Something Evil main backdrop
Something Evil main poster

Something Evil

Visit website

5.4/10 • 49

1972-01-211h 13m

TV MovieHorror

A young couple moves into a farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania. What they don't know is that there is an unseen presence in the house, and that it wants to take possession of the wife.

Directors
Steven Spielberg
Writters
Robert Clouse
Editors
Robert Clouse, Allan Jacobs

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Sandy Dennis

    Sandy Dennis

    Marjorie Worden

  2. Darren McGavin

    Darren McGavin

    Paul Worden

  3. Ralph Bellamy

    Ralph Bellamy

    Harry Lincoln

  4. Jeff Corey

    Jeff Corey

    Gehrmann

  5. Johnny Whitaker

    Johnny Whitaker

    Stevie Worden

  6. John Rubinstein

    John Rubinstein

    Ernest Lincoln

  7. David Knapp

    David Knapp

    John

  8. Laurie Hagen

    Laurie Hagen

    Beth

  9. Herb Armstrong

    Herb Armstrong

    Mr. Schiller

Reviews1

View Reviews
John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Apr 14, 2014

6/10

Beware the supernatural jam jars! Early Steven Spielberg TV movie that is a considerable step down from Duel released the previous year, but showing signs of a directorial craft to follow. Something Evil is not a great horror movie, well it was to those of us at a very young age who were allowed to watch it that is. The plot finds a family of four moving into a pastorally pleasing Pennsylvania farmhouse only to find a demon resides there. Hubbie works all hours in the city while mama and the two young children fall prey to something that manifests itself as red goo in jam jars or via a wind machine. Cue mama fighting the demon trying to take control of her family with love and pentacle art. Yep, it's really that simple, the budget doesn't stretch beyond that. Spielberg shows some nice skills with his dissolves, close-ups and distorted angle shots, but much of the impact is undone by poor acting and a musical score that belongs on a ghost train ride at the funfair. A couple of characters appear, and then vanish until the last third of the movie needs them, while the special effects on offer are understandable low in quality. For its time, its budget and as an observation to the early work of a man who would become one of America's biggest directors, it's a curio piece worth sampling. But it's hardly essential for horror fans or Spielberg completists. 6/10

Media

  • Something Evil poster
  • Something Evil poster
  • Something Evil poster
  • Something Evil poster
  • Something Evil poster
  • Something Evil poster
  • Something Evil poster
  • Something Evil poster

Recommendations

  • Twilight Zone: The Movie main backdrop

    Twilight Zone: The Movie

    6.5

  • Always main backdrop

    Always

    6.3

  • Scream of the Demon Lover main backdrop

    Scream of the Demon Lover

    4.8

  • The Return of the Living Dead main backdrop

    The Return of the Living Dead

    7.2

  • Parasite main backdrop

    Parasite

    8.5

  • The Godfather main backdrop

    The Godfather

    8.7

  • Star Wars main backdrop

    Star Wars

    8.2

  • Lethal Weapon 2 main backdrop

    Lethal Weapon 2

    7.0

  • Seven Samurai main backdrop

    Seven Samurai

    8.5

  • Interstellar main backdrop

    Interstellar

    8.5

  • Platoon main backdrop

    Platoon

    7.7

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King main backdrop

    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

    8.5

  • Taxi Driver main backdrop

    Taxi Driver

    8.1

  • Alien main backdrop

    Alien

    8.2

  • Chopping Mall main backdrop

    Chopping Mall

    5.8

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street main backdrop

    A Nightmare on Elm Street

    7.3

  • Rear Window main backdrop

    Rear Window

    8.3

  • Night of the Living Dead main backdrop

    Night of the Living Dead

    7.6

  • Paths of Glory main backdrop

    Paths of Glory

    8.3

  • Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return main backdrop

    Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return

    4.5

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
pennsylvania, usasupernaturalpossessionisolated farmhouse