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Deadly Messages

  • TV Movie
  • 1985
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
342
YOUR RATING
Deadly Messages (1985)
HorrorMysteryThriller

Laura Daniels, single and bored, finds new interest in life when she discovers an old ouija board. It appears, however, that the object's previous owner was murdered - and messages from beyo... Read allLaura Daniels, single and bored, finds new interest in life when she discovers an old ouija board. It appears, however, that the object's previous owner was murdered - and messages from beyond warn Laura that she may be next.Laura Daniels, single and bored, finds new interest in life when she discovers an old ouija board. It appears, however, that the object's previous owner was murdered - and messages from beyond warn Laura that she may be next.

  • Director
    • Jack Bender
  • Writer
    • William Bleich
  • Stars
    • Kathleen Beller
    • Michael Brandon
    • Dennis Franz
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    342
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jack Bender
    • Writer
      • William Bleich
    • Stars
      • Kathleen Beller
      • Michael Brandon
      • Dennis Franz
    • 13User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos3

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    Top cast34

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    Kathleen Beller
    Kathleen Beller
    • Laura Daniels
    Michael Brandon
    Michael Brandon
    • Michael Krasnick
    Dennis Franz
    Dennis Franz
    • Detective Max Lucas
    Scott Paulin
    Scott Paulin
    • Dr. Roger Kelton
    Elizabeth Huddle Nyberg
    • Nurse Irma Crenshaw
    • (as Elizabeth Huddle)
    Charles Tyner
    Charles Tyner
    • George Clark
    George Wyner
    George Wyner
    • Mr. Lawson
    Raye Birk
    Raye Birk
    • Harding
    Kurtwood Smith
    Kurtwood Smith
    • Lieutenant Burton
    Kit McDonough
    Kit McDonough
    • Book Clerk
    Sherri Stoner
    • Cindy Matthews
    Joseph G. Medalis
    • Kenneth Blatt
    Barbara Collentine
    Barbara Collentine
    • Loretta Clark
    Dennis Redfield
    Dennis Redfield
    • Dick Pizza
    Michael Cassidy
    • Mark Banning
    Michael Miller
    • Pawn Broker
    Wally Dalton
    Wally Dalton
    • Fire Chief Jack Brandt
    Rion Hunter
    Rion Hunter
    • Lester
    • Director
      • Jack Bender
    • Writer
      • William Bleich
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    6.0342
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    Featured reviews

    7KDWms

    above-average; interest grows

    I read only a couple of other comments about this film, so, I'll volunteer my two cents, as well. 'Cept I'm not gonna disagree with the other reviewers - I, too, thought that this was an above-average flick. Laura realizes that she is locked out of her apartment and peers through a window. Maybe her housemate (who she doesn't know very well) will see her and let her in. Instead, Laura witnesses a guy choking the roomie. In a panic, she gets the fire department to respond to an alarm at her flat. The cops are also dispatched. In spite of Laura's story, the police can't find a body, or any signs of a forced entry or struggle; so, to them, Laura looks like a kook. To make matters worse, it's learned that it's not the first time when the co-tenant has dropped out of sight. One of Laura's diversions is to play with a Ouija Board. From it she receives information about what she saw, her address, and eventually, herself. Throughout it all, she has difficulty convincing a detective - even her boyfriend - of what she suspects and her own identity. Finally, she is confronted with it actually being HER story. The movie starts out kinda slow, but causes one's interest to increase as it progresses. I hope that the unsympathetic portrayal of the police is exaggerated. I guess it was part of the attempt to show frustration at being disbelieved - like: sure you were abducted by aliens. This dummy also appreciated one of the final scenes, wherein the pieces of the puzzle were nicely summed up by those involved. Not a lot else to praise or badmouth here. Bottom line is: it's time and/or reasonable bucks adequately spent.
    6bowmanblue

    Probably better than it ought to be

    Now I'm looking this film up online to review I find that it was indeed 'made for TV' back 1985 (I had guessed that within the first few minutes of watching it!). That's normally a sign that you're not going to be getting much for your money - cheap sets, unknown actors and a lot of suspension of disbelief required to properly enjoy it. And, yes, it is all those things. But it's also got its charms!

