Something Evil (1971)

One of several 1970s made-for-TV horror films that left an indelible impression upon audiences at the time, Something Evil is most noteworthy now for the participation of its then-unknown director, Steven Spielberg. Young and hungry, Spielberg approaches Evil with clear enthusiasm, and there's a vigor and excitement to his work that makes up for the fact that the material with which he's working is fairly standard issue. That's not to say it isn't effective, mind you; a whole generation of viewers can recall the "glowing eyes in the window" moment, long after they have forgotten the rest of the film. Spielberg and writer Robert Clouse are mining familiar territory, but they do so with skill and with an appreciation for what can cause those creepy-crawly feelings that people love so. Sure, this sometimes means throwing logic out the window in search of a good chill, but when that chill is ice cold, no one cares too much. They also have to deal with the demands of creating an interrupted-by-commercials product, such as sometimes arbitrary before-commercial climaxes, but they handle this relatively well. They're also aided by a solid cast, with Sandy Dennis' mannerisms used to good effect and fine work from Darren McGovern and Johnny Whitaker. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide