azathothpwiggins
A COLD NIGHT'S DEATH starts off at the Tower Mountain Research Station, where animal testing -with chimpanzees and monkeys- for the space program is being done. Within seconds, it's obvious that something has gone horribly awry. A team is dispatched to find out why radio contact has been terminated w/ the facility. Upon their arrival at the desolate location, Dr. Robert Jones (Robert Culp), Dr. Frank Enari (Eli Wallach), and their pilot, Val Adams (Michael C. Gwynne) discover the research lab in disarray. The man they're looking for, Dr. Vogel is nowhere to be found. When they do find Vogel, it doesn't really matter, since he's a man-sicle! Val leaves, and the two scientists are left to figure out what took place. The chimps and monkeys seem to be unharmed, but something just isn't right. Jones suspects something unknown has caused the disaster, while Enari's theory is more mundane. Paranoia and claustrophobia take their toll. As odd occurrences take place, the two men grow increasingly antagonistic toward each other. By the time the truth is revealed, it just might be too late. Another made-for-TV grabber, w/ a fantastic, "sticks-in-your-head" finale!...
The White Crane
Among many horror movies that can truly be called a buried treasure, this takes the cake. This is it. This is the most unknown horror movie that will scare anyone that has ever seen it. It is so unknown, it practically got little to no recognition even among the majority of horror movie buffs.It told the story of two researches taking over a laboratory after their fellow died a mysterious death atop a snowy mountain. Slowly but surely, they begin to experience what their colleague might have experienced.Among many horror movies I've ever seen, this may very well be the best when it comes to creating the feeling of claustrophobia. And the tension was very well built as the trust of the two deteriorated as days went by, making the final twist in the end much more terrifying.And without a doubt, no other made for TV horror reached this level of horror film-making. Hell, it's rare to see a horror film-making that actually touched this in general, period.Greatly recommended. 10/10.
kuciak
It has been sometime since I have seen this television movie. It is an eerie film, imaginatively made considering the budget that this film had, which was not much. When we had fewer stations that we do now, films like this were still being seen in the afternoons on affiliate stations to ABC. This show, was part of the Tuesday or Wednesday movie of the week that ABC had. It was from this series that Duel, Directed by Steven Spielberg came from. Regrettably, many of these other films I think were equal to Duel, but these directors and writers from what I can see, never were able to come close to Spiebergs fame.Todays TV movies seem to be made with bigger budgets, but watching a film like Cold Nights Death shows what greatness can be done with a limited budget. The Tuesday and Wednesday night movies on ABC were not all good, but some of them deserve greater status than has been accorded them. These films remind me of the excellent B movies we have heard about that Hollywood made as a second feature in their heyday. Those in the 1970's who looked upon the 1950's as some great creative time on TV forgot about these films. Even in the 1970's when American films were some of the best ever, Film critics then were also not appreciative of what they had before them.Hopefully buried treasures like A COLD NIGHT'S DEATH, and other films will get their re release, either on TV, or on DVD's. Apparently this film is available on DVD to purchase, but many others may not be.
Gary-161
This vintage TV movie offers profound insights into the human condition and the implications for our exploration of outer space. NOT! What it does have is a darker buddy buddy relationship than we have come to expect from Spelling and Goldberg and good production values, probably because it was a two hander with more room to spend elsewhere.The problem is the audience guesses quickly who-dunnit, thus stretching credulity to the limit when the scientists are less quick off the mark. Okay, so fans of the genre automatically look for the sinister, whereas the characters in the 'real' world are reacting as events unfold. Nevertheless, when Dr Enari is forced to apologise to Dr Jones, the penny should have dropped there and then. Altitude is blamed to a certain extent, but professionals in the same field will probably be niggled at the near basket cases presented here before any real investigating gets under way. Funnily enough, although the who was obvious, the why never really entered my head. The out of left field answer will either amuse or frustrate. Culp gives a strong performance as a man pushed to mental and physical limits and I actually winced when his head took a dunk into some frozen water.Although daft, this movie haunted me for several hours after I saw it so I give it a qualified thumbs up.
AD