    It's about a young woman who finds an old ouija board and ends up getting the titular 'deadly' messages, which warn her of foreboding and lethal events ahead.

    I haven't heard of anyone in the cast (I doubt the main villain from 'Robocop' counts as an 'A-lister'), the script is so-so and do be expecting anything in the way of special effects - there's both no need or budget for that. And yet I kept watching. I suppose this is an instance when you can tell the difference between a 'slow burning' story and a boring one. If this movie was just outright dull then the slow pace wouldn't lead to anything, whereas there was at least a decent attempt at crafting a genuine sense of mystery around the central character.

    I actually wanted to know what was going on in her life and her past and I was glad I stuck with it to find out. You can't really judge 'Deadly Messages' against massive Hollywood productions - it's not in their league. But in terms of nice, easy-going little supernatural mysteries than you might happen to come across late night on TV, I have sat through much worse!
    8blanche-2

    Proof that TV movies used to be better

    I am surprised nowadays how many TV movies I've seen are slow-moving - and yet, their scripts run about 1 hour and 42 minutes today as opposed to 1 hour and 52 minutes some 20 years ago.

    Even with more time to fill, there were TV movies like "Deadly Messages" around that moved at a quick pace, were suspenseful and entertaining.

    The story in "Deadly Messages" continues to evolve until the very end, so there is always a surprise around the corner for the viewer.

    Laura Daniels (Kathleen Beller) is a pretty young woman living with her attorney boyfriend Michael (Michael Brandon) when one night, as she is trying to gain access to her apartment from the fire escape because she has no keys, she sees the woman staying with them murdered.

    Afterward, she becomes convinced - with reason - that the killer is after her, especially after a Ouija board sends a message that says "I am going to kill you."

    The police don't believe her; her concerned boyfriend takes her in for a CT scan, where it's discovered that she's had electroshock therapy. She denies it. Michael then finds more evidence that something is terribly wrong with the woman he thought he knew.

    There are parts of "Deadly Messages" that will have you on the edge of your seat, and the suspense really builds. Beller, who seems to be retired now, is a likable actress capable of big histrionics, which were needed for this film.

    Brandon has less to do, and his part isn't the most sympathetic, but he comes off fine. Dennis Franz is guess what, playing a police detective in this, and it's a very similar character to NYPD Blue's Andy.

    Well above average - I love suspense movies; I wish more TV movies were like this one.
    6manson21

    Not bad not bad at all

    The other day i was having some beers you know having a good time then the next night had a bad hangover so i thought i will watch a movie and a saw deadly messages in my TV book. It's about this woman who comes across a Ouija board in her apartment so her friend start using it and then the other woman comes back went up the fire ladder only to see her being murdered. The cops thinks she's going crazy about the deadly massage's from the Ouija board her boyfriend does not believe her so she goes out to find the truth about her past that she forgot. Anyway i wont spoil the rest of the film in case people not seen it yet. But overall it was a good TV film worth watching 6/10
    Dethcharm

    Back From The Past...

    In DEADLY MESSAGES, Laura Daniels (Kathleen Beller) finds an old Ouija board in her closet, and is soon being stalked by a knife-wielding maniac. As the story develops, we realize that there's much more going on than just a simple slasher film.

    This is an interesting made-for-TV movie. It's a definite thriller, but it also has heavy doses of supernatural / psychological horror. So, it could be viewed as either or both. There's a lot of mystery involved as well.

    Ms. Beller has a genuine knack for this sort of tele-terror, making the best of her morphing role. Dennis Franz plays what amounts to a dry run for his -then future- role on NYPD BLUE. Kurtwood Smith has what amounts to a cameo role as the top cop on the case.

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    Related interests

    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final film of Doris Singleton.
    • Connections
      Features Le Désosseur de cadavres (1959)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • February 21, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Messages de l'Au-delà
    • Filming locations
      • Linda Vista Hospital - 610 S. St. Louis Street, Los Angeles, California, USA(Location)
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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