Something Evil (1972) - Spielberg's 'training wheels'

Steven Spielberg may be one of the most well-known filmmakers of all time, but I must have missed his name in the credits, as I didn't know he directed this until I was writing this review and spotted his name.  This is an early made-for-TV horror outing and, at just under seventy-five minutes, it’s a short feature, yet somehow feels way too long, with very little actually happening in that entire span.

The story follows a family moving into a rural American farmhouse that—surprise, surprise—has a supernatural element dwelling there. On paper, it’s a decent enough set-up for a ghostly movie, but the execution is just totally bland. Like I say, it’s not long, but it's also not scary and it never produces a truly unsettling moment. Those hoping for creeping dread, memorable scares, or even a splash of gore will find none of that here.

Instead, the movie settles into the most restrained rhythms of 70s TV horror with soft lighting, slow pacing and basic storytelling. Spielberg’s direction shows hints of what was destined to come, but I guess he had to make films like this so that his true classics like 'Poltergeist' could run.

If you’re a fan of supernatural or possession films, there are plenty of better choices, such as 'The Exorcist, Burnt Offerings,' or, of course, Spielberg’s own 'Poltergeist.' 'Something Evil' is more curiosity than classic, of interest only to die-hard Spielberg fans. For most viewers, it’s a forgettable detour.

3/10