(1974) TVM **
In a hasty decision Michael Rhodes purchases a large farmhouse in the country. It seems that Michael, a burnt out tax attorney, is tired of the 24/7 city life that his job requires and the idyllic countryside setting appears to provide the perfect respite from the day to day drudgery that life typically offers. Along for his selfish journey is his wife, Christine and daughter, Melissa. It’s not too long before Michael realizes that perhaps he should have had a building inspector take a look at the place before purchasing his new abode. The electricity is shoddy, the plumbing is iffy, and the entire place is overrun with gophers and to make things worse Melissa begins have terrible nightmares. Soon the family dog is found dead in the horse stables for no discernible reason.
Is this the POV of a ghost?
After some digging Melissa learns that a former owner of the house was driven insane after his wife died from Typhoid Fever. It has been said that sometimes in the dark of night you can still hear him calling out to her. Worse, the previous owner of their house, a reverend, drowned in the family swimming pool. Is the Rhodes family being haunted or do the shifty-eyed townsfolk just want them out of there?
The Strange and Deadly Occurrence effectively keeps its answers close to its vest. Throughout we are offered red herrings and hauntings but the reality of the situation isn’t revealed until the film is forced to show its hand. This might be the film’s greatest drawback given that the “conclusion” is a pretty big letdown. Still the film serves as a good example of mid-Seventies made-for-television horror.
