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Rish's Reviews
First thing first: the name Norliss is endlessly funny. NORLISS!
Secondly, this was a made for television pilot by Dan Curtis, who created "Dark Shadows," that apparently never got picked up, possibly because of its disturbing title (Norliss).
A writer named NORLISS disappears as he's writing a book debunking the occult. One of NORLISS's associates discovers a collection of audio cassettes NORLISS has left, detailing NORLISS's experiences with the supernatural. The rest of the movie is NORLISS's tape number one, wherein he investigates Angie Dickensen's reanimated dead husband, who seems to have risen from the crypt in order to finish a creepy demonic sculpture. Oh, and NORLISS.
The Norliss Tapes wasn't great, but it certainly wasn't bad. I've a friend (not named Norliss) who adores made-for-television films of the Seventies. And I'm starting to look forward to them as well. I dug the concept of the show, myself. Even if they only made six episodes, I would've watched them. But I guess it wasn't picked up. A couple of the members of the cast had that semi-familiar face that you see in old movies, but I didn't recognize Roy Thinnes, who played NORLISS at all. The sheriff was played by the guy who played Sheriff Lobo in "B.J. and the Bear." He consistently didn't believe NORLISS, even when there was no reason not to. Don't you hate it when that happens?
I'd Recommend It To: I don't know, Mr. Norliss?
Posted: December 6, 2004

The tyranist's thoughts
While I may not have Rish's fascination with the name Norliss, I couldn't agree with him more. I've seen a couple made-for-TV movies from the '70s recently and both of them far surpass the stuff made for today. There is just a different atmosphere. Even the sort of cheesy way they made the artist appear undead was wonderful.
The movie itself was entertaining and well-paced. I can see watching episode after episode of Mr. Norliss's tapes. On the other hand, it may not have had legs. So many horror series don't.
The script was good. The acting was pretty good, as well. More than anything, though, I dug on the setting. The place and time were perfect. Not that they could have helped the time.
If you can track it down, this one is definitely a fun one and a little corner of the horror genre not to be missed. Posted: December 6, 2004

Total Skulls: 21

Sequel
Sequel setup
Rips off earlier film
Horror film showing on TV/in theater in movie
Future celebrity appears
Former celebrity appears
Bad title
Bad premise
Bad acting
Bad dialogue
Bad execution
MTV Editing
OTS
Girl unnecessarily gets naked
Wanton sex
Death associated with sex
Unfulfilled promise of nudity
Characters forget about threat
Secluded location
Power is cut
Phone lines are cut
Someone investigates a strange noise
Someone runs up stairs instead of going out front door
Camera is the killer
Victims cower in front of a window/door
Victim locks self in with killer
Victim running from killer inexplicably falls
Toilet stall scene
Shower/bath scene
Car stalls or won't start
Cat jumps out
Fake scare
Laughable scare
Stupid discovery of corpse
Dream sequence
Hallucination/Vision
No one believes only witness
Crazy, drunk, old man knows the truth
Warning goes unheeded
Music detracts from scene
Death in first five minutes
x years before/later
Flashback sequence
Dark and stormy night
Killer doesn't stay dead
Killer wears a mask
Killer is in closet
Killer is in car with victim
Villain is more sympathetic than heroes
Unscary villain/monster
Beheading
Blood fountain
Blood spatters - camera, wall, etc.
Poor death effect
Excessive gore
No one dies at all
Virgin survives
Geek/Nerd survives
Little kid lamely survives
Dog/Pet miraculously survives
Unresolved subplots
"It was all a dream" ending
Unbelievably happy ending
Unbelievably crappy ending
What the hell?