Before USA Network became series-focused, the cable channel delivered a steady stream of weekly original movies. Many of which were produced by MCA (now NBCUniversal). And during this era — between the late 1980s and early 2000s — USA offered a variety of genres; action and suspense were the most common, but horror also came up from time to time.
Especially around Halloween.
USA Network is no longer in the business of airing these “World Premiere Movies,” horror or otherwise, and there haven’t been great strides to bring all of them to streaming or modern home video. However, the horror entries certainly have their merits as well as fans.
See if you can remember these original movies from USA Network’s horror history.
Trapped (1989)
Image: Kathleen Quinlan in Trapped (1989).
Directed by Fred Walton (When a Stranger Calls, April Fool’s Day), Trapped was one of USA’s first World Premiere Movies. Here Kathleen Quinlan (Twilight Zone: The Movie, The Hills Have Eyes) starred in what feels like a blueprint for P2. Rather than just a parking garage though, Quinlan has more room to run; it’s inside a virtually empty office building where the protagonist is pursued by a madman. Like most of these movies, Trapped provides straightforward yet effective thrills.
Nightlife (1989)
Image: Print ad for Nightlife (1989) along with a shot of Ben Cross and Maryam d’Abo.
More horror fans are likely to remember another 1989 movie called Night Life than Daniel Taplitz‘s vampire flick Nightlife. Here Ben Cross (The Unholy, Paperhouse) plays the bloodsucker Vlad, whose undead lover (Maryam d’Abo) has become drawn to a human. To be more specific, a scientist (Keith Szarabajka). It was only two years later when Cross portrayed another vamp: Barnabas in the ’91 Dark Shadows revival.
High Desert Kill (1989)
Image: Chuck Connors, Micah Grant and Anthony Geary in High Desert Kill (1989).
Perhaps the most out-there and envelope-pushing of these USA features is Harry Falk‘s High Desert Kill. Three men (Micah Grant, Anthony Geary, Marc Singer) hunting out in the desert become caught up in an otherworldly situation. This nutty genre buffet, one featuring Chuck Connors, is always shifting gears and surprising the audience. That party scene likely would have turned into something steamier on a network like HBO, but what is shown here is certainly startling. The movie’s not a slasher, and it’s not a Predator knockoff. Yet those comparisons, among others, are still valid. Confused? Wait until you actually see High Desert Kill.
The Haunting of Sarah Hardy (1989)
Image: Sela Ward in The Haunting of Sarah Hardy (1989).
Jerry London‘s The Haunting of Sarah Hardy wins points for having gobs of ghostly atmosphere as well as Morgan Fairchild. Here is also one of the wildest sources of childhood trauma seen in TV-movies; the titular Sarah witnessed her mother run into the sea and never come back out. Now all grown up, Sela Ward‘s Sarah is being menaced at a seaside mansion. But by whom… or what? Whatever you do, skip looking up this movie online because IMDb and other sites totally spoil the ending without warning.
The China Lake Murders (1990)
Image: Tom Skerritt and Michael Parks in The China Lake Murders (1990).
Alan Metzger‘s The China Lake Murders may not be labeled as horror, but it is indeed horrifying. In one of the most successful basic cable TV-movies, a rogue cop (Michael Parks, Tusk) is locking people in car trunks so they can then die in the desert heat. And only Tom Skerritt (Alien) can stop the killer. This movie was based on Robert Harmon’s short China Lake, which earned Harmon the director’s chair for The Hitcher.
Nightmare on the 13th Floor (1990)
Image: Michele Greene and James Brolin in Nightmare on the 13th Floor (1990).
Walter Grauman‘s Nightmare on the 13th Floor was USA’s first dip into the Satanic Panic pool; the story follows a writer (Michele Greene) whose prying gets the best of her when she investigates a building’s closed-off thirteenth floor. This movie had the good fortune to be aired on Halloween that year, so maybe there was an urgency to dial up the creepiness as well.
I’m Dangerous Tonight (1990)
Image: Mädchen Amick and Anthony Perkins in I’m Dangerous Tonight (1990).
Based on author Cornell Woolrich‘s story, Tobe Hooper‘s adaptation of I’m Dangerous Tonight has Mädchen Amick (Twin Peaks, Sleepwalkers) starring alongside Anthony Perkins (Psycho). Amick is the unlucky new owner of a cloak once used in Aztec rituals, then later turned into a dress. Now possessed by the evil fabric, the protagonist endures a life-threatening identity crisis.
Wheels of Terror (1990)
Image: Joanna Cassidy and Marcie Leeds in Wheels of Terror (1990).
