PAMELA SUE MARTIN POSSESSES 'BAY COVE' WITH TIM MATHESON

Pamela Sue Martin in BAY COVE Year: 1987 Rates: ***1/2

Occasionally, made-for-television horror movies are surprisingly good, like GARGOYLES, SALEM'S LOT, or Pamela Sue Martin and Tim Matheson as a big city couple who decide to move to the nearby old-fashioned island of BAY COVE, which, it turns out, has some strange content...

Including an eerie old man who stares out a window SENTINEL style; neighbors who hatefully fear dogs like STRANGE INVADERS; and a cemetery that's most recent headstone dates back to the 1700's, possibly making the middle-aged residents a couple hundred years old as Pamela Sue's our investigative Mia Farrow ala ROSEMARY’S BABY (sans impregnation) while in-denial Matheson adheres quickly to the weird locals, taking the John Cassavetes soulless husband mantel; and Woody Harrelson's the heroine's best friend who, like Maurice Evans, gets a piece of clothing stolen before buying the farm... 

Tim Matheson with Pamela Sue Martin in BAY COVE

Jeff Conaway is a deceptively mundane, preppy neighbor while the pivotal Ruth Gordon/Satan's watchdog role goes to Barbara Billingsly, who co-starred with Matheson on a few LEAVE IT TO BEAVER episodes. And add an eerie little girl (Marsha Moreau), who possesses an ability to always keep a tight eye on the newcomers, thus providing some EXORCIST vibes...

Produced by future BATMAN moguls Peter Gruber and Jon Peters, the suspense and intrigue goes hand-in-hand as our heroine stumbles upon the truth, getting more in danger while the surrounding residents, especially her seemingly perfect husband, become more enigmatic, possibly lethal... and while originally named BAY COVEN, without the N lies a more subtle and suitable title as much of the film consists of obscuring that element (EYE OF THE DEMON and STRANGERS IN TOWN are other alternates). And the island itself is called Devlin... so you can't say they weren't warned. 

Spella, Spella, Spella, Spella... Spell Me More, Spell Me More in BAY COVE featuring Jeff Conaway

Pamela Sue Martin, Tim Matheson, Jeff Conaway, Susan Ruttan in Bay Cove aka BAY COVEN

Marsha Moreau in BAY COVE aka Pánico en Bay Cove aka Город чернокнижников aka

Marsha Moreau in BAY COVE with Inga Swenson aka Bahía Coven aka BAY COVEN

Marsha Moreau in BAY COVE aka THE DEVILS OF BAY COVE aka Rogo

Tim Matheson and Pamela Sue Martin in BAY COVE aka Strangers in Town

Barbara Billingsly and Woody Harrelson don't see eye-to-eye in BAY COVE

Marsha Moreau in BAY COVE

Tim Matheson in BAY COVE

Woody Harrelson in BAY COVE

Creepy neighbors Inga Swenson and James B. Sikking in BAY COVE

Pamela Sue Martin in BAY COVE

Pamela Sue Martin and Woody Harrelson in BAY COVE

Pamela Sue Martin and Woody Harrelson in BAY COVE