"Hammer House of Horror" Charlie Boy (TV Episode 1980) Poster

(TV Series)

(1980)

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7/10
Macabre and Highly Entertaining Voodoo H.H.H. Episode
Witchfinder-General-66627 July 2010
The only thing I lament about the great British Hammer Studios' short running TV-series "Hammer House of Horror" (1980), is the fact that it ran for only one season. This sixths episode, "Charlie Boy", was the last episode I had yet to see, which is a strange coincidence since it was directed by Robert Young, the director of my personal all-time favorite Hammer film, the brilliant "Vampire Circus" of 1971. "Charlie Boy" is yet another episode that delivers the goods, this one treating the wonderful Horror-topic of Voodoo.

Graham (Leigh Lawson) has inherited a collection of valuable art from his late uncle. When he and his girlfriend Sarah (Angela Bruce) make use of an African Voodoo Fetish (which they have named 'Charlie') for fun, they soon have to realize that the thing works... and kills! Even though it is not quite one of the best episodes of the series (the absolute highlight was 7th episode, "The Silent Scream" starring Peter Cushing), "Charlie Boy" overall is a highly entertaining, tense and macabre entry to the series. The story may not be terribly original, but it is very-well executed, and becomes quite tense towards the end. A sense for black humor is not neglected. The voodoo fetish 'Charlie' is a nice little set-piece and looks as if it could come straight from one of Hammer's great Horror films of the 60s and 70s. The episode is also one of the bloodier ones of the series. Overall "Charlie Boy" is not the most brilliant or suspenseful entry to "Hammer House of Horror", but it is doubtlessly a macabre and immensely entertaining one that should not be missed by my fellow Hammer fans.
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7/10
One of the Hammer House of Horror TV show
preppy-31 June 2003
An African voodoo doll has the power to cause death. A man unwittingly sets it in motion but doesn't really catch on until most of his family has died from "accidents" and him and his wife are targeted next...

The tale is VERY familiar but this is very well done (for a TV show). It's well-acted, very well-directed (there are some striking visuals) and puts in a few twists that I didn't see coming. Also the killings are bloody (but not really graphic) and shocking--and the ending is really gruesome.

Worth catching--it's only 50 minutes long.
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7/10
Hammer House Of Horror: Charlie Boy (Roger Young, 1980) (TV) ***
Bunuel197627 October 2007
This is another solid HHOH entry – dealing with a favorite theme (voodoo) and especially reminiscent of the famous Zuni doll segment from the made-for-TV anthology TRILOGY OF TERROR (1975); the "Charlie Boy" of the title is a similarly creepy (and powerful) fetish doll – though, rather than come to life and cause mayhem, it wills a number of people to their death after a knife has been stuck, almost in jest, into the puppet! A number of subplots, then, are added to the fray revolving around a family inheritance – a long-serving housekeeper is overlooked, the heir suddenly deciding to invest his money into something more secure than a film company (which he had promised a partner/relation he would do in case the estate reverted to him) – and a strange incident involving a facially-scarred road-hog. Most of the cast are unfamiliar but reasonably adequate; it was, however, a joy to watch Marius Goring (a stalwart of Powell & Pressburger films) as an antique dealer. The downbeat finale is typical of the cynical era in which this was made. By the way, director Young had helmed the unusual Hammer outing VAMPIRE CIRCUS (1972).
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7/10
Charlie Delivers The Goods
ccthemovieman-119 July 2008
"Charlie Boy" is a voodoo-type piece of wood, like a short totem poll, an object from Africa with powers to maim and kill those whom the owner wishes.

Here, the owner is "Graham Elder" (Leigh Lawson), whose uncle recently died and willed him his art work, paintings, sculptures and artifacts like this one from Africa. Graham's wife "Sarah" (Angela Bruce) picks him out among the collection to take home and names his "Charlie Boy." After a frightening "situation" with a crazed motorist, Graham and Sarah go home and kiddingly stick a knife into Charlie asking, in mock 1930s American gangster accent, to knock off that weirdo driver with the scar on his face. At the same time, we see scene with the latter being stabbed to death somewhere.

Well, without going into all the details, suffice to say this sort of thing begins to escalate until the Elder couple - who I thought were punks - begins to realize there might be something to Charlie more than meets the eye! For me, this was a satisfying ending as Graham and Sarahh were so annoying to me that I rooted for "Charlie" and was quite pleased with his efforts.
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7/10
Dangerous Piece of Wood
claudio_carvalho5 August 2006
After the death of his uncle, Graham (Leigh Lawson) inherits his Arts collection and his beloved wife Sarah (Angela Bruce) decides to keep a weird fetish and gives the name of Charlie Boy. A friend of them explains that it was a voodoo toy. When the other inheritor, Peter, calls of the idea of raising a movie production company, Graham uses a picture with five persons, including Sarah and himself, to wish Peter died. When the persons in the picture die, Graham tries to find a way to save Sarah and him.

