Customer Reviews

The Norliss Tapes

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A long time favorite of mine "The Norliss Tapes" finally arrives on DVD in a very nice transfer but without any extras to speak of. Although it's a cut or two below "The Night Stalker" Curtis uses many of the same techniques to tell his story here about psychic investigator and writer David Norliss(Roy Thinnes from "The Invaders" and later a guest star on "The X-Files") has disappeared after investigating the strange case of a man who seemingly has come back from the dead. Unlike Kolchak in "The Night Stalker" Norliss is out to discredit the supernatural until he encounters Helen Court(Angie Dickinson). James Court her husband has died but he appears to have come back. Norliss disappears shortly after starting work on his book. His worried publisher shows up at Norliss' place and ends up listening to the story and we, in turn, hear Norliss tell the bizarre tale of James Court.

Although "The Norliss Tapes" hasn't aged as well as some other films from the same era it still manages to induce a few chills and be entertaining. Directed by Dan Curtis ("Dark Shadows", producer of "The Night Stalker" and director of "Trilogy of Terror")the film was originally a pilot for a TV series but plays just as well as a stand alone film. We never find out what happened to Norliss and the tale does indeed creep us out. Although not as well written as "The Night Stalker" or "Trilogy of Terror"(both scripted by Richard Matheson and Matheson with William F. Nolan respectively)Nolan's script of the Fred Mustard Stewart story has enough jolts to make the TV film memorable.

I am disappointed that Anchor Bay didn't give this film the complete care they gave cult classics like "Race with the Devil"; although Curtis is no longer with us Thinnes is around as is Dickinson and both could have been contacted for a commentary track at the very least. Also it would have provided the perfect opportunity for Anchor Bay to do a featurette on Curtis who was the consumate TV director working in a variety of genres (he directed "The Winds of War", "War and Rememberence" in addition to "The Night Strangler" and other horror projects)and creating memorable work.

Although "The Norliss Tapes" isn't quite as successful as Curtis' other projects from the time it's still enjoyable and has enough creepy atmosphere to make it worthwhile. A warning to fans of gore driven horror films--this film is not into gore and it's scary moments will seem tame compared to most theatrical films like "The Hills Have Eyes" or "Saw" but it's from another era where acting and suspense were more important than gore for the sake of gore.

I'm happy to finally have this on DVD now I'm hoping that Anchor Bay can license "Night Slaves" a great little sci-fi thriller directed by Ted Post. Many of these vintage 70's films are getting the loving care that they deserve (and I have no complaints whatsoever about Anchor Bay's transfer the film looks surprisingly good)so I'm hoping that either Anchor Bay or Dark Sky will continue to mine the vaults for these minor gems.

I find it odd that this television pilot film has languished in obscurity for so long. 'The Norliss Tapes' first appeared on the T.V. screen in '73 by Dan Curtis who gave us the wildly success cult classic `The Night Stalker' in '72. Maybe it was simply too similar to the earlier film to capture the attention of the audience.

Synopsis: A psychic investigator David Norliss (Roy Thinnes) is asked to look into the mysterious circumstances involving the recent death of a local California artist and his reported appearance to his widowed wife (Angie Dickenson) shortly after the funeral. When the highly spectial Norliss discovers an empty coffin and learns of a series of grisly, ongoing murders in the surrounding community he slowly begins to postulate the impossible.

I must admit I'm pleased to see this buried and all but forgotten gem from the `70's finally available on DVD so it can be rediscovered and enjoyed by a new audience of horror fans. Not quite on par with `The Night Stalker' but it doesn't miss by much. I love the ending, it's extremely disquieting and Lovecraftian in mood and atmosphere. The film offered the perfect opportunity for a sequel, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. Give it a look.

From the creative mind of Dan Curtis comes the 1973 made for television movie "The Norliss Tapes". This was actually the pilot intended for "The Norliss Tapes" television series, sadly the show wasn't picked up by NBC Studios and we can only wonder what could have been? Anchor Bay has done a remarkable job with the video and sound transfer of this DVD release.

The picture is spectacular and the original 2.0 sound albeit in mono is clean and crisp. After all these years "The Norliss Tapes" is still creepy and highly entertaining. This is one movie I would love to see rise from the ashes and be reborn into a new television series. In 1969 Dan Curtis tried to create a show based on the investigations of a paranormal investigator with a pilot called "In the Dead of Night" sadly it never saw the light of day. After all these years one question still remains, what ever happened to David Norliss?

The Cast:
Roy Thinnes ...David Norliss
Angie Dickinson ...Ellen Sterns Cort
Nick Dimitri ...James Raymond Cort
Claude Akins ...Sheriff Tom Hartley
Vonetta McGee ...Mme. Jeckiel
Don Porter ...Sanford T. Evans (publisher)

I was about nine years old when I first saw this movie on television. It would have been its original premiere that I caught around 1975. I have never forgotten this movie. I have also searched for it without even remembering its title, but knew I would recognize it immediately when I found it. You know how your memory of things are when you are a child. I ordered it and found that it was just as thrilling as I remembered, and that says a lot, because everyone has experienced the let down of the real thing not measuring up to a vivid memory. I rated this movie 5 stars and would gladly give it 6 stars if that were possible. I think it has a lot to do with how carefully the director/producer was at setting up his scenes. This movie was the brainchild of the same person that brought us Dark Shadows and was also involved in the original Night Stalker movies. It has been added to my favorite collection of movies to watch on Halloween. I enjoy showing it to friends who are totally unfamiliar with it. They become involved in the story. It is fun to watch them!

