
    Jeff East
    Jeff East
    • Peter Bryant
    Carol Lawrence
    Carol Lawrence
    • Leslie Bryant
    Macdonald Carey
    Macdonald Carey
    • Professor Jarvis - Special appearance by
    Fran Drescher
    Fran Drescher
    • Carolyn Baker
    James Jarnigan
    • Bobby Bryant
    • (as James Jarnagin)
    Sierra Pecheur
    • Nurse Duncan
    Billy Beck
    Billy Beck
    • The Sheriff
    Patricia Wilson
    Patricia Wilson
    • Mrs. Gallagher
    Gwil Richards
    • Dr. Morgan
    Frederick Rule
    • The Mailman
    Helena Mäkelä
    • Bev. Hills Lady
    • (as Helena Makela)
    Nicole Keller
    • Elizabeth
    John Steadman
    John Steadman
    • Veterinarian
    Kerry Arquette
    • Anne
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writers
      • Lois Duncan
      • Glenn M. Benest
      • Max A. Keller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews57

    5.53.4K
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    Featured reviews

    thrillkillkub

    a fun, but difficult to find, teen witchcraft movie

    This film is based on one of my favorite books from when i was younger. "Summer of Fear", which was written by Lois Duncan, who wrote many teen horror novels in the 70's. It involves a young girl (like most of Duncan's books) who finds herself confronted by the possibility that her 'dear' cousin is actually a witch hell bent on destroying her family and small circle of friends. The main reason im writing this comment is because im having a very tough time finding this film ANYWHERE. If you should happen across this review, and perhaps KNOW where i might find a copy, PLEASE...send up a smoke signal.
    6Leofwine_draca

    Cheesy but entertaining '70s TV movie starring Scream Queen Linda Blair

    SUMMER OF FEAR started out as a 1978 made-for-TV movie, directed by LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT's Wes Craven and starring THE EXORCIST actress Linda Blair. Noting that it had performed surprisingly well in the schedules, the producers repackaged it as a theatrical movie, retitled it SUMMER OF FEAR, and released it in Europe.

    How much you enjoy this one depends on your preference for American TV movies of the 1970s. I consider myself a huge fan, so I enjoyed this one, although the histrionic acting and cheesily dated nature of the production may be offputting to some; they were positives for me. The storyline is a straightforward 'cuckoo in the nest' type one, in which spoilt rich girl Linda Blair is put out of joint when her cousin joins the family after her parents are killed in a car accident.

    It soon transpires that said cousin has been dabbling in witchcraft, something confirmed by a put-upon college professor (a welcome role for SHADOW OF A DOUBT's Macdonald Carey). It's one of those films where nobody believes Blair's character, forcing her to take matters into her own hands. You can hardly blame them: dressing in the frumpiest clothes imaginable and saddled with an appalling 'Afro' haircut, the Blair looks like an eyesore here and her character's a real whiner.

    The supernatural elements of the narrative are limited, but there's some good stuff with spooked horses and an action-packed climax that involves car chases and cat-fights, all well handled on a low budget. The twist ending was inevitable after the release of CARRIE. Watch out for some SALEM'S LOT-style effects involving cool contact lenses. SUMMER OF FEAR may not be a great film but it sure is a fun one.
    5gridoon

    Straightforward Craven thriller is not bad - for a TV movie

    Linda Blair is this film's main draw today, but Lee Purcell is the real star of the show: at first I wasn't too sure about her, but she has the mysteriously seductive presence that her role calls for, and her performance literally gets better by the minute. This may be a Wes Craven movie, but it is also a TV movie, so it is rather tame in terms of sexuality and violence; there are few real surprises and few real thrills until the last 15 minutes and the (long awaited) catfight between Blair and Purcell. With its "evil stranger is disrupting the life of a normal happy family" plot, you could say that this film was ahead of its time; thrillers of this type didn't become popular until the early 90's, with "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" and others like it. But one look at Linda's hair will convince you that it was NOT ahead of its time in other areas. In short, rent it but don't buy it. (**)
    7drownsoda90

    Atypical Craven, and a fun television horror flick at that

    Seeing that this was from legendary horror director Wes Craven, and starring Linda Blair (who served as the demon-possessed girl, Regan, in "The Exorcist"), I decided to give "Summer of Fear" a chance. I wasn't expecting a TV movie (which was titled "Stranger In Our House" during it's television run), but I actually ended up enjoying it.

