SUMMER OF FEAR
Apparently, the Nanny always did sound like that
Here's an old, nigh-forgotten flick from Wes Craven - and what can be expected of him when he's confined to network TV should be apparent to anyone who's seen Invitation To Hell. It doesn't exactly raise expectations when you note just how many movies Thorn EMI released that really piled on the suck. So I guess you can say I was pleasantly surprised here.
A young woman is taken in by her aunt and uncle's family when her parents die in a car crash. Everybody seems enchanted by her, except for her cousin Rachel (Linda Blair) and the horse Sundance. The rest of the movie pretty much writes itself.
Linda Blair is adorable with her hair back here, but when she lets it out, it assumes this big poofder form that makes her look like Dan Lilker. Lee Purcell, as the cousin, is cute too - and yes, that is Fran Drescher and her (augh) unmistakable voice. Anyway, despite frequent lapses into whininess, it's Blair that makes this movie. She's smart and appealing and it's fun to watch Rachel get in her little subtle victories against her evil cousin. It also helps that she wears an assortment of tight jeans.
Of non-note are the scenes where Craven attempts to pile on the tension. Note one scene where the horse attacks one young woman - pretty ineptly done. So is the inevitable catfight between the two leads, and the climactic car chase is no great shakes either. It was quite some time before Craven really learned how to put together a fun, exciting action sequence.
I can't really recommend this to anybody other than Blair fans, who have probably seen this already anyway. Still, not too bad. Lightweight as hell, but not too bad. But witches don't reflect light? Who knew?