Encounter With the Unknown

Rod Serling narrates three terrifying tales in this rare horror anthology from 1973. A one-time staple of the late-night TV circuit, Encounter with the Unknown presents its macabre stories in the style of Serling's famous creations The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) and Night Gallery (1969-1973). It was the first of several of B-grade thrillers director Harry Thomason made in his home state of Arkansas, followed by The Day It Came to Earth (1977) and Revenge of Bigfoot (1979). He would later produce the popular television series Designing Women (1986-1993) and Evening Shade (1990-1994) with his wife, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. A close friend of Bill Clinton's, Thomason served as the President's image consultant during his years in office. Former model Rosie Holotik was cast after appearing on the cover of Playboy the previous year (April 1972) and is now remembered for the drive-in classics Don't Look in the Basement (1973) and Horror High (1974). Character actor Bill Thurman is recognizable from countless "good ol' boy" roles; his credits include The Last Picture Show (1971) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Comedian Charlie Dell was a regular on the sci-fi children's series Jason of Star Command (1978-1981). Though the opening narration states the film is based on the research of parapsychologist Dr. Jonathan Rankin, there is no evidence that Dr. Rankin actually existed. The first segment of Encounter with the Unknown was homaged in Final Destination (2000).

• horror