Was writer Alan B. McElroy (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Wrong Turn) a fan of The Car? It would seem that way in this vehicular thriller directed by Christopher Cain. In Wheels of Terror, Joanna Cassidy (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) plays a school bus driver and mother whose daughter is abducted by a child molester. And to get her back, the mom takes the wheel and gives chase to the mysterious driver. Oh, and a busload of kids are in for the ride of their young lives as they sit back and watch in horror as Cassidy’s character pursues the evasive ’74 Charger.
Buried Alive (1990)
Image: Jennifer Jason Leigh and William Atherton in Buried Alive (1990).
Frank Darabont‘s Buried Alive might be considered more of a standard domestic thriller, but the plot of faking someone’s death, then that person coming back from the grave — literally in Tim Matheson‘s character’s case — to take revenge is more macabre than not. There’s just no supernatural angle to push it over the genre line. Here a wicked wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh) gets her comeuppance after doing in her boring yet kind husband. A sequel, one directed by Matheson, followed in 1997.
Child of Darkness, Child of Light (1991)
Image: Child of Darkness, Child of Light (1991) artwork by Stan Watts.
James Patterson‘s novel Virgin served as the basis for Child of Darkness, Child of Light. Here two virgin births lead to an investigation by the Catholic Church. What they find, of course, is nothing short of unholy. Unfortunately, the movie overall is too restrained with both its thrills and set pieces. So don’t go expecting The Omen. Marina Sargenti was reunited with Kristin Dattilo, who starred in the director’s previous horror pic Mirror, Mirror.
Lightning Field (1991)
Image: Print ad for Lightning Field (1991).
So, Satanic Panic and cult dread were clearly inspirations in these earlier USA outings. For Michael Switzer‘s Lightning Field (also known as The Lightning Incident), a mother (Nancy McKeon) has to use her new paranormal abilities to locate her abducted newborn. This movie is notable for accusations of plagiarism.
Deadly Game (1991)
Image: Marc Singer, Michael Beck & Roddy McDowall in Deadly Game (1991).
This unofficial reimagining of The Most Dangerous Game has contestants vying for the prize of life after first being tempted by cash. Thomas J. Wright‘s movie Deadly Game often acts like a Saw movie where an evil mastermind constructs a convoluted revenge plan, and the victims don’t even realize their connection to this mysterious orchestrator (Fredric Lehne). The cast includes Marc Singer (The Beastmaster), Jenny Seagrove (The Guardian), Michael Beck (The Warriors), and Roddy McDowall (Fright Night).
Strays (1991)
Image: A feral cat hisses in Strays (1991).
Strays was USA’s first creature-feature, and despite the movie’s unintentional silliness — how does a housecat claw its way through a door in seconds? — it’s rather fun. In director John McPherson‘s killer kitty flick, one penned by former teen heartthrob and now TV producer Shaun Cassidy, city folks moves to the rural house where evil purrs. And in due time, the fur flies for Kathleen Quinlan and Timothy Busfield‘s characters.
Into the Badlands (1991)
Image: Bruce Dern and Mariel Hemingway in Into the Badlands (1991).
Bruce Dern (The ‘Burbs, The Haunting) plays the linking element in Into the Badlands, a slow-burning horror and gothic western anthology in the vein of Grim Prairie Tales. The three sub-stories do share a connection, but they can also be enjoyed as standalones. Sam Pillsbury‘s obscure dose of the Weird and Wild West also starred Helen Hunt, Mariel Hemingway, and Dylan McDermott.
Psychic (1992)
Image: Zach Galligan in Psychic (1992).
It would seem that George Mihalka‘s Psychic was actually acquired by USA; it showed in 1991 at a film festival before premiering on the network that following year. And it wasn’t produced by MCA, either. With all that being said, it’s still worth including (along with a few others in the same boat). The main character, one played by Gremlins and Waxwork star Zach Galligan, has a third eye all of a sudden, and it helps him track down a killer in his college town. Psychic is a welcome subversion of other genre movies where women access latent psychic powers, and Catherine Mary Stewart is charming to watch (as always). Viewers tend to dislike the ending, however, most of everything else before then is likable.
The Companion (1994)
Image: Bruce Greenwood in The Companion (1994).
In 1992, Syfy (originally The Sci-Fi Channel) aired Homewrecker, a movie similar to Gary Fleder‘s The Companion. Both Syfy and USA Network operate under the same parent company, but it made sense to show Homewrecker on the aforesaid channel. The Companion, also about advanced technology gone wrong, has the addition of Bruce Greenwood as the human-like AI stalker. So maybe that’s why this telepic was kicked over to USA. Anyway, things here never get as wild as they could have; this is not a body-count horror movie. It’s more about the interiority of Kathryn Harrold‘s heartbroken and complex character.