    The film centers around a teenage girl named Rachel. Rachel lives on a semi-secluded family farm in Northern California with her wealthy parents and siblings. When her mother's sister and brother-in-law die in a horrible car crash, their daughter, Julia, comes to live with them permanently. Julia seems somewhat normal, if not a little bit shy and withdrawn, but as time progresses, she puts an alluring spell over everyone she meets, and pulls all of Rachel's family and friends away from her. She begins getting close with Rachel's friends and her family, even stealing Rachel's boyfriend. After finding some strange items around the house (including burnt matches and a human tooth), Rachel discovers that Julia may be a practitioner of black magic. Now she must stop the evil witch before she launches her final assault.

    Okay, okay. I have to admit, some things in this movie were a bit laughable, mostly Linda Blair's poofy, frizzed out hairdo. The acting was alright, not great, but you can't expect a whole lot from it. Linda Blair's performance was decent, if not a little whiny at times, Lee Purcell pulled off the 'mysterious cousin' archetype, and Fran Drescher even had a small role as one of Rachel's friends. The film isn't scary at all, but I will say the finale was pretty well done, although by today's standards the effects may seem a bit cartoonish. I found it interesting to see Craven directing a film of this nature in his earlier years, considering he had just done brutal horror films such as "The Hills Have Eyes" and "Last House on the Left".

    To sum things up, I have to give "Summer of Fear" some credit— being a campy TV movie from the '70s, it has some chops. Although it lacked any substantial shocks or scares (except near the ending), I still found it to be a fun little piece of '70s nostalgia. Give it a look if you enjoy campy '70s horror, or if you want to see some of Craven's earlier work, because it is quite different from the films that he is most known for. All around good television terror. 7/10.
    7slasherstudios

    Campy, Kooky Made-For-TV Fun

    After Wes Craven made the groundbreaking "Last House on the Left" and "Hills Have Eyes", he fell into a bit of a rut before finally finding his footing again with the 1984 classic "A Nightmare on Elm Street". "Summer of Fear", the film I will be looking at today, is Wes Craven's third directorial effort. It's an ambitious effort to say the least but how well does a made for TV horror movie stand up 30 years last?

    The story is about a girl, Rachel Bryant (Linda Blair), who lives with her wealthy family in a nice house in the hills of Northern California. After her mother's sister, brother-in-law, and housekeeper die in a horrible car crash, the couple's daughter, Julia (Lee Purcell) comes to live with them. Julia seems a little shy if anything, but as time goes on, she begins to put an alluring spell over everyone she meets, pulling all of Rachel's family and friends away from her. After finding some odd things that belong to Julia (including a human tooth and burnt hair from Rachel's dog Trickle (for the movie the dog was changed to a horse due to Blair's love of horses and the name of the horse was Sundance instead of Trickle), Rachel begins to suspect that her cousin may be a practitioner of witchcraft, and she's hell-bent on turning Rachel's life upside down. Her open disbelieved suspicions caused her to become an outcast in front of her family.

    Ahh..."Summer of Fear," what a strange movie. Wes directed this voodoo/jealously movie for ABC in the summer of 1978. Well, like I said it's a very, very weird movie. The plot has something to do with this evil girl from the south that is sent to live with Linda Blair and her family after her parents die in a car accident. Of course, she's the "cousin" that no one in the family has seen in years and that no one really seems to remember. I know, I know...predictable...but try to follow me. After she is sent to live with Linda, all hell breaks loose as this evil girl tries to take over Linda's body or something (this is never really made clear). The special effects are corny, the editing choppy, and the acting is mediocre at best (wait till you see Fran "The Nanny" Dresher as Linda Blair's nasally best friend) and yet I still kinda enjoyed this picture. It's solid, fun, campy horror that never takes itself seriously. Go into it expecting a run-of-the-mill teenage made-for-TV movie and I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      In the book, "Summer of Fear" (1976) by Lois Duncan, Rachel's beloved pet was a cocker spaniel, however Linda Blair's affection for horses caused Wes Craven to have her pet be a horse instead.
    • Goofs
      When Rachel says, "What is it? What does she have that has you and Mike so enchanted?", Peter replies, "I guess some people are just special." He starts walking toward the door but then turns around briefly and says, "I like her..." Right after Peter says that, he smiles right at the camera as if he is posing for a picture.
    • Quotes

      Julia: I like my hair this way. Mike does, too. So does your father.

      Rachel Bryant: Well I can't stand a thing about you, and that includes your hair!

      Julia: How rude.

    • Alternate versions
      In the "Stranger In Our House" (1978) TV-version, there are four extra minutes which were cut out for the VHS release "Summer of Fear." Those extra minutes were put back for the "Summer of Fear" DVD release.
    • Connections
      Featured in La ferme de la terreur (1981)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 31, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • L'Été de la crainte
    • Filming locations
      • 5950 Spring Valley Road, Hidden Hills, California, USA(Rachel's home)
    • Production companies
      • Feature Films
      • Finnegan Associates
      • Inter Planetary Productions Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 38m(98 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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