Oct 22, 20224 min read

Spine Tingling Films of Richard Matheson 31 Days of Halloween with The Kelly Society Day 22

31 Days of Halloween with

The Kelly Society

Day 22

Greetings scary film lovers! John and Jason are with you today. We are members of The Kelly Society - John weaves his magic with ghost hunting machines and Jason wields the video cameras.

One of our favorite storytellers is Richard Matheson. For those who may not know his name, you will know some of his films and TV shows. Shows like Twilight Zone (various episodes), Amazing Stories, The Night Stalker, Star Trek (episode The Enemy Within). Movies like: I Am Legend, What Dreams May Come, The Legend of Hell House, Somewhere in Time, and even Jaws 3!

Richard Matheson passed away in 2013 and left a long writing legacy. He authored best-selling books, many of which became films. Since there is so much content to choose from, we decided to feature a few of our favorite movies.

Trilogy of Terror (1975)

The most frightened we've ever been at the movies was not in a cinema. A made for television movie blasted onto our small screens in 1975. Three short stories made up a 90 minute movie, but the final story terrified us more than any of the Conjuring movies, The Exorcist, Jurassic Park, and the movie Halloween!

A vicious ugly tribal doll which comes to life once a restrictive bracelet accidentally falls off his body is pure charged evil in motion! He only stands twelve inches high, but his razor sharp teeth and screams made our blood run cold. Even today when we mention that movie to Shawn or Vivien on our Kelly Society team they outwardly shudder. That cracks us up! Especially since Shawn and Vivien face down paranormal monsters in real life!

Trilogy of Terror Synopsis:

Three stories interwoven together. The first, about a college student infatuated with his teacher. The second, a paranoid tale of two sisters - one good, the other evil, and the third about a Native American tribal doll that comes to life and terrorizes a woman in her apartment.

The Legend of Hell House (1973)

A terrifyingly haunted house and its wicked dead occupant's life secret unravels in Richard Matheson's film adaptation of his book Hell House. This movie gives us jolt after jolt, because we never know what's going to happen. It gets you when you least expect it! Let's just say not every character makes it out of that hideous house alive!

The Legend of Hell House Synopsis:

Scientist Lionel Barrett (Clive Revill) and his wife, Ann (Gayle Hunnicutt), lead a team into the infamous Belasco House, supposedly haunted by the victims of its late owner, a notorious serial killer. Though the rational Barrett does not believe in ghosts, the other members of his group do, include devout spiritualist Florence Tanner (Pamela Franklin) and psychic medium Benjamin Fischer (Roddy McDowall), who has been in Belasco House before and seen what horrors can befall those who enter it.

The Last Man on Earth 1964 - Starring Vincent Price

The Omega Man 1974 - Starring Charlton Heston

I Am Legend 2007 - Starring Will Smith

Richard Matheson crafted a chilling and compelling story about a plague that spreads across the planet leaving only zombies (or) vampires in its wake. One last man who received a vaccine, and in some versions is immune, battles the undead for his own life. In the last two versions the last man is a doctor who attempts to find a cure. Richard's tale thrives with another version of this story said to be in production for 2022. His timeless tale keeps reinventing itself.

And now for something a little different yet, still paranormal. One of the best time travel romances.

Somewhere in Time (1980)

Somewhere in Time is one of the most iconic time travel romance stories. Adapted from Matheson's book Bid Time Return, the movie stars the beautiful Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve. Let's just say we'll never look at a 1979 penny the same way again! All in all a gorgeous film.

Somewhere in Time Synopsis:

In 1972, playwright Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) becomes fascinated by a photo of Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), a turn-of-the-century stage actress, while staying at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan. As Richard's obsession grows, he learns from a friend that time travel may actually be possible through hypnosis. Richard travels in time to meet Elise, and the two appear destined to be together.

Also, this movie has such a following that the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan (where the movie was filmed) hosts an event called Somewhere in Time Weekend, which began roughly twenty two years ago. Fans get to dress in the time period, take in their favorite scenes played around the hotel by actors, and share their love of Somewhere in Time.