Customer Reviews

Thriller

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have not seen this DVD set, but I thought I would inform everyone since the listing details are minimal, that this is the English television series Thriller that came out in the early 70's, and not the Karloff Thriller that came out in the early 60's.

Seeing so many 5-star ratings, this reviewer is reminded of the Los Angeles area movie critic some years back on TV who, with a 10-star-maximum rating system, rated so many average movies highly that he had no room left when something better came along, hence resorting to superlatives like "10-plus stars" or even "11 stars." In a 5-star-maximum rating context, 3.5 stars seem reasonable for this package: These episodes have mostly pretty good plots with excellent acting throughout, though in this much screen-time one must expect an occasional plot-hole.

These ten 61-to-67 minute episodes (totaling about 655 minutes, plus 2-3 minutes of Clemons' introduction for each episode) are each divided into three 20+ minute parts (DVD chapters) separated by breaks (e.g. "End of Part 1" ... "Part 2"...):

1. Lady Killer - 3 stars; A marriage set-up and murder-for-money scam, with a Hitchcock-ian twist.

2. Possession - 3 stars; Creepy old mansion; bodies in the basement; psychotic finger-snapping, whistling murderer; and a medium with supernatural powers.

3. Someone at the Top of the Stairs - 3 stars; An apartment "too good to be true;" two "marvelous" and "pretty, pretty girls"; steepled index fingers; and supernatural, satanic evil.

4. An Echo of Theresa - 2.5 stars; Mind-altering dual-personality deja-vu ghosts are triggered by the London Times and 20-year-old espionage activities. The ending is marred by Dinsdale Landen's (as Mathew "Earp") over-the-top melodramatics, ending an interesting episode with a farce. Re-edited into 1973 British TV movie "Anatomy of Terror." Minor sound glitches occur at 33 minutes.

5. The Colour of Blood - 3 stars; Convoluted plot with a red carnation killer on the loose, mistaken identities, trains, depots, befuddled police, missing 40,000 pounds, and two isolated mansions.

6. Murder in Mind - 3.5 stars - A murder already done, or still coming up? That the lady is a cowering, weeping wimp detracts!

7. A Place to Die - 3.5 stars - Dr. Nelson and wife Tessa (a very sweet Alexandra Hay) take over apparently idyllic country community medical practice. But all is not as seems with lots of limping about on bandaged feet and canes; the mysterious death of predecessor Dr. Sharp; mysterious disappearances of young blonde girls; strange gifts of fetishes, flower and herb bouquets; garlic cloves; crucifix; effigy doll; talk of a full moon coinciding with "Lady Day;" and "the expected one."

8. File It under Fear - 3.5 stars - Near classic murder mystery. Scene: the public library; there's Liz Morris, the 29-year-old prudish librarian who lives at home with her mother; George Bailey, the assistant librarian who feels denigrated and humiliated by women; Mr. Stubbs, the library's "lounge lizard;" Airman Sgt. Jerry Masters who checks-out murder mysteries and moves mysteriously about; and Steve, the lodger staying with Liz and her mother. Then there are the serial murders of fair young girls over the past 10 months "down by the canal" and starting shortly after Steve got estranged from his wife.

9. The Eyes Have It - 1.5 stars. Gunmen stage their assassination lookout at a home for blind students along the parade route. After living there who knows how long, the students only just discover the dumb waiter by an errant breeze? (Come on now!). Then there's the ditzy, naive girl sent out for rescue. It's rabbits-out-of the-hat time on this one. Guess every such series has to have one clunker.

10. Spell of Evil - 3.0 stars; Supernatural succubus witchcraft, with a few motive plot holes but a memorable performance from Diane Cilento.

BTW, this reviewer did not see "Bob Hoskins, Patrick Magee, Helen Mirren, Hayley Mills and Stephen Rea" in any of these episodes; maybe in Season 2? The DVDs are nicely packaged in four thin-style keep-cases, contained in one slip-case. TV picture is fine, sound occasionally muffled. Episode average: 2.95 stars. Add .55 stars for the (typically British) acting excellence and superior packaging.

Thriller is a unique and ultimate collection of heart stopping,
pulse-pounding,spine-chilling tv series and episodes ever made
for tv. Each episode of Thriller is razor-sharp stories full of
suspense,some are supernatural.In Thriller you will find the
macabre,the menacing and nail-biting tension and more.

Each episodes has top international stars and guest stars
making of Thriller one of the best tv series produced in the
U.K. The creator of the serie Brian Clemens has won the Edgar
Allan Poe Award for the best television thriller. Do not
miss the chance to have great viewing.Lovers of mystery,
suspense and horror will enjoy Thriller a quality anthology
series which will bring exciting hours of viewing.

This series was known in the US as ABC Wide World of Mystery! I used to stay up late at night as a young teenager, often with my older teenage sisters and their friends, who would bake brownies, pop popcorn, and generally sit around being scared and watching with the lights out! THere are some real gems in this series! I hope that the REST of this series gets released in the USA, because the whole thing was released in Britain as a complete series set! Hoepfully, we don't get a one shot release here!
Some of the ones from the later years were real gems, like Carol Lynley in "If It's A Man, Hang Up!" released in England as an extended cut release!
So where is the REST of this set?!!
If you have never seen any of these, I urge you to buy them and watch. You will NOT be disappointed!