Dead Air (1994)
Image: Gregory Hines in Dead Air (1994).
Fred Walton returned to USA with another nailbiter, although it’s far more of a character study than a cat-and-mouser. Gregory Hines is an increasingly paranoid radio DJ whose next caller could be a killer. Dead Air has the sort of ending that works best on television; big-screen audiences might jeer. Critic Tony Scott correctly summed up Dead Air in his ’94 review for Variety: the movie “goes down plenty of confusing lanes to reach its eerie destination, but the atmosphere and suspense make it a riveting [melodrama].”
The Haunting of Seacliff Inn (1994)
Image: Ally Sheedy in The Haunting of Seacliff Inn (1994).
Ally Sheedy (Man’s Best Friend) starred in a few of these original USA horror movies, with Walter Klenhard‘s The Haunting of Seacliff Inn being the first. Here hers and William R. Moses‘ characters purchase the story’s namesake, which manifests its unearthliness later than sooner. And by then, the outcome is never quite worthwhile. Still and all, the setting is worth at least one view.
Seduced by Evil (1994)
Image: Suzanne Somers in Seduced by Evil (2002).
Tony Wharmby‘s Seduced by Evil is a limp stab at the erotic movie, which was popular during the ’90s. The plot has Suzanne Somers being enticed, stalked and threatened by a New Mexican sorcerer (John Vargas) after she begins to manifest psychic abilities. Ultimately, it’s more sleepy than sexy.
The Colony (1995)
Image: John Ritter, Hal Linden and Mary Page Keller in The Colony (1995).
This exaggeration of sinister suburbia could have been more hellish, but alas, Rob Hedden‘s The Colony holds back more than desired. Then again, that dog scene is upsetting. Not exactly enough to elevate this planned-community chiller, but animal lovers take caution. Everything else is too middle of the road.
Rattled (1996)
Image: William Katt and Michael Galeota in Rattled (1996).
Tony Randel (Hellbound: Hellraiser II) directed this snake movie a few years after making everyone squirm with Ticks, but sadly, Rattled lacks bite. It’s not all fangless, because Clint Howard‘s character’s demise is effective, at least from a comedy standpoint.
The Crying Child (1996)
Image: George DelHoyo and Mariel Hemingway in The Crying Child (1996).
A story of grief eventually including ghosts seems old-fashioned, but that’s maybe why Robert Lewis‘ The Crying Child is enjoyable. It’s a cozy frightener that combines real-life dread — losing a child during birth — with fantastical fears. Mariel Hemingway and George DelHoyo play the grieving parents who visit an inherited house on an island, and the wife hears disembodied baby cries at night. And soon she and others are drawn into an old mystery. The Crying Child is based on a novel by Barbara Mertz.
Trilogy of Terror II (1996)
Image: Lysette Anthony’s three different characters in Trilogy of Terror II (1996).
Two decades after his iconic Trilogy of Terror, Dan Curtis (the Dark Shadows franchise, Burnt Offerings) returned with another trio of self-contained scary stories. Lysette Anthony steps into three different roles à la Karen Black in the ’75 movie. First she’s a ghoul in “The Graveyard Rats” (based on the same source material for the Cabinet of Curiosities episode), then a black arts-using mother in a remake of “Bobby” (from Curtis’ Dead of Night), and finally an unfortunate scientist in “He Who Kills,” a direct sequel to “Amelia.” Dare it be uttered, this collection is more consistent than its predecessor, although the Zuni Doll is less fearsome the second time around, largely on account of its overexposure. Seeing the little guy less on screen might have been the better choice. Nevertheless, Trilogy of Terror II is an amusing TV treat perfect for Halloween.
Buried Alive II (1997)
Image: Tim Matheson in Buried Alive II (1997).
Tim Matheson, star of the first Buried Alive, returned in a supporting capacity for the sequel, which he also directed. And for the most part, Buried Alive II rehashes the first movie’s story, except now the inhumed spouse is played by Ally Sheedy. Otherwise, no big surprises here.
Trucks (1997)
Image: Brendan Fletcher, Amy Stewart, Brenda Bakke and Timothy Busfield in Trucks (1997).
While Maximum Overdrive may not be everyone’s favorite Stephen King movie, it’s still more well liked than this second adaptation of the author’s short story. Strays leading man Timothy Busfield headed this so-so second take of murderous motor vehicles. If nothing else, Chris Thomson‘s Trucks has a decent cast of actors to make up for the shortfall of thrills. Maybe USA just wasn’t ready for something so high-concept and effects-heavy at the time.
The Fury Within (1998)
Image: Ally Sheedy, Costas Mandylor, Vincent Berry and Emily Borg in The Fury Within (1998).
