CBSRMT Episode Information Next Episode

Title

Death Spell

Plot

An unemployed couple of an artist and an actress are forced to move in with a rich friend who is convinced his wife is trying to murder him using black magic.

Episode

0847

Air Dates

  • First Run - June 8, 1978
  • Repeat - November 28, 1978

Actors

Writer

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Rating

88
75     13


6 Responses to Episode 0847

This dude's friend is really paranoid, but does he have reason to be...

Jake

I glad this episode features a character truly knowledgeable about psychic matters. The actress correctly says the Ouija Board is a "divination" tool and NOT a voodoo tool./This episode's subtlety is its strong point. No bells or whistles are used here. The characters have serious, calm discussions about divination, witchcraft and demonology. Thus, you have a story with extremely, heightened suspense. There is horror without gore.

Shade Jefferson Ford

Great. So far one of the best episodes of this fantastic radio series, that I came to know just lately.

Miguel

I rate this episode ★★★★☆ for GOOD. I think Elspeth Eric got the idea of writing this mystery story from watching the 41st episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE called “The Howling Man” where the main character is skeptical to believe that the minor characters are being tormented by an evil spirit in their homes. Was the ending surprising? Yep. Was it bone-chilling, eye-popping, blood-curling, or horrifying? Not really. Another way to title this would be “Picture Perfect Demon.” In our Host’s Prologue, E.G. Marshall talks about the belief in magic, then move onto problem solving. In ACT-1, magic again. In ACT-2, his view on magic again, but also asks to look around to see if people act rationally or remote. In ACT-3, quoting the English Poet John Milton: “The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.” In the end, pointing out that it’s dangerous and arrogant for anyone to have a God-Complex. In his Epilogue, E.G. Marshall goes back to the episode’s theme of Belief. His narrations were good, but he got preoccupied when most of narrations were about magic. The sound effects of the doorknob, footsteps, unwrapping the Ouija Board, phone ringing, customers murmuring at the restaurant, birds chirping, lead pipe, lead sinker, and dialing of the rotary phone were suitable. The music of fantasy tunes was fitting, but this episode needed more. Since this story had a Ouija Board, marriage conflicts, and a demon, CBSRMT should’ve used the dark and frightening melodies from #0026-THE MAN WHO ASKED FOR YESTERDAY, #0167-THE BLACK ROOM and #1245-THE JUDGE’S HOUSE. But the best thing in this episode, was the cast: Ralph Bell (as Tom Craven), Joan Lovejoy (as Helen Craven), Gordon Heath (as Bertram Chillingworth Crowley or “Bart”), and Teri Keane (as Roslyn Crowley). These 4, with their influential voices, set the tone of outstanding drama. They have done amazing work on other CBSRMT episodes and their performances in this were splendid to a T! If you searching for mystery stories involving Ouija Boards, check this one out and check out #0554-M-U-R-D-E-R (which also stars Ralph Bell and Teri Keane). Until next time…pleasant dreams. =0)

Russell

The moral of the story: if you think someone is trying to manipulate or control you, trust your instincts because you're probably correct. Get out of the situation as soon as possible.

Mack

It’s a bit to close to where I live , Crowley put a spell on Hastings , peaches geldof is dead after following his philosophy, please believe me when I say , we may think this is all entertaining, yet underlined is danger ⚠️- is the more heaven or hell in our own philosophy

Eleanor McCarthy


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