Are You In The House Alone?: A TV Movie Compendium 1964-1999

by Amanda Reyes (Editor)

Overview

Beginning in the 1960s through its heyday in the 1970s and beyond, the telefilm stands as an important cultural artefact masquerading as disposable entertainment. Made specifically for the small screen, within the tight constraints of broadcasting standards, what these humble movies lacked in budget and star appeal, they made up for in other ways. Often they served as an introduction to genre films, particularly horror, mirroring their theatrical counterparts with a focus on sinister cults, women in prison, haunted houses and even animals in revolt. They were also a place to address serious contemporary issues — drugs, prostitution, sexual violence and justice —albeit in a cosy domestic environment.

Production of telefilms continues to this day, but their significance within the history of mass media remains under-discussed. Are You in the House Alone? seeks to address this imbalance in a series of reviews and essays by fans and critics. It looks at many of the films, the networks and names behind them, and also specific genres — everything from Stephen King adaptations to superheroes to true-life dramas. So, kickback and crack open the TV guide once more for the event that is the Movie of the Week!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781909394445
Publisher:	Headpress
Publication date:	05/01/2017
Pages:	338
Sales rank:	515,870
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Amanda Reyes is a freelance writer and podcaster who focuses on the made for television movie genre, with her blog Made for TV Mayhem and its companion podcast. She currently lives in Austin, TX.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 1

Foreword Jeff Burr 3

Essays

From Classy to Trashy: An Introduction To The Made-For-Television Movie Amanda Reyes 5

Leather & Lace: A List Of The Made For TV Machismo & Small Screen Scream Queens Of The 1970s That Rocked Our World Amanda Reyes 13

Bless The Beasts & The Networks: Eco-Horror Hits The Small Screen Lee Gambin 19

Rape-Revenge & Rape-Response: Narratives Of Sexual Violence & Justice In The TV Movie Jennifer Wallis 25

Wes Craven's Small Screen Horror Films: A Retrospective Amanda Reyes 32

The USA World Premiere Movie: The Forgotten Red-Headed Stepchild Of Film Noir Paul Freitag-Fey 37

Locating Sexual Abuse in the TV Movie: From Dangerous Dads To Day Care Jennifer Wallis 43

Telemovie Mashups Amanda Reyes 49

The Cold War Turns Hot On TV: World War III In Television Movies David Ray Carter 56

Life Model Decoy: The Plight Of The Small Screen Comic Book Superhero David Kerekes 59

Nightmare in Badham County & A Brief History of Small Screen Exploitation: Going Down South & Behind Bars Amanda Reyes 63

You Can Go Home Again: The Popularity of the Reunion TV Movie Amanda Reyes 70

Scratching On Glass: An Introduction To Stephen King On Television Lance Vaughan 75

Reviews

Stephen King TV Movies 78

The TV Ministries 92

1964-1979 107

1980-1989 225

1990-1999 283

Appendix

Cable and the 2000s 308

Select Bibliography 325

Contributor Notes 326

Index 330

About this book 338