What happens when you made Kolchak and Dark Shadows, but kept going?
This is Curse of the Black Widow, a 1977 TV Movie made by Dan Curtis. Yes, that one.
The same year as Dead of Night, he was behind this Film.
The Plot involves a Private Investigator getting involved in a series of strange murders in the City. Nobody is quite sure how they can explain the murders are taking place.
It all connects to a woman who then hires him and a possible family curse!
The Cast includes James Franciosa (from Tenebrae), Donna Mills, Patty Duke (as Patty Duke Astin), June Lockhart, Sid Caesar and Vic Morrow. The latter are Special Guest Stars, which is still a Credit that I don't understand.
How do you Guest Star in a Film?!?
Anyhow, to find out what exactly this curse is, you might as well read on...
In the Opening, 3 guys are in a Bar when a woman walks in.
She picks the youngest guy to 'help her fix her car.'
When he turns her down (saying that he's going to meet someone), her eyes get all crazy and he's killed via a POV Monster!
One of the men in the Bar happens to be Franciosa, who works a Private Investigator.
He's questioned by the Lieutenant (Morrow), but nothing comes of this...yet.
The Story also follows a pair of Sisters- Mills and Duke- as well as their Aunt- Lockhart- and Niece.
There's definitely something going on with them.
The Cops- specifically Morrow- tell Franciosa to back off.
He's then hired by one of the Sisters, so that isn't going to happen.
Meanwhile, the other guy from the Bar is killed by the mystery woman after he tries to bring her to our Hero.
The other Cop- who looks like a Live Action Hank McCoy- springs what sounds like a crazy theory on our Hero.
The killings were done by a giant spider! Not only that, but a woman is transforming into one to do them!
He doesn't believe it until the evidence- like a body full of spider venom and webbed up crime scenes- piles up!
He learns that the client and her Sister were both born in the wild- after a plane crash- and one was bitten by spiders. That can apparently incite the titular Curse.
He's saved by this 'Indian'- played by Jeff Corey- who confirms the tale, but can't point out which Sister it is.
The Plot Twists begin to pile up in Act 3, so hang on!
The mysterious woman is one of the Sisters, who suffered a 'Split Personality,' and started the killings.
The Mom- thought dead in Italy- shows up and is then killed by the Sister.
She's scared, which causes her obvious Stunt Double (even in 360p) to dive out a window.
The Black Widow wraps up the good Sister, but kills the Aunt when she tries to help out.
Franciosa is told that only fire can kill the Spider.
It finally appears in the finale in full frame...and is mercifully not build on top of a Volkswagen!
He shoots it...for some reason and then uses the fire to kill it.
In the aftermath, him and the Sister are an item (shared trauma does that).
The Niece is then used as a Sequel Bait, as the final shot shows her to have the Black Widow mark!
Dun dun DUNNN!
The End.
A fun Film that is very much of its time in the best and worst ways.
We get lots of shortcuts to not show the Spider. I was expecting that.
Thankfully, this is a Dan Curtis Film, so his usual flair (and Soundtrack by Robert Cobert) make up for things.
The Plot is a bit convoluted, for sure.
I do wonder how this one has NOT ended up on Svengoolie by now. He's run Dead of Night, both Kolchak Films and Trilogy of Terror. Odd.
Given that it's a TV Movie from the '70s, I get that the modern audience for this one is pretty slim. Even so, it's a good to great time and deserves more than just a VHS rip and being free on YouTube.
And yes, mine was a VHS Rip. Don't believe me?
Next time, I'll take another Film from my Digital Library. At long last, my love of Dracula and Marvel will finally intersect properly! Stay tuned...
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