"Charlie Boy" is a well constructed episode, but with a common and predictable voodoo story. Anyway it is a reasonable entertainment, with good direction and performances. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Charlie Boy"

Note: On 03 Aug 2020, I saw this film again.
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7/10
One of the most memorable HHH episodes
Stevieboy66629 May 2020
I was about 10 years old when the Hammer House of Horror series aired on TV and I consider myself lucky that my parents allowed me to watch them. Charlie Boy is one of the most memorable episodes, in 40 years I have never forgotten what Charlie Boy is. A very simple plot about a couple, who obviously aren't short of money, who buy an African "voodoo" doll, which then starts of a chain of seemingly unstoppable, macabre deaths. It does look a little bit tame now but back in 1980 this was essential viewing for me and my horror loving pals.
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6/10
voodoo dolly
trashgang5 May 2010
Simple story, done a thousand times but here it works. Hammer uses small things to keep you watch it. Again they have nudity but you have to be quick to see it. As stated before, nudity couldn't be done on television. The first episode had frontal nudity, but due complaints it was cut out in the other episodes. Also in this episode is a bit of gory stuff, but still watchable for the squeamish. For the time being this episode has the most of blood in it. remember that it was aired in the early evening so people were offended by it, that's why it became cult and why this is already on DVD. In fact, it's a nice box to buy and start with if you will watch horror with friends.
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8/10
That old black voodoo magic
Woodyanders26 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A young couple gain possession of a carved African fetish doll that turns out to have dangerous voodoo powers. Director Robert Young keeps the absorbing story moving along at a quick pace, generates a good deal of tension, and delivers a handy helping of bloody and often brutal violence (the horse riding incident in particular is quite nasty). The bleak script by Bernie Cooper and Frances Megahy spares no one from the fetish doll's lethal wrath and concludes things on a startling grim note. Leigh Lawson as Graham and Angela Bruce as Graham's sassy wife Sarah make for appealing leads; they receive sturdy support from Marius Goring as wise art dealer Heinz, Frances Cuka as bitter widow Gwen, Michael Culver as arrogant jerk Mark, and Michael Deeks as jolly commercial director Phil. Both David Lindup's moody score and the sharp cinematography by Frank Watts are up to speed. A worthwhile show.
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6/10
Voodoo-themed TV episode
Leofwine_draca23 July 2015
CHARLIE BOY is an episode of TV'S HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR that shares a few narrative similarities with the Tom Baker segment of the Amicus anthology outing THE VAULT OF HORROR. It concerns a young couple who find themselves in possession of a voodoo doll which has the power to make the supernatural come true. Soon enough the guy begins dabbling with black magic, only to suffer some unforeseen consequences.

I enjoy British-made voodoo stories because they always seem so quaint and out of place and the same can be said for CHARLIE BOY. It's an enjoyable instalment of the show, one which has a fairly entertaining plot line even though nothing we see is very novel. The episode manages a spooky atmosphere without ever actually being frightening. The two main actors, Leigh Lawson and Angela Bruce, are well known faces on British TV while DR WHO actress Janet Fielding has a minor role.
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5/10
Curses . If It Wasn't For The Director ...
Theo Robertson9 September 2013
After the death of a rich relative Graham Elder inherits some antiques including a wooden African doll which Graham refers to as " Charlie boy " . Apparently the doll contains voodoo qualities which Graham dismisses as being ridiculous but when another relative dies Graham starts wondering if there might be truth to this . When a chain of events happen he is convinced that Charlie boy does indeed contain a supernatural curse

What'd you think of curses ? Absolute nonsense aren't they until you find yourself being hit by constant bad luck that you have no control over then start to believe there is a supernatural spirit controlling the universe and this supernatural spirit has it in for you and you'll never escape this type of pre destination no matter how much you try . This episode revolves around that type of premise and I thought it one of the stronger episodes on initial viewing if only because it contained explicit sex and bad language . We are talking 1980 ITV explicit sex and strong language however

