Obscure 70s TV Movie: Witch Traps Modern Woman in Basement/Cellar

That's pretty much all I know, though it's part of a longer narrative pertaining to the well-worn allegory of a proud/naive/vulnerable urban family venturing into the countryside and encountering a centuries-old evil along with the intractable children of the corn types inhabiting such flicks.

It was originally shown on one of the 3 major networks, and had a feeling like it was being broadcast live a la Prince of Darkness, and very claustrophobic.

It's not Frailty - - nor is it Crowhaven Farm or Something Evil or Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, though these are similar in tone/feel, and perhaps worth a look for those intrigued by the hapless city mice in over their heads amidst the tall corn/inside the haunted house genre.

With what looks like a nearly 50% solve rate here, you all may be my best bet, but this is a toughie, and little to go on!

So, this was broadcast in the 70s on TV. You say "three major networks" so I am guessing you saw this in USA? Did it take place in the USA (Your description sounds a bit like British Folk Horror). ? Did it take place in the decade you saw it, ie the 1970s? If it was an American made-for-TV movie from the 1970s, it would have been actually pretty tame, no stronger than a PG style.

The Dark Secret of Harvest Home 1978 ?

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It does sound like British folk horror, but it's definitely the US - Salem or thereabouts I'm guessing.

I saw a piece of it in some re-broadcast context, and could tell it was from the 70s and really seemed like a network TV flick.

What fascinated me was that it SHOULD have been tame/lame, but was really compelling in terms of psychological terror.

I'm just wondering if I was in some kind of emotionally vulnerable place, or if there's some lost genre classic floating around out there!

This sounds like the right timeframe, but I must have missed any Bette Davis scenes, as I'd remember her. (I only saw a few minutes of the movie, and got too scared to continue watching!)

I'll check it out & report back - thanks to all!

Edit:

I've checked out the trailer, and am now thinking that maybe the mystery flick wasn't a TV movie, as the quality was similar to this one. I don't think this is it, though a superb guess. What made it so terrifying was a Dreyer-like claustrophobia which drew me in and made me feel like I was trapped in the cellar along with the woman!

Just to clarify, Harvest Home was made-for-tv. That VHS box shows a 2hr runtime but it was originally a 3-4 hour miniseries.


Might want to give this site a look.
https://tvmayhempodcast.wordpress.com/


I've got a book written by the blogger but I don't currently have access to it. Seems to be the current TV Movie expert.


Also, now that I realize you've only seen a few minutes of the film, you might want to look into anthology series like Night Gallery, Circle of Fear, etc

Ah. No wonder HH has that less than fully cinematic look.

The movie I'm speaking of was definitely a movie and not part of any anthology, and though in color, I'd liken it to those few TZs shot on video, as it had a very present look to it, as though a TV camera was broadcasting the trapped woman live. Very intense.

Thank you for the resources, and maybe someday I'll find this odd little gem again!

I am wondering how you can be so certain it was a made-for-TV movie, and not an episode of an anthology.

Numerous reasons, including my strong familiarity with these period series, from DON and ET to NG and GS/COF and back again, though it did have much of the intensely brilliant flavor of the masterful WAICTY, though of course in color and not British.

The film in question was was a very unusual full length piece, unique really, and I wish I could recall more about it!

Okay, I'm going to ask you a bunch of annoying questions about this movie to try to squeeze out some more details from your memory:


Was the witch actually a spell-casting witch (and not just a witch-like woman)? How did you know?


How and why did the witch trap the woman in the basement?


What was the trapped woman doing or what was happening to her while she was in the basement -- what created the terror?


How did the children of the corn types fit into this? Do you remember anyone else?


And here's a wild guess:


Die! Die! My Darling!:


https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0059106/



This has a TV movie feel, a trapped woman (though I think she's trapped in an attic, though I'm not sure because it's been a while since I've seen it), a witch-like (but not a "real" witch) woman who does the trapping, I think a weird guy lurking around, and an uncomfortable feeling of trapped terror (which is why I haven't seen it in a while).

Any additional details (see previous post)?

Thank you for taking this thankless task on! I'm just now seeing your questions, or would have responded more quickly.

Was the witch actually a spell-casting witch (and not just a witch-like woman)? How did you know?

IIRC, she was a classic US witch of Salem, her undying spirit seeking to maintain itself and protect its territory, centered in the house now inhabited by the couple.

How and why did the witch trap the woman in the basement?

It was really more properly a cellar, narrow and dark. Perhaps even a grain storage room, as it might have actually been above ground and parallel to the house. Brick IIRC, but I may not!

But the feel of it was basement/cellar-like, and not a place for human habitation, but storage in the cold and dark. Spooky!

See above for the how/why, as her undying Salem witch spirit abilities were totes powfa!

She lured her there somehow, or maybe something needed in the main (part of the?) house was stored there, but she was then trapped, at least long enough to terrify her (and me)!

What was the trapped woman doing or what was happening to her while she was in the basement -- what created the terror?

She was pretty scared, so not doing much. IIRC, the spirit of the witch may have been there in ectoplasmic form and quietly saying things to control/terrify the woman.

How did the children of the corn types fit into this? Do you remember anyone else?

That was kind of a metaphor to describe the genre - city mice in over their heads in a haunted house and strange culture with ancient/spiritual/agrarian ways.

I remember the woman having a husband, one of those 70s TV actors, but I don't recall anyone famous acting in it.

And here's a wild guess:

Die! Die! My Darling!:

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0059106/

This has a TV movie feel, a trapped woman (though I think she's trapped in an attic, though I'm not sure because it's been a while since I've seen it), a witch-like (but not a "real" witch) woman who does the trapping, I think a weird guy lurking around, and an uncomfortable feeling of trapped terror (which is why I haven't seen it in a while).

I've actually seen DDMD, and while that's not a bad guess, the TV movie with the cellar/grain storage area and witch and trapped woman was made some 10 years (or so) later, and was of a much more quiet and creepily sedate nature.

Thank you for trying, and it's a shame that this eerie movie is so obscure, and perhaps lost!