This little film was released at the time of Kolchack the night stalker series and is quite good ,although it is very close to previous horror films made for TV.Norliss is a writer investigating the supernatural and trying to debunk theories of witchcraft/monsters etc....but meets a true walking dead man in Angie Dickinson's dead husband.He is making a sculpture of a demon with blood and clay to bring it to life.David Norliss ruins the plan along the way in this Robert Cobert/Dan Curtis film both associated with Dark Shadows 60s tv show and his series of Night stalker/strangler films.Not as good as those 2 features but it will satisfy an audience who loves dark tv movies from early 70s.Another Dan Curtis film is Scream of the Wolf 1974 with Clint Walker and Peter Graves that would be used as similiar type of film.It has narration by Norliss and is not as effective as Darren McGavin in Night Stalker but oh well??? enjoy

This is one that I have been looking for a very long time. It was one of the better forays into horror that T.V. movies of the 70's frequently did at that point(1973 to be exact) and brought to us by Dan (The Night Stalker,Dark Shadows) and it still holds up well, If not as good as those.
Norliss(Roy Thinnes,good as always) is looking to prove psychic things and the supernatural are just a load of junk. As the movie starts Norliss is missing and his Boss finds these tapes he has left behind about what he found while looking into the case of James Court an artist that just died and has been seen by his wife still in his studio.
What follows is a tale of many different types of vampires, demons, and evil. This is very well done and acted. The whole cast is made up of some of the 70's best T.V. actors and the script is very literate and uses vampire lore that we don't hear that much about.
This one is also not one for the younger kids in the house. Even for a 70's T.V. movie it is still very intense. A real Blast From The Past.

In the wake of Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist, films of supernatural horror were in abundance in the 70's. Made-for-TV-movies were no exception. The Norliss Tapes was one of these films, an often forgotten and overlooked example of the genre. Starring Roy Thinnes (of The Invaders t.v. series), no stranger to television or the occult/supernatural film-"Satan's School for Girls", and "Black Noon" being two such t.v. movies of the 70's. While the plot in The Norliss Tapes may be a little thin, the film is held together by Thinnes' solid, down-to-earth presence as a professional investigator (a debunker, actually) of claims of the paranormal and supernatural. But when he meets Mrs. Cord(Angie Dickinson) and hears her tale of ressurection of the dead and the occult, his disbelief soon gives way to belief. A fun film for fans of 70's supernatural films and Roy Thinnes. Produced by Dan Curtis (The Night Stalker, Burnt Offerings)

I cant believe it , after all these years , the film I recalled just a few nights earlier with a friend is now on DVD how cool is that !? lol

I remember seeing this as a kid and it scared the hell out of me ! Now that I own it Im more in love Angie Dickinson ! Roy Thinnes what a cool actor I think .

I didnt know this was supposed to be a pilot for a series , but none the less Im happy to own this dvd .

Dan Curtis was a very creative , I like that he uses the same music in all his films and TV shows , very cool .

If you are a fan of Angie Dickinson , Dan Curtis , Roy Thinnes then get this and enjoy .

Watching "The Norliss Tapes" reminded me of watching "Karl Kolchak: The Night Stalker." Not surprising since both were directed by Dan Curtis who also helmed the landmark gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows." He also directed numerous gothic telehorror masterpieces such as "The Night Stalker," "The Night Strangler," and "Trilogy of Terror."

Let the viewer be warned that "The Norliss Tapes" is a made for television movie that was a pilot for a series that never happened. Its ending led the viewer to believe that the story would be concluded in the first episode of the series. Alas, we will never know what happened to David Norliss (Roy Thinnes).

Angie Dickinson of Brian DePalma's "Dressed to Kill" is wonderful as the wife who is terrorized by her dead husband in his studio. (He looks very similar to the vampire Barnabas Collins of "Dark Shadows.") Norliss investigates the apparition which has a connection to a string of murders where victims are drained of blood.

"Norliss Tapes" is a suspenseful occult telehorror from Dan Curtis. Unfortunately, the ending is disappointing in its abruptness and lack of resolution. I like an open ending but I felt as though twenty minutes were missing. Commentary from Curtis would've been nice; maybe he could've explained future plans he had for the series. As it was, the DVD lacked special features except for a few trailers. Furthermore, the makeup appeared dated and there were innumerable plot holes. "The Norliss Tapes" is recommended only for die hard fans of Curtis' works.

Made in the aftermath of the success of the two Kolchak tv movies, this Dan Curtis effort written by Bill Nolan (LOGAN'S RUN) starred Roy Thinnes (THE INVADERS)as author/investigator David Norliss. Comissioned to do a book debunking the supernatural, his efforts soon show him truths not meant to be found. After vanishing his publisher goes to his house and discovers a series of audio tapes. He puts in the first one and this unsold pilot begins. Also starring Claude Akins, Angie Dickenson and Don Porter. Maybe a little sedate for younger viewers it's still a pretty decent scare ride with good (for tv) production values.