David Carson Movies

Director Tobe Hooper's follow-up to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre presents yet another Southern-fried psycho (this time in Louisiana) in the form of a scripture-mumbling, one-legged cracker named Judd (Neville Brand). The proprietor of a seedy bayou inn, Judd keeps a pet gator in the nearby swamp, to which he frequently tosses the remains of his unfortunate victims -- including anyone who offends his delicate sensibilities. One such casualty is Harvey Wood (Mel Ferrer), arriving at Judd's hotel in search of his missing daughter... who, unbeknownst to her old man, has already met her own doom courtesy of the scythe-wielding madman. Other patrons include one of the most annoying families on record -- with Chainsaw veteran Marilyn Burns as the strangely-bewigged mom, William Finley as the browbeaten husband and future Halloween tyke Kyle Richards as the endlessly-shrieking daughter (whose adorable puppy becomes a light gator-snack). Nightmare on Elm Street fans can spot a young, pre-Freddy Robert Englund in a small role as a lecherous cracker. Originally titled Death Trap and known by many aliases, including Starlight Slaughter, Horror Hotel Massacre and Legend of the Bayou. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Surprisingly little known today, the seven-hour British miniseries Studio was written by Anthony Minghella of The English Patient fame. The story took place in a lavish country estate, where an enterprising music producer set up a recording studio. Shakespearean favorite Robert Stephens headed a stellar cast. Studio was shipped out by Granada Television in 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When last we left the crew of the star ship Enterprise, they were heading home following a skirmish with the despotic Khan. The unpleasant incident had cost the life of Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy)--or so it seemed. Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) is informed by Spock's father Sarek (Mark Lenard) that his son is being kept alive in the thoughts of one of the crew members. It now becomes necessary to search for Spock's body, so that flesh and soul can be rejoined on Vulcan. It turns out that Spock's spirit is residing within the mind of the Vulcan's longtime shipmate, "Bones" McCoy (DeForrest Kelley). Finding the body is another matter, since the Enterprise has been consigned to the trash heap and thus is out of Kirk's jurisdiction. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Presented by Britain's Granada Television, the weekly anthology Time for Murder consisted of six hour-long dramas with the emphasis on mystery and mayhem. Among the authors represented herein were such literary heavyweights as Fay Weldon and Antonia Fraser. Individual episode titles include "The Murders at Lynch Cross", "This Lightening Always Strikes Twice", "The Thirteenth Day of Christmas," and more. Time for Murder originally aired in 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"The Final Problem" is the last episode of the television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, an excellent adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories produced in Britain for Granada TV. In this episode directed by Alan Grint, Jeremy Brett portrays the famed detective aided by his companion Dr. Watson (David Burke) as they fight to the finish with Holmes' nemesis Professor James Moriarity (Eric Porter). This episode was written by John Hawkesworth and is one of the most famous of the Holmes stories; it was intended by Doyle to be his final Holmes publication. It is an excellent adaptation of the original story first printed in the Strand Magazine during the late 19th century. This series was followed by several sequels, as well as four feature-length TV movie adaptations. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide

"The Blue Carbuncle" is an episode of the television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It's an excellent adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories, produced in Britain for Granada TV. In this episode, Jeremy Brett portrays the famed detective aided by his companion Dr. Watson (David Burke) as the two help find the thieves of a famous blue gemstone stolen from the Countess of Morcar (Rosalind Knight). This series re-creates the adventures of Conan Doyle's Victorian detective with impeccable faithfulness to the original story first published in the Strand Magazine during the late 19th century. 13 of the Holmes short stories were adapted in this series, which was followed by two sequels, The Return of Sherlock Holmes and The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes as well as several TV movie adaptations. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide

A twisted madman with a penchant for destroying all things Napoleonic is the subject of this Sherlock Holmes mystery. When owners of a series of small busts of the notorious leader are turning up dead, Holmes and Watson are on the case. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Long-dead Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) reappears as one of the many consequences of a time warp which causes the Enterprise's predecessor, NCC 1701-C, to journey two decades into the future. This Bradbury-esque wrinkle in time profoundly affects the present, as the crew finds itself locked in a losing battle with the Klingon Empire. Originally telecast February 24, 1990, the Emmy-nominated "Yesterday's Enterprise" was scripted by Ira Steven Behr, Richard Manning, and Ronald D. Moore from a story by Trent Christopher Gatino and Eric A. Stillwell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"Maggie's Curse" strikes again! Rick Pederson (Grant Goodeve), latest boyfriend of the luckless Maggie O'Connell (Janine Turner), suffers a bizarre but peculiarly amusing death when he is hit by a falling satellite (a Comsat 4, in case you're interested). The townsfolk respond by treating Maggie like a leper, and Joel (Rob Morrow) must come to her rescue. Meanwhile, Maurice (John Corbett) considers canceling a lucrative real-estate deal because he disapproves of the lifestyle of the couple he's selling to: a pair of gay men named Ron (Doug Ballard) and Erick (Don R. McManus), who turn out to have much more in common with macho Maurice than he is willing to acknowledge. And Shelly (Cynthia Geary) is none too pleased when Holling (John Cullum) is reunited with an old female acquaintace. This was the final episode of Northern Exposure's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Star Trek: The Next Generation inaugurated its fifth season with the conclusion of the fourth-season cliffhanger. The situation remains the same as in part one, with the Klingon Empire on the brink of a civil war. The source of the unrest is the Duras family, who Captain Picard suspects is in cahoots with the dreaded Romulans. Risking an apocalyptic war and sorely testing his friendship with his former Klingon officer Worf, Picard orders a Federation blockade on the Klingon/Romulan border. The former Next Generation regular who appeared in part one is again on hand, this time with full screen credit. Written by Ronald D. Moore, part two of "Redemption" first aired September 28, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jadzia Dax's past catches up with her when she is accused of murders and treasonable acts committed in her prior Trill identity of Curzon Dax. Sisko battles precedent by seeking to prevent Dax's extradition. In the meantime, Kira, Odo, and Dr. Bashir take it upon themselves to mount Dax's defense, something in which Dax herself refuses to participate. Written by Peter Allan Fields and veteran Star Trek hand D.C. Fontana, "Dax" was originally telecast February 13, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine began its seven-season run with this two hour episode. The episode harked back to the classic 1990 Next Generation season-ender "Best of Both Worlds," wherein the insidious Borg took over the mind and shape of Captain Jean-Luc Picard to launch an attack on the Federation. Three years later, Benjamin Sisko, survivor of the Borg attack, is assigned as commander of Deep Space Nine, a run-down former Cardassian space station in Bajoran territory. Sisko's first assignment is to oversee repairs of Deep Space Nine, but as the story progresses, he finds that he has been predestined to repair the tattered remnants of Bajor's ruined economy. Patrick Stewart guest stars in his familiar role of Captain Picard, who the embittered Sisko holds responsible for his own wife's death. Written by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, "Emissary" was originally telecast on January 2, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Odo's discoverer and mentor, Bajoran scientist Dr. Mora Pol, arrives on DS9. After an uncomfortable reunion with Odo (who does not relish the notion of being a "living experiment"), the good doctor announces his intention to resume his search for Odo's true origins. The solution may lie within the ruins of an ancient planet on the other side of the wormhole. Written by Bill Dial and Jim Trombetta, "The Alternate" was originally broadcast on January 8, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide