In 1970, Crowhaven Farm, became the ABC Movie of the Week, presenting itself as an eerie supernatural tale, made in the vein of Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby, which proceeded this movie by 2-years, but heavily influenced many movies both in the United States and overseas. Screenwriter John McGreevey, who also served as a producer, had many television credits, such The Waltons, which clearly influenced this movie. In addition, the movie, had one of the best known small screen producers attached to the project, which was Aaron Spelling, who made occasional horror flicks such as A Taste of Evil [1971], Satan’s School for Girls [1973] and Cruise Into Terror [1978]. Walter Grauman, served as director who previously worked on the horror movie The Disembodied [1957], as a witch doctor character, spent the remainder of his career working in television until the 1990s.
The plot of this tv-movie centers on a couple, Ben (Paul Burke (The Disembodied [1957])) and Maggie (Hope Lange, which some recall had a minor role in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge [1985])) who move into an inherited home, Crowhaven Farm, after her cousin Henry dies in a strange car accident. The property was located in a rural part of New England, never before visited by the couple, but she knows the building, exceptionally well, quite eerie. Ben hopes to make a career of his paintings and Maggie to aid in paying the bills takes a local job with devilish Kevin Pierce (Lloyd Bochner) law firm in town, one last thing plaguing the couple, struggles to conceive a child. However, we all know she’ll become pregnant eventually, under a bizarre method – hint occult practices. Lange portrays her role as Maggie very well, a sense of believability excels throughout the movie, especially when reacting to the visions of women being pressed by heavy rocks. Later learning the visions, come from the Puritan times using a witch trial method all directed at the Brampton witches a coven which had existed. Meanwhile, a handyman Nate, working at the Crowhaven Farm appears at different times, more as a lame jump-scare, played by the legendary John Carradine, whose career credits tally over 200, starring The Sentinel [1977] and The Howling [1981]. There’s one scene which some might object to, but recall its 1970 and the social norms of then differ greatly to those of today, it involves the character Jennifer, young girl, who Ben and Maggie welcome into their home due to various reasons. Jenifer climbs into the bed with Ben, no one objected then to the visuals, however it’s a tad weird if viewed through today’s eyes on the context portrayed. Cindy Eilbacher (Slumber Part Massacre, Part II [1987]), performance clearly shows that Jennifer is more than what she actually appears.
This film, contains no gore, a scarce amount of blood, though the occult scenes run very high, and show clearly their intent, while the theme of ghost stories continue to this day of the past replaying themselves in the present. It continues from The Uninvited [1944] through Horror Hotel [1959] and in many of the modern ghost tales of today, while combining it with condemned individuals seeking revenge for their past violations.
If you never have seen Crowhaven Farm, well once again you have the ability to freely see it on YouTube in few versions, the only thing is there are different visuals so it depends on your system’s ability to watch it. Noting it does hold well against today’s horror and falls into a few dull moments, but it’s free to watch and serves a fine flashback to the bygone era of 1970s television horror.
Tagline: A chilling tale of vengeance from beyond the grave.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065594/
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Baron’s Rating: 6.0/10