Horror

TV Movie

Stranger in Our House

Finnegan Associates

Interplanetary Pictures Productions

United States of America

English

Linda Blair

Lee Purcell

Jeremy Slate

Jeff McCracken

Jeff East

Carol Lawrence

Macdonald Carey

Fran Drescher

James Jarnigan

Sierra Pecheur

Billy Beck

Patricia Wilson

Gwil Richards

Frederick Rule

Helena Mäkelä

Nicole Keller

John Steadman

Kerry Arquette

Kim Wells

Beatrice Manley

Thomas McGowan

Ed Wright

Wes Craven

Glenn M. Benest

Lois Duncan

Max A. Keller

Bill Finnegan

John D'Andrea

Michael Lloyd

William B. Jurgensen

Howard A. Smith

Anthony Mondell

Carolyn Elias

Stephen Gautier

Kathy O'Rear

Micheline H. Keller

Joe Aubel

Patricia Finnegan

_**Linda Blair as a teen at a ranch in Southern Cal suspects her cousin of being a witch**_ 

A tragically orphaned cousin from the Ozarks (Lee Purcel) comes to live with the wealthy Bryant family at a small ranch in SoCal. The teen daughter (Linda Blair) starts to discern something sinister about her. Havoc ensues.

"Summer of Fear" (1978), aka “Stranger in Our House,” is a drama/thriller with elements of horror. Although a TV production, it was directed by Wes Craven and is highlighted by winsome Blair, who was 18 during shooting in 1977. The plot is similar to the future “Poison Ivy” (1992), but with the witchcraft angle. 

In the 70s, films like this took the low-key approach and were the better for it. When supernatural elements finally break out, it’s actually shocking because up to that point the audience is lulled into a rather relaxed state due to the mundane drama. The original version of “Carrie” is a good example; compare the 1976 version to the 2013 version: the telekinesis in the latter is so amped up it's almost a parody.

Fran Drescher is notable in a peripheral role in one of her earliest works; she was 20 at the time of shooting.
 
The movie runs around 1 hour, 39 minutes, and was shot at Hidden Hills, California, which is about 20 miles west of Hollywood and just north of the Santa Monica Mountains.

GRADE: B

Summer Of Fear ≣ 1978 ≣ Trailer

SUMMER OF FEAR [Movie] Official Trailer

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Stranger in Our House

Cast & Crew

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Cast

Linda Blair

Lee Purcell

Jeremy Slate

Jeff McCracken

Jeff East

Carol Lawrence

Macdonald Carey

Fran Drescher

James Jarnigan

Sierra Pecheur

Box office

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