I recall watching this show when i was a kid,and being absolutely terrorfied at some of the earlier ones.I was 7 years old and we lived in an old house on the beach for 6 months,it used to creak alot when the wind blew,and then this show would come on.
Especially some of the early episodes were the most scary.There was something about the atmosphere of the old English surroundings,that kind of gives you the creeps at times.
The episode where the guy was burying people in the cellar was scary as well as Someone At The Top Of The Stairs.
The episodes are quite long,which is good when you have a real scary one,but some episodes tend to drag on a bit.But upon saying that this is an excellent series and worth getting.

Why do TV companies do this!, they release one season, you buy it then months later they release the complete box set. Now the only option left open to me if I wish to purchase all the stories (which I do) is to buy the box set.
OK rant over, but I'm still annoyed.
The Avengers is Brian Clemens most famous work, but some of his best stories are to be found in this Anthological show, he created.
Talking about The Avengers Linda Thorson(Tara King) has a part in the first story; "Lady Killer".
Some stories are almost straight forward thrillers, some have a supernatural theme, but ALL have a twist in the tale.
~~~~
Teenagers might not be able to see past the dated production values, and small children might be frightened by the terrifying 70's fashions, but they are many unsettling moments to be enjoyed by the rest of us.
(Did I really wear stuff like that!)
So why only three stars?, well, for me the later seasons had better stories, it's that simple.
Highly acclaimed at the time by critics and viewers,with many famous (at that time) US guest stars;(to help the show sell in the US). I've often wondered why Mr Clemens needed big US names, as his other show The Avengers never did, and was quite popular in the US?
Not that I mind, I'm only too happy to see beauties like Donna Mills and Lynda Day George anytime.
In case anyone may be interested, the box-set has been out on region 2 for a while, so I've included the later season story titles and the DVD extras on the Box-set, as well.
This show was shot on videotape. (Not Filmed as was The Avengers.)
Season 1
1. Lady Killer
2. Possession
3. Someone At The Top Of The Stairs
4. An Echo Of Theresa
5. The Colour Of Blood
6. Murder In Mind
7. A Place To Die
8. File It Under Fear
9. The Eyes Have It
10. Spell Of Evil
These are the only stories on this release
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For anyone interested in the other season stories and extras on the box-set only,
please see below.
Season 2
1. Only A Scream Away
2. Once The Killing Starts
3. Kiss Me And Die
4. One Deadly Owner
5. Ring Once For Death
6. K Is For Killing
7. Sign It Death
Season 3
1. A Coffin For The Bride
2. I'm the Girl He Wants To Kill
3. Death To Sister Mary
4. In the Steps Of A Dead Man
5. Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
6. The Next Scream You Hear
Season 4
1. Screamer
2. Nurse Will Make It Better
3. Night Is The Time For Killing
4. Killer With Two Faces
5. A Killer In Every Corner
6. Where The Action Is
Season 5
1. If It's A Man; Hang Up
2. The Double Kill
3. Won't Write Home, Mum; I'm Dead!
4. The Crazy Kill
5. Good Salary, Prospects, Free Coffin
6. The Next Voice You See
7. Murder Motel
Season 6
1. Sleepwalker
2. The Next Victim
3. Nightmare For A Nightingale
4. Dial a Deadly Number
5. Kill Two Birds
6. A Midsummer Nightmare
7. Death In Deep Water
(DVD EXTRAS:~ ON BOX-SET ONLY)
15 disc set.
'Who Killed Lamb' thriller special from 1974 starring Stanley Baker
Extended version of 'Nurse Will Make It Better'
US credits
Stills gallery
Original set designs
Interactive menus
Scene selection
(Box-set available from amazon.co.uk)
The show ran from 1973-1976.

I remember staying up late as a kid to watch this show, and the theme music used to make my flesh crawl...it still does have a creepy effect on me. The stories are original, and well-told. The acting, for the most part is above average, and the elements that make the stories compelling are the acting, dialogue, and atmosphere. Unlike most of today's shows that rely too much on special effects, and graphic violence/nudity/sex, these stories rely more on atmosphere, and it truly makes a difference. Some may consider these stories slow-moving, but if you are patient, and love to see a good story told slowly, with the suspense building up, then you will surely appreciate this series.

Thriller is a British anthology series, much like Night Gallery or Twillight Zone and fans of those series will find much to enjoy here. A little slowly paced for American audiences (especially the MTV generation) but patience will reward with some excellent story telling and good English video work. recomended

WHY HAS SEASON 2 NOT BEEN RELEASED? THE PRICE IS TERRIBLE-79.99-WHICH IS PROBABLY THE REASON? THATS CRAZY BUT THE SERIES ITSELF IS A WONDERFUL FLASHBACK.

IF THEY LOWERED THE PRICE PEOPLE WOULD FIND THIS SERIES.

When this creepy anthology series first debuted on Region 2 DVD back in 2005, I knew I wanted to eventually purchase it, and it was a great deal in getting all 4 seasons in one boxed set. I never got around to buying it, figuring I would see if it would ever surface on Region 1. Well, it has, and for more money than I can buy all 4 seasons, we only get the first season? ARGH! You'd spend a small fortune collecting these! Since cheap DVD players can easily be changed to multi region these days, for the price you will have to pay to get the entire series on Region 1 discs, you could spend far less buying a new DVD player, the Region 2 boxed set, and still have money left over for a few seasons of some other television show. Ridiculous how we get rooked in the US, and it's a UK show.