Desert Danger Proves the Legends are True About the "Gargoyles" - Tonight!

Tonight on MeTV, we are happy to, once again, show a much-requested  "made for TV" horror movie from the early 70s – the story of a trip to the desert with an anthropologist author and his daughter, in which their skeptical research into so-called mythical creatures becomes a real-life confrontation, as they discover the existence of - "Gargoyles"!

It’s “wheels down” at an airport in the American southwest for Dr. Mercer Boley, writer and investigator/debunker of demonology. He meets up with his lovely daughter Diana, who acts as photographer on his projects, including the latest book he is working on. They drive off to the point of their next research, but seem to have taken the wrong route- and end up at what is obviously a “tourist trap”- a curio shop where they decide to check out the inventory, in case -by some miracle-there are any real artifacts. They meet the grizzled old proprietor, Uncle Willie, who senses that the pair shows little regard for his inventory and definitely are not taking his artifacts seriously- so he tries to impress them by revealing the bona fide items he keeps in the back of the shop. He shows them a big display of a skeleton of –SOME sort of creature- which the doctor thinks is just a combination of various animal bones, kind of like displays of the mythical jackalope. Daughter Diana takes note of Willie’s serious demeanor about the skeleton, and begins to think there's some truth to it all- maybe it isn’t just some ballyhoo to hoax gullible suckers! Willie begins a lengthy history lesson about  the area and what he’s found, but as day gives way to night, and he begins describing some ancient Indian beliefs, a strong windstorm unexplainably rises. But- maybe it isn’t just a windstorm! The ensuing mayhem leads to a huge destructive fire, bad news for Willie and his shop –while dad and daughter barely escape, dragging with them with the skull from that odd display of the creature’s skeleton. The worst is yet to come, because, as they drive away, their car is attacked and battered by shadowy figures!

They finally escape the onslaught, and manage to limp their car to a gas station where the attendant is shocked by the amount of damage their vehicle has sustained. Since it’ll take a while to fix it all up, they head to the adjoining motel, run by a boozy woman who obviously has not just fallen off the wagon, but possibly been run over by it! When day breaks, Dad and Diana head out to report the previous night’s mishaps to the police- who are currently busy apprehending a pack of local young men on motorbikes ( watch for one of the squad cars to miraculously change from a Chevy to a Ford in the proceedings!). The officers believe these same no-good punks are responsible for the tragic conflagration at the old museum, although Doctor Boley and his daughter know better. Unfortunately, they don’t think they can reveal the truth of what they experienced, because they just don't think the cops will buy their story- at least not yet.

Back at the motel that night- Diana and Dad get some unexpected visitors- actual gargoyles, seemingly in search of the skull taken from the museum! After some confrontation, the gargoyles escape, but one is killed- and Doc takes it back to their room ( eww!), suspecting that it was actually the gargoyles that were behind the museum incident- and that the skull may have belonged to one of their ancestors!

The next day, Diana goes by herself to the police department- hoping to convince the cops that the boys they've locked up are not to blame for the destruction of the shop -but the police and even the guys she's trying to help laugh off her story of the odd creatures.

After darkness falls, she returns to the motel- but so do the gargoyles, intent on reclaiming their dead comrade’s body-and perhaps more! Before long,it’s up the doctor- and anyone he can convince that the gargoyles exist- to protect his daughter- and stop the weird creatures before they begin their sinister plans for the human race!

This 1972 movie’s cast includes big screen star Cornell Wilde, the lovely Jennifer Salt, the "Dark Shadows" TV show's Grayson Hall, and a very young Scott Glenn- plus the late Bernie Casey as the head of the gargoyles. Along with information about the movie, its make-up artist, and its cast, we again bring you a visit with lovely actress Brooke Theiss, a veteran of “Nightmare on Elm Street 4” and the sitcom ”Just the Ten of Us”, a takeoff on a popular 80s TV show, a song based on a tune by a friend (a talented musician whose group got its start in- BERWYN!) -and even more!

Again, for those who always seem to think we “just showed” this film- it has been a year since it last ran on our show- and the reason we bring it back is because it’s one of those movies that we are constantly asked to show again- and it always gets a great rating. For more information on why we rerun some films, please click on the FAQ tab here on our website.

"Gargoyles" fly onto your screen tonight on MeTV at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central, or check time and channel in your area in local listings or at www.metv.com . You can help us trend nationally as usual on Twitter by live-Tweeting during the program, using the hashtag #svengoolie. Chicago area viewers will get one more eyeful of “The Crawling Eye"- at 11 am on our main local station, CW 26.

Be checking in our store next month- for a new Sven item- one that many of our viewers have asked for!

Join us tonight as darkness falls – and “Gargoyles” again roam the earth- and your TV screen!