NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Cult Blu-ray (September 2025): For their 36th in the series, Kino Cult have transferred four Dan Curtis' TV Movie features - Shadow of Fear, The Invasion of Carol Enders, Come Die With Me, and Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest - that had late-night airings on ABC television in the early 70's - under "The Wide World of Mystery" - to Blu-ray. The two disc package is appropriately named "Dan Curtis' Late-Night Mysteries". "It is what it is" in terms of the quality - obviously tape-sourced is weaker than 35mm film and the accurate 1080i (it would have been broadcast 'interlaced') shows artifacts, warping, stretching and associated anomalies. The image is quite flat, obviously grain-less with drab colors. So, I found it fully watchable and the meager quality also gave a feeling of performance realism - almost like a theatrical play. The videotape transferred productions lends a raw, immediate feel, though it dates them compared to film. There are noticeable improvements and consistencies over VHS or broadcast versions, with enhanced clarity and reduced noise. I found it easy to immerse myself in this after a fashion. The image quality is superior to the five feature-length teleplays in Kino Cult's The Classic Ghosts - 70's Gothic Television Blu-ray, reviewed HERE.

NOTE: We have added 118 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel tracks (24-bit) in the original English language. They seem to faithfully reproduce the original TV sound without elaborate remixing or enhancements. The mix prioritizes clear dialogue amid Robert Cobert's (Dan Curtis' Trilogy of Terror, Bram Stoker's Dracula and the TV series of Kolchak The Night Stalker, plus The Norliss Tapes, Scalpel, Burnt Offerings etc.) atmospheric scores, with subtle electronic cues and orchestral swells that build tension, though it exhibits some era-specific weaknesses like scattered or hollow-sounding elements; overall, it's discernible and free of major distortion, providing a notch above vintage tape quality but lacking the spatial depth of stereo setups. Kino Cult offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-rays.

The supplements on this Kino Cult double Blu-ray release shed plenty of light, including introductions to all four films by Jeff Thompson, author of House of Dan Curtis: The Television Mysteries of the Dark Shadows Auteur - running about 20 minutes in total they provide contextual insights into Curtis's gothic style and production history. Each film also features an audio commentary: Shadow of Fear by Amanda Reyes, author of Are You in the House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium 1964-1999; The Invasion of Carol Enders by television historian Scott Skelton (Rod Serling's Night Gallery: An After-Hours Tour); Come Die With Me by author / podcaster Dan Budnik (From Beverly Hills To Hooterville: Exploring TV's Henningverse 1962-1971) and film historian Robert Kelly; and Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest by film historians Amanda Reyes and Heidi Honeycutt (I Spit On Your Celluloid: The History of Women Directing Horror Movies,) delving into themes, anecdotes, and cultural impact, making the package a valuable resource for horror and TV scholars.

Dan Curtis expanded his influence into 1970s television horror and suspense through a series of made-for-TV movies, many of which aired as part of ABC's Wide World of Mystery (1973-1976). This late-night anthology program was a eclectic mix of original productions, repurposed pilots, and feature films, often broadcast in the 11:30 PM slot to capitalize on the era's appetite for thrillers and mysteries.  One of the most re-watchable 'con' films - and it has an adventurous psychological edginess. Curtis's contributions to the series emphasized atmospheric tension, psychological depth, and supernatural or criminal intrigue, drawing from his expertise in blending horror with melodrama. Four of his lesser-known but recently rediscovered entries from 1974 - Shadow of Fear, The Invasion of Carol Enders, Come Die With Me, and Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest -exemplify this style. Originally shot on videotape, these films reflect the constraints of 1970s TV production: studio-bound sets, soapy dialogue, and a focus on character-driven suspense rather than high-budget effects. The four TV Movies explore themes of paranoia, possession, moral corruption, identity loss, female agency in the face of violence, and the afterlife's intrusion into the living world, and institutional injustice, often critiquing societal norms through intimate, domestic horrors. The films delve into 1970s anxieties about urban decay, marital distrust, and the fragility of the upper class. There are giallo-inspired elements - murderous impulses, erotic undertones, engaging twists and plot reversals. In summary, Kino Cult's Dan Curtis' Late-Night Mysteries double Blu-ray is another worthy archival project that brings four obscure 1970s TV thrillers back from near-lost status that honor the originals' videotape roots while improving upon older formats, complemented by insightful extras / commentaries that enhance appreciation for Curtis's work. There is also interest in seeing the likes of Claude Akins (Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo,) Tom Selleck (An Innocent Man, Runaway, Daughters of Satan, Jesse Stone,) Anjanette Comer (The Appaloosa,) Meredith Baxter (All the President's Men,) George Maharis (The Victim, The Satan Bug, Night Gallery,) Eileen Brennan (Murder by Death,) Jim Hutton (Hellfighters, The Green Berets, Hallelujah Trail,) and Mariette Hartley (Counting For Thunder, Genesis II, The Incredible Hulk TV Series, Columbo, Ride the High Country, Marnie.) This is the definitive edition for these rarities, recommended for fans of gothic suspense and vintage television, offering hours of content at a compelling value. 

Gary Tooze