Ritual of Evil is a 1970 American made-for-television drama horror film directed by Robert Day and starring Louis Jourdan. It was produced by Universal Television and originally broadcast on NBC on February 23, 1970. The film serves as a sequel to Fear No Evil (1969), which also starred Jourdan as the psychiatrist Dr. David Sorrell.
Plot
Psychiatrist Dr. David Sorrell treats a young heiress named Loey Wiley, whose parents have died under mysterious circumstances. His investigation leads him to uncover a cult led by a powerful witch named Leila Barton. The situation becomes increasingly complicated as Sorrell and the witch develop a romantic relationship.
Cast
- Louis Jourdan as Dr. David Sorrell
- Anne Baxter as Jolene Wiley
- Diana Hyland as Leila Barton
- John McMartin as Edward Bolander
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Harry Snowden
- Belinda Montgomery as Loey Wiley
- Carla Borelli as Aline Wiley
- Georg Stanford Brown as Larry Richmond
- Regis Cordic as the sheriff
- Dehl Berti as Mora
Production Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, Horror |
| Written by | Robert Presnell, Jr. |
| Directed by | Robert Day |
| Music by | Billy Goldenberg |
| Producer | David Levinson |
| Cinematography | Lionel Lindon |
| Running time | 98 minutes |
| Network | NBC |
Background
Ritual of Evil was conceived as an unsold television pilot intended to launch a series centered on the character of Dr. David Sorrell, a psychiatrist who becomes involved in supernatural investigations. Along with its predecessor Fear No Evil, it represents an early example of the occult thriller subgenre on American network television. The film was shot at Universal Studios in Universal City, California.
