One of the worst movies I've ever seen

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Dr. Yale Carrington (Lloyd Bridges), his wife Maggie (Pat Crowley), and their daughter, Cindy (Eve Plumb) begin being stalked by chronic gum-chewing Rapist / murderer, Teddy Jakes (William Watson). After seven years, Jakes has gotten out of prison, where Dr. Carrington helped to put him. Jakes is now hellbent to avenge this delay in his pursuit of the criminal lifestyle. Of course, the law can't touch him, and the Carrington's must find a way to survive. Ominous acts start right away, making it all too clear that Jakes is serious. He also makes sure to do little things that are creepy, but not illegal. As Jakes' attacks escalate, can anything be done to stop this madman? A made-for-TV remake of CAPE FEAR (w/ some added twists and turns), THE FORCE OF EVIL has loads of suspense, along w/ an effective atmosphere of lurking dread. It always feels like Jakes could strike at any moment! Jakes himself is pretty scary, in a ruthless, unpredictable way. Watson plays him w/ gleeful menace. Bridges plays the regular person, pushed to do whatever it takes to protect his family and himself. Originally a part of TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED, this movie fits right in w/ that series. EXTRA POINTS FOR: The "special delivery" scene! Eve Plumb fans rejoice! She's in more than a few scenes, and she's good!...

This TV movie, or should I say pilot episode, has the look and feel of your average 1970s cop show rather than something more like the Twilight Zone (which I was under the impression it was something like Twilight Zone).I love a lot of the 1970s made for TV movies because they had some good one back then - of course there were some bad ones too and this movie I would put in the latter category.I just could not get into this one. I like Lloyd Bridges and the other actors are fine too but the overall look and feel really messed up what should have been an eerie atmosphere. Instead, we have cold, sterile looking 1970s police show - and that is not "me".I'm not saying this is an awful film, I'm only saying I could not get into it like I was hoped to do.2/10

***SPOILERS*** Re-make of the 1962 thriller "Cape Fear" that goes so far as inserting into it a houseboat, like in the 1962 version, docked in the middle of the Arizona Desert for authenticity!It's when convicted murderer and rapist, unlike the just plain rapist in the original, Teddy Jakes, played by the wide eyed and crazed looking William Watson, is released after serving seven years behind bars, he must have had a real good lawyer, he heads straight for hospital administrator Dr.Yale Carrington's, Lloyd Bridges, home to settle a score he has with him.Working in the hospital morgue before his arrest conviction and sentence Jakes now wants his old job back which under the circumstances there's no chance of him, being a convicted murderer & rapist among other things, getting it. Not only that Jakes has in in for Dr. Carrington in him not providing an alibi for him in that that the two at that time of Jakes' crime were shooting craps at a Reno casino when he was on trial. Now in Jakes deranged mind it's payback time and it's not only Dr. Carrington but his entire family who are going to do the paying!***SPOILERS*** It seems that while behind bars Jakes, in educating himself in the rule of law, has not only passed the bar but has become an expert in guerrilla & psychological warfare as well survival tactics and is going to use them against Dr. Carrington in destroying him and his entire family! After driving the Carrington family out of their house and into a locked and secure boathouse Jake, with Dr. Carrington out to buy groceries, makes his move on his unprotected wife Maggie, Pat Crowley, and 14 year old daughter Cindy, Eve Plumb. Who in order to hurt Dr. Carrington where it hurts most plans to drive his wife insane and brutally rape his daughter.***MAJOR SPOILER***The conclusion of the movie has a somewhat twist ending that in how indestructible Jakes is you could see coming from a mile away. In him not only being swept away at sea while in a puddle of mud no more then two feet deep but somehow despite his criminal record, they seem to hire anyone now a days, ending up with a job at UPS the United Parcel Service!

This is starting to become a bad habit. I keep putting films back to the bottom of the "to watch" pile just because of the title. This one had made it to the top 3-4 times before i finally broke down and threw in the player. What do i find but a television remake of CAPE FEAR. And a not bad knockoff at that. The makers make a few minor changes but keep most of the story intact. In this one we have Lloyd Bridges in the Greg Peck role, Pat Crowley as the wife, Eve Plumb as the daughter, John Anderson as the police chief and William Waston in Mitchum's bit. Watson might not ring any bells but you would know him if you saw him. He did lots of series in the 70's as a heavy, gunman type. Not expecting much from the film it took me a bit to clue in to what it really was, a remake of Cape Fear. Then it got real interesting real fast. The film is rather nasty and violent for a TV film. Bridges and Crowley are good but Watson shines in an excellent take on Mitchum. Being a Quinn Martin film we of course have William Conrad as the opening narrator. This was the pilot for a failed series called TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED. The director was Richard Lang who worked on some "HARRY O" episodes and a TV remake of Dark Mirror. A good little film and a nice way to spend an evening in front of the boob tube.