Noel Nosseck‘s The Fury Within sounds like a routine haunted-house movie. A husband and wife (Ally Sheedy, Costas Mandylor) experience more than the usual hardship following a messy separation: a paranormal entity has begun to menace them and their two kids. The true source of the threat, however, comes as a surprise for both the characters and the audience. Shot in Australia, The Fury Within ends up being a touch more original than anticipated.
Atomic Dog (1998)
Image: The namesake of Atomic Dog (1998).
Don’t go into Brian Trenchard-Smith‘s Atomic Dog expecting Cujo (or anything like the director’s overtly horror output). It’s more on the domesticated side of deadly dog movies. You could even say it’s just a mildly hairier family movie with a strong case of tonal whiplash.
Cabin by the Lake (2000)
Image: Judd Nelson and Hedy Burress in Cabin by the Lake (2000).
Billed as a dark comedy, Po-Chih Leong‘s overlooked Cabin by the Lake still has a sizable horror slant. The villain (Judd Nelson) is even writing a horror movie based on the murders he’s been committing in his quiet lake town. The female victims’ watery grave is creepy to visit, despite the obviousness of the set in use, and Hedy Burress‘ character plays a wonderful foil for the unnervingly calm and unreadable antagonist.
They Nest (2000)
Image: The fully-evolved bugs attack the residents of Orr Island in They Nest (2000).
Of all USA’s small-screen creature-features, They Nest (also known as Creepy Crawlers) is the most triumphant. At least as far as grossness goes. It’s surprising what Ellory Elkayem (Eight Legged Freaks) got away with in this movie about a killer bug infestation. In the end, decent visual effects compensate for a familiar story.
The Darkling (2000)
Image: Aidan Gillen and F. Murray Abraham in The Darkling (2000).
The highlights of Po-Chih Leong‘s The Darkling are Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones) and F. Murray Abraham (Thir13en Ghosts), who both try their hardest to salvage a clumsy and befuddling script. This Faustian tale of a man whose newfound fame comes from a supernatural creature could have been better, yet alas, it’s more poor than rich.
Terror Tract (2000)
Image: The Granny Killer in Terror Tract (2000).
Lance W. Dreesen and Clint Hutchison‘s anthology Terror Tract was not intended to air on USA, nor was it made by the network’s parent company. Well, something obviously changed during the movie’s journey and it became part of the channel’s October programming (along with Cherry Falls). It’s clearly more polished than the actual original features shown on USA, but a good mix of morbid humor and grisliness made it feel right at home. John Ritter played a desperate realtor who doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. In lieu of selling a couple their first house, Ritter’s wraparound character ends up divulging the gruesome pasts of three infamous listings. After a warm-up act about a cheating wife, Bryan Cranston battles a malevolent capuchin named Bobo. And in the third yarn, a granny-masked slasher shares a psychic connection with a teen boy (Will Estes).
Cherry Falls (2000)
Image: Brittany Murphy in Cherry Falls (2000).
Geoffrey Wright‘s Cherry Falls, like Terror Tract, was not made for television. A knotty distribution deal and an issue over censorship were instrumental in the movie’s ultimate destination. And if the uncut version of the movie still exists, it’s unclear if fans will ever see it anytime soon. As it is, Cherry Falls remains a clever subversion of classic slashers.
Return to Cabin by the Lake (2001)
Image: Judd Nelson and Dahlia Salem in Return to Cabin by the Lake (2001).
By 2001, USA Network had begun to press the brake on its original movies. It was a good run while it lasted. Now, fans of the first Cabin by the Lake would say Return to Cabin by the Lake is a big step down from the first. Yet Jeffrey Reddick‘s self-aware script has its virtues. It’s, in some ways, the Scream 3 of TV-movies, which may or may not be a good thing, depending on how one feels about that divisive sequel.
Frankenstein (2004)
Image: Frankenstein (2004).
The last entry here is a debatable one, on account of the fact that USA’s Frankenstein was really a pilot for a potential series. One directed by Marcus Nispel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th), loosely adapted from Dean Koontz‘s Frankenstein, and executive-produced by Martin Scorsese. Yet due to creative differences and whatnot, Koontz as well as Scorsese parted ways with the project. This take on the novel ended up being more of an X-Files wannabe; writer John Shiban even worked on The X-Files at one point. Frankenstein turned into a procedural cop thriller where two mismatched detectives (Parker Posey and Adam Goldberg) tangled with the monstrous creations of Victor Helios (Thomas Kretschmann). They also crossed paths with Helios’ first project, Deucalion (Vincent Perez). Amid all the unfavorable reviews, there was praise for Nispel’s visual direction.
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