'Thriller' - You'll Love This Spooky 1970's British Anthology TV Show

This Isn't The Excellent Boris Karloff Hosted American Show From The 1960's

Anthology TV series are the reliable storytelling vehicles. They offer viewers numerous times to get things right. Or at least they give us a chance at several favored outings. They’re an entertainment equivalent of party mix or a box of tempting chocolate samplers. Yes, Forrest Gump, regarding those box of chocolates you rattle on about, we get it. You never know what you’re gonna get, but at least you’ve got enough choices to keep you more than busy.

Classic shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Tales of Tomorrow, The Outer Limits, Tales From The Darkside or The Twilight Zone provide us with many a creepy tale. The odds are that at least a few of them will hit a narrative home run. Sometimes, the production is so well presented, most all of the stories resonate with the audience. Thriller, created by Brian Clemens, and broadcast in Britain from 1973 to 1976, definitely improves the odds for the hits over duds.

Here’s a fair warning to those who’ve not seen the show. Before finding the episodes on cable or streaming - Roku has them for free, as does Amazon Prime Video and Shout! Factory - be advised on the quality of this old school program. Don’t expect lush, expensive production values. The tales themselves are always well executed, but the desaturated video look reminds one of a vintage 1970’s soap opera or the early Doctor Who episodes.

Thriller is an effective show which delivers real thrills.

British Show, American Guest Stars

This one spans and includes either side of the talent pond.

Many Thriller episodes include at least one American character portrayed by a well known American actor or actress. Familiar names like Lynda Day George, Gary Collins, Donna Mills, Paul Burke, Barbara Feldon, Carol Lynley and Bradford Dillman, co-starred alongside British performers such as Pamela Franklin, Helen Mirren, Judy Carne, Hayley Mills, and Jenny Agutter. Clearly, this is one talent pool any TV show would love to boast about having on its professional roster.

It’s hard to pick one over the other, as I already count many episodes as favorites, but one of the standouts is a neat little shocker entitled, Someone At The Top Of The Stairs. Guest starring Donna Mills (Play Misty For Me) this one will keep you guessing and biting your fingernails till the very last scene.

A Coffin For The Bride sees a charming conman/ladykiller and master of disguise conning as many women as he can get his grubby hands on to marry, bilk and brutally murder. When he meets a beautiful woman he knows is the one to take him away from his life of crime, a few twisty turns and…. Sorry. You’ll have to watch it for yourself.

If you seek out cat and mouse games, weird tales spun out of creepy cloth from a nightmare world, then Thriller will have you loving its many mystery guessing games to the very end. Available to stream on Amazon Prime and also Shout! Factory, you’ll get a real thrill out of its many memorable adventures.