1979·Horror·1h 39m
7.0
★
After a country family of five take in charming cousin Julie, whose parents recently died in a car crash, their teenage daughter Rachel grows to suspect that Julie has a sinister agenda.
Directed by Wes Craven
witch
based on novel or book
obsession
voodoo
horse
animal attack
possession
car accident
summer
demon
housekeeper
catfight
witchcraft
occult
house guest
small community
alleged cousin
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Linda Blair
Rachel Bryant
Lee Purcell
Julia Trent
Jeremy Slate
Tom Bryant
Jeff East
Peter Bryant
Carol Lawrence
Leslie Bryant
Macdonald Carey
Professor Jarvis
Fran Drescher
Carolyn Baker
Sierra Pecheur
Nurse Duncan
Billy Beck
Sheriff
Patricia Wilson
Mrs. Gallagher
Gwil Richards
Dr. Morgan
John Steadman
Vet
Crew
Wes Craven
Director
Lois Duncan
Novel
Popular Reviews
17 reviews
Ryan Vigilante
4.0★ · 05/26/25
Some absolutely diabolical wigs in this one
Some absolutely diabolical wigs in this one
va24mar
4.0★ · 10/26/22
1978 | Wes Craven
Hooptober Neun: 27/35
8 decades: 7/8 - 70s
Wes Craven’s follow up to “The Hills Have Eyes” was this 1978 made-for-TV film originally named “Stranger in Our House”, but re-titled “Summer of Fear” for its theatrical release in Europe.
It definitely is one of Craven’s weakest films. It is a very middle of the road DTV flick that offer nothing that is even remotely special and never actually feels like a Craven film.
It’s competently shot and put together and the performances aren’t bad either, but at no point does it manage to be interesting or intriguing. It didn’t really build any atmosphere and was the bad kind of frustrating; the annoying kind. It just didn’t do anything for me.
I actually predicted the twist, but even if I hadn’t, the film makes no real effort to make the twist somewhat shocking or so.
Also, I’m generally not a fan of films about witches or witchcraft cause most of the time that’s just extremely uninteresting.
Anyway, this is nothing to write home about and certainly one of Craven’s lesser films.
Hooptober Neun: 27/35
8 decades: 7/8 - 70s
Wes Craven’s follow up to “The Hills Have Eyes” was this 1978 made-for-TV film originally named “Stranger in Our House”, but re-titled “Summer of Fear” for its theatrical release in Europe.
It definitely is one of Craven’s weakest films. It is a very middle of the road DTV flick that offer nothing that is even remotely special and never actually feels like a Craven film.
It’s competently shot and put together and the performances aren’t bad either, but at no point does it manage to be interesting or intriguing. It didn’t really build any atmosphere and was the bad kind of frustrating; the annoying kind. It just didn’t do anything for me.
I actually predicted the twist, but even if I hadn’t, the film makes no real effort to make the twist somewhat shocking or so.
Also, I’m generally not a fan of films about witches or witchcraft cause most of the time that’s just extremely uninteresting.
Anyway, this is nothing to write home about and certainly one of Craven’s lesser films.
1978 | Wes Craven
Hooptober Neun: 27/35
8 decades: 7/8 - 70s
Wes Craven’s follow up to “The Hills Have Eyes” was this 1978 made-for-TV film originally named “Stranger in Our House”, but re-titled “Summer of Fear” for its theatrical release in Europe.
It definitely is one of Craven’s weakest films. It is a very middle of the road DTV flick that offer nothing that is even remotely special and never actually feels like a Craven film.
It’s competently shot and put together and the performances aren’t bad either, but at no point does it manage to be interesting or intriguing. It didn’t really build any atmosphere and was the bad kind of frustrating; the annoying kind. It just didn’t do anything for me.
I actually predicted the twist, but even if I hadn’t, the film makes no real effort to make the twist somewhat shocking or so.
Also, I’m generally not a fan of films about witches or witchcraft cause most of the time that’s just extremely uninteresting.
Anyway, this is nothing to write home about and certainly one of Craven’s lesser films.
Hooptober Neun: 27/35
8 decades: 7/8 - 70s
Wes Craven’s follow up to “The Hills Have Eyes” was this 1978 made-for-TV film originally named “Stranger in Our House”, but re-titled “Summer of Fear” for its theatrical release in Europe.
It definitely is one of Craven’s weakest films. It is a very middle of the road DTV flick that offer nothing that is even remotely special and never actually feels like a Craven film.
It’s competently shot and put together and the performances aren’t bad either, but at no point does it manage to be interesting or intriguing. It didn’t really build any atmosphere and was the bad kind of frustrating; the annoying kind. It just didn’t do anything for me.
I actually predicted the twist, but even if I hadn’t, the film makes no real effort to make the twist somewhat shocking or so.
Also, I’m generally not a fan of films about witches or witchcraft cause most of the time that’s just extremely uninteresting.
Anyway, this is nothing to write home about and certainly one of Craven’s lesser films.
Garon Cockrell
6.0★ · 10/18/17
Not a terrible film for a TV movie. I miss the days of horror TV movies. I mean technically i don't think Iw as alive for most of them but still wish this would make more of a comeback. This one was pretty good, if a little slow. Linda Blair was a bit whiny but the paranoia and mystery builds pretty well. Not a bad early film from Wes Craven. RIP.
Not a terrible film for a TV movie. I miss the days of horror TV movies. I mean technically i don't think Iw as alive for most of them but still wish this would make more of a comeback. This one was pretty good, if a little slow. Linda Blair was a bit whiny but the paranoia and mystery builds pretty well. Not a bad early film from Wes Craven. RIP.
Smario
5.0★ · 03/25/26
Jebo
4.0★ · 12/22/25