Monster Mash alert! If you like The Twilight Zone, you’ll probably going to like the frightful Thriller. Passing it up would be a monstrous mistake.
Boris Karloff is known and celebrated for his legendary movie roles such as Frankenstein and The Mummy - two of Universal’s most famous monster movies. However, in the 1960’s, TV became all the rage. Karloff joined up to host and act in a Rod Serling Twilight Zone styled thriller television show, appropriately entitled, Thriller.
Thriller is reminiscent of Serling’s classic, yet it’s no clone nor rip-off. It simply deals in similarly dark themed tales with shocking twists in the finale. Adding Boris Karloff into the mix must have seemed a no-brainer for NBC TV executives back in the day. Serling became such a popular star - even beyond the material of his hit show - that networks felt it necessary to bring in a star boasting Karloff’s caliber to lure viewers into its fold.
As a devoted Twilight Zone fan, I was too busy hanging out in the Zone with Mr. Serling and his gang to dip my genre loving toe into Karloff’s cadaverous carnival. Although I do have a legitimate excuse; while growing up, broadcast TV, the only choice we had back then, simply never played it - in my neck of the woods anyway. So, I’m watching the show now, catching up at the beginning of my disturbing discovery. I’m enjoying every shocking, thrilling little tale. C’mon my mashing monsters, let’s talk the darker, more kill count centric Boris Karloff TV show, Thriller.
'Thriller' - Boris Karloff's Gruesome 'Twilight Zone' Style TV Show