The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
File:Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver.jpg
Original newspaper advertisement
Written by Richard Matheson
Directed by Gordon Hessler
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Composer(s) Morton Stevens
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Stanley Shpetner
Cinematography Frank Stanley
Editor(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Running time 78 minutes[1]
Production company(s) The Shpetner Company
Release
Original network NBC
Picture format Color
Audio format Mono
Original release February 28, 1977 (1977-02-28)
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver is a 1977 American made-for-television horror film directed by Gordon Hessler and starring Karen Black, George Hamilton, Robert F. Lyons, Lucille Benson, and Jean Allison. The teleplay was written by Richard Matheson.[1] The film first aired on NBC in 1977.[1][2]

Plot

Its plot follows a bored housewife who takes on an alternate persona that starts wreaking havoc on her life. Karen Black plays the title role, a dowdy, downtrodden housewife plagued by recurring nightmares of funerals, black flowers, fires, and a woman called Sandy. Seeking an escape from her stifling lifestyle and dull husband, who only wishes her to have a baby, Black dons a low-cut red blouse, blonde wig, garish makeup, and a new identity. She is also compelled to buy a house in a beach community where it would appear a woman who looks just like her once resided - before her tragic demise.

It turns out that the woman Black pretends to be may actually exist—and may have more than a passing knowledge of the occult.

Critical Reception

According to John Stanley, "Director Gordon Hessler builds the mystery with a deft camera, creating ambiguities to intrigue us: Is Black undergoing possession, reincarnation or what? Supernatural mood blends with psychological thrills."[3]

Cast

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Critical response

Hal Erickson of AllMovie awarded the film four out of five stars, but noted that Hessler's direction "muddles" Matheson's "perfectly coherent script."[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ John Stanley. Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Again. (4th revised ed). Pacifica, CA: Creatures at Large Press, 1994, p. 373
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=The_Strange_Possession_of_Mrs._Oliver&oldid=726575794"