Before streaming services dominated the television viewing market, there was a period where networks actually led their own original films. Often referred to as made-for-television movies, these productions were a major drawcard, airing on places like ABC and NBC, and they even had special programming, famously known as the Movie of the Week. Often a different feature with a different theme, in 1977, NBC released a Horror movie entitled Dead of Night.
Premiering at a prime-time slot on Tuesday, March 29, 1977, on NBC, Dead of Night was presented in a seldom-used anthology Horror format directed by Dan Curtis (famous for creating Dark Shadows). Additionally, it featured writing by Richard Matheson (best known for many works, including 1954’s I Am Legend). With these two talented individuals in place, the film is broken into three stories, much like Dan Curtis’ beloved Trilogy of Terror, starring Karen Black, which was an ABC Movie of the Week in 1975.
Each tale unrelated, in Dead of Night, Curtis directs themes ranging from the Twilight Zone vibe of Second Chance (starring Ed Begley Jr.) to the gothic vampire-themed No Such Thing as a Vampire (starring Patrick Macnee) to the terrifying, must-watch resurrection in Bobby (led by the award-winning Joan Hackett).
Each story offering something different, their moods are eerie, engaging, and honestly top-notch in terms of Horror. Proving that Horror can be effective if done right, even on prime-time network television, Dead of Night is one of those films that should be on every well-rounded fan’s watch list. Never awarded a theatrical release, but given several reruns after the 1977 premiere, it even made it to VHS in the 1980s, ensuring viewers kept discovering it. As years have passed, it was released on DVD in the USA in 2009, but now, in 2025, Dead of Night is debuting on Blu-ray.
Released by Kino Lorber as part of their Kino Classics collection, Dead of Night arrived just in time for Halloween 2025, with a release on October 28th. As stated, the first-ever Blu-ray edition of the film, the new release offers improved imagery with 1080P resolution and a bright display, though it still shows some graininess. Looking and sounding quite good, you get the original film that aired on NBC, plus 1969’s A Dark at Blaisedon (which was proposed as a fourth short part of Dead of Night, but never used), deleted scenes, audio commentary, and a featurette highlighting Robert Cobert’s music score.
Beyond this, there is a nice cardboard slipcase and newly commissioned artwork, and it actually looks terrific (depicting Joan Hackett’s mother character in the Bobby segment practicing a dark ceremony).
Overall, this is a fantastic release from Kino Lorber that should be considered by any fan of Horror, especially those who enjoy Anthology Horror. That is why Cryptic Rock gives the Blu-ray release of Dead of Night 5 out of 5 stars.
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