There was a time (not so long ago) when horror films were actually scary. Wasn't there? I'm pretty sure I remember it this way. Films that were powerful enough, they could chill you to the bone. Cause you to question your beliefs and stay with you (deep inside your head) long after the credits had rolled. Films that would make you question a noise at home that deep down inside you knew was nothing to be concerned about or make you nervous enough to check the closet or under your bed for any unwanted intruders (biological, chemical or other). There's no greater feeling in the present than to rediscover one of these seemingly forgotten gems of the past. These gems that simply said, had the ability to make you crap your pants. It's time to rediscover (or discover for the first time) one such gem. A little film called The Entity. A film that was (and to this day still is) such a film... a film that is one hell of a scary flick. Both then and now.

Barbara Hershey stars as Carla Moran a hardworking single mother who spends her free time at night school learning to type in a never-ending quest to become a better and more successful woman. In the mean time a hardworking evil spirit (at least one, possibly more) has taken a liking to poor Carla. This unexplained force aims to take (without asking) what it wants from her through a series of extremely disturbing attacks. The attacks begin as violent episodes with Carla being tossed around the room, doors being slammed and furniture sliding into walls. Things quickly take an even more upsetting turn as the attacks become more violent and sexual as this unexplained force not only repeatedly beats Carla, but begins to take sexual advantage and rape her as well. Of course no one believes that a 'ghost' is raping Carla and the doctor she's been seeing just wants to have her committed. The attacks intensify (even more so sexually) and become all the more deadly as well. In one instance the spirit takes over Carla's car while she's driving to work, nearly killing her. It isn't until Carla meets up with some paranormal experts that she actually has someone on her side. Whether or not they'll be able to learn the true source of this unrelenting force remains to be seen and most importantly will the attacks ever end?

Why does The Entity work so well as a horror film and in the end frighten the hell out of us? One would have to first start off by discussing the performances. Barbara Hershey is wonderful as the sympathetic and battered victim. This is a role that I'm sure very few actresses would be willing to accept today (and not many studios would be willing to back up). When the attacks take on a sexual tone, the scenes intensify and become all the more disturbing. Quite often Carla is stripped down naked and fondled by the relentless force. Stan Winston's effects are equally as effective. Here's a man who can make us believe that breasts are being fondled by an unseen force! Pure genius!

Based on a true story, at its heart, the film is quite simple and understated. It's also just all the more effective in aiding to scare the living shit out of us. What's missing from horror films today? Everything that The Entity does have; great dialogue, excellent performances, an effective score and impressive (yet subtle) effects... and this is just the beginning. Through it all, nothing is "in your face" or overly exploitative, there's a happy medium and everything just works. Best of all, everything is played straight. There's no forced humor to bring us out of this world. If we are brought up, even for a minute (which doesn't happen too often), it's part of the natural flow, not because of a screenwriter's clever quip.

Towards the tail end things do get a bit tedious. Especially when Carla's paranormal friends help to stage an attack so they can document the event (or perhaps even help to capture it). Also, when we do finally see 'the force' it's nothing more than a couple of cheap 80's optical effects. Still, the set pieces that do work and performances are more than enough to keep us moving along, and to continually send those chills down our spine.

Audio is presented in a solid surround mix with clear dialogue and some effective use of surrounds. Picture quality is near flawless, yet just a tad on the dark side. Extras include a featurette entitled The Entity Files with Parapsychologist Dr. Barry Taff who discusses the real life case in relation to the film. Other extras include a theatrical trailer, stills, and the original screenplay available on DVD ROM.

Easily worth a purchase based on the price point alone, The Entity is a frightening example of classic horror cinema that comes highly recommended as does this DVD from Anchor Bay.