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11 of 11 persons found the following review helpful.
“Go ahead, hold him, he ain’t gonna eat you up.”
By cookieman108
While I’ve never owned a possessed pooch like the one depicted in the made for television movie Devil Dog: The Hound from Hell (1978), I did once acquire a very naughty ferret, but that’s another story for another time…directed by Curtis Harrington (Queen of Blood, Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?), the film features Richard Crenna (First Blood, Summer Rental), Yvette Mimieux (The Time Machine, The Black Hole), and Kim Richards (Assault on Precinct 13, Tuff Turf) and Ike Eisenmann (Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan), both of whom you may do not forget as siblings Tia and Tony Malone, from the Disney feature Escape to Witch Mountain (1975), and the sequel Return from Witch Mountain (1978). Also appearing is Martine Beswick (Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde), Lou Frizzell (The Reivers), Ken Kercheval (“Dallas”), Victor Jory (Cat-Women of the Moon), and everyone’s bestloved curmudgeon R.G. Armstrong (Evilspeak, Children of the Corn).
9 of 10 persons found the following review helpful.
Eeerie “B” Horror Movie Starring A Menacing Hound From Hell
By Simon Davis
Being the avid horror movie fan that I am I was reflecting just prior to looking at the 1978 Television movie “Devil Dog; The Hound of Hell”, on what a outstanding horror premise it was to have a seemingly lovable family dog as the gatekeeper to hell. Strangely from my recollection it has been an idea that has not been used a great deal in Hollywood horror film making. Apart from of course the widely known and esteemed hound in the Sherlock Holmes story “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, and the menacing canine that appeared in the opening scenes of the terrifi 1976 horror adventure story “The Omen”, no other ones mechanically spring to mind. “Devil Dog; The Hound of Hell”, from the golden age of television movies in the 1970′s and ’80′s has been referred to as being wholly silly, banal, and a waste of film nonetheless I find it is basic idea a highly intriguing one that has outstanding potential. Obviously the film is hampered by it is fixed television budget in realising that outstanding potential resulting in a number of anti-climatic scenes that miss out on real thrills and tend to fall a bit flat with the shoddy special effects at times being closely laughable. Nevertheless what we do still have here is a nifty little horror adventure story that manages to offer good performances and a lot of moments of real suspense. The film’s main strong point is it is firstborn rate cast that includes the always competent Richard Crenna, the still alluring Yvette Mimieux (who I still do not forget fondly all these years later from the classic “The Time Machine”) and gifted child actors Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards reuniting here after having already played brother and sister in the much loved “Witch Mountain” Disney movies. All approach the subject matter with a real seriousness which helps get over a good deal of of the more hokey constituents of the story. Nostalgia buffs such as myself would have to confess that there have definately been scarier horror movies formulated since the 1970′s nonetheless as a fondly remembered effort from that now far off decade “Devil Dog; The Hound of Hell”, makes very agreeably diverting viewing. It’s rather initial for the time subject matter thence makes it a will have to see for those like myself, that love both eerie horror stories and the fondly remembered television films from the 1970′s.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Surprisingly decent
By O. B. Tryggvason
Devil Dog is genuinely an OK way to spend an hour and a half.
I purchased this film in the “Evil Animals” trilogy pack that likewise includes “Day of the Animals” and “Grizzly”, both William Girdler movies. I was reluctant to give “Devil Dog: Hound of Hell” a chance but when I in the end did I was enjoyably surprised.
Granted, you have to be a fan of 1970′s American horror filmmaking. Add to that this is a TV movie so don’t suppose any gore here. What you get here is a somewhat suspenseful story (despite the absurd subject matter) that’s very well acted by the two leads, in particular veteran actor Richard Crenna.
The film does build up a sure amount of creepy atmosphere and that’s due to solid direction from Curtis Harrington. Several scenes work outstandingly well and generate a decent amount of suspense.
It ought to be said that budgetary limitations inhibit the film’s closing moments. What there is of particular effects is beauteous horrendous and the finale does disappoint somewhat.
Other than that “Devil Dog; Hound of Hell” is a decent horror film in most respects.
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