What the episode suffers from is some rather bad directing from Robert Young where in the pre title sequence someone dies from a fall and two characters witness it but because the characters are in different locations this would be rather improbable for them to witness this . There's also an obvious goof where a white mini car approaches a road accident then when Graham drives past the mini is no longer in shot even though it plays a pivotal part of that scene and the greater narrative . If I remember correctly this type of careless editing and continuity let down Young's VAMPIRE CIRCUS he made for Hammer a few years earlier . It also contains some inappropriate music during key scenes which resembles jazz funk and defuses the menacing atmosphere in a episode that could have been much better
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8/10
Awesome Hammer short-movie!
Coventry5 December 2006
Yes, yes, YES!! This is exactly the kind of stuff I was hoping to see when I purchased the Hammer House of Horror DVD box set. Fun yet not too overly ambitious tales with a large amount of ingenious death sequences, a fair share of suspense and deliciously macabre set pieces. The premise of "Charlie Boy" is ridiculously simple and maybe even a bit déjà-vu, still it's a fast-paced episode and full of effective thrills. Following the sudden & mysterious death of his uncle, Graham and his cool wife Sarah inherit his collection of African native art. They take a particular interest in a wooden, morbid-looking fetish doll and name it Charlie Boy. Naturally the thing is possessed and contains great evil powers. When Graham playfully 'requests' Charlie Boy to eliminate one of his treasonous friends and it really happens, the couple righteously begins to fear for their own lives. Director Robert Young ("Vampire Circus") often manages to capture the true Hammer-spirit here, with themes like voodoo curses and make up effects that are really bloody. The plot may be very predictable, but still the climax had me on the edge of my seat, also because you really grow to care for Graham & Sarah during the rather short playtime of 50 minutes. The "Charlie Boy" doll is quite uncanny, with its angry eyes and sharp teeth, and Peter's death scene ranks as vintage Hammer nastiness. Perhaps not the best, but definitely the most entertaining H.H.H. episode I've seen thus far.
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7/10
"... it's just a lump of wood!"
classicsoncall16 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Calling that ugly looking voodoo doll a 'fetish' early in the story was a little distracting if you think of the word's more common use. In any event, things take a deadly turn in this Hammer story when a couple takes possession of a grotesque looking statue that comes complete with it's own set of knives and stick pins. Affectionately known as Charlie Boy, the dingus begins wreaking havoc immediately, beginning with an underworld figure that Graham (Leigh Lawson) and Sara (Angela Bruce) have a run in with, and later strikes closer to home against people the couple are familiar with. That guy Mark (Michael Culver) came to a particularly gruesome end when he flew off his horse and landed on the blade of the harvester; that kind of death is usually reserved for vampire flicks. Gwen's (Frances Cuka) suicide seemed a little irrational to me, but the bigger question I had when she slit her wrists in the bathtub was regarding the cut away to a hand slashing Charlie Boy. Who would have done that? Sara was in it's vicinity at the time, but she didn't have a bone to pick with Gwen, so that scene didn't make any sense at all to me. Ultimately, all the principals became a loser in this story, as no one starting out made it to the end of the picture. Except for Charlie Boy; geez, that thing looked awful!
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5/10
Charlie's out for blood !
leavymusic-224 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The story of a African voodoo doll that takes over the lives of the owners, a story told many times in film. I am afraid to say the only good thing about this film is most of the cast are killed off quite quickly.

It actually starts off very promising with a impressive road rage incident with a villainous character but sadly loses momentum after he's killed off, -just when you thought you had grasped the beginning of a story, I struggled with the strange half northern half London accents which are attempted by the lead actress, why ? The cinematography always looks great in these, they obviously used the same talented Crew, it has a look of class about it but fails to deliver. I hope I don't get a bad curse from Charlie Boy for slating it.
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7/10
Voodoo Charl'
southdavid30 July 2020
A decent, if slightly underwhelming sixth episode of HHOH from "Fierce Creatures" director Robert Young. Notable, to me anyway, for a couple it's stars.

Upon their father's accidental Rod Hull-esque death, Graham (Leigh Lawson) inherits much of his art collection, including an African tribal statue that apparently has powers similar to a voodoo doll. When his older brother, who's inherited more of the estate, changes his mind about a joint investment, Graham inadvertently sets the statue on Peter (David Healy). His unfortunate moment of anger though may cost him much more than he could possibly anticipate.

As I said, it's a fine, if slightly placid story, with a few moments of gore but nothing too dramatic or particularly scary. Its plot makes sense, which has not always been the case with this series, though I'll admit it lost me a little bit around the burglary scenes. There's no staggering twist to it, but it has a classic bleak ending that most of these episodes do. The music choices are pretty bad. You can maybe forgive the faux African music due to lack of exposure at the time, but the weird jazz at the ending is not as excusable.

Performances are fine, everyone keeps things relatively naturalistic. As I said above, a couple of the stars were of note. Angela Bruce plays Graham's wife Sarah. She's worked consistently on UK TV right up to today, but will always be female Dave Lister in the parallel universe episode of "Red Dwarf" to me. And, much sadder, Frances Cuka, who was Good Grandma in "Friday Night Dinner" plays Gwen, Matron of the house and hinted at lover of the family patriarch. Cuka passed away back in February of this year.

Solid enough stuff, if perhaps lacking any sparks of true brilliance.
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8/10
What's your fetish?!
canndyman19 November 2020
This is another hugely enjoyable episode from the classic TV series that lit up our Saturday nights with some scares back at the tail-end of 1980.

This time, the story revolves around a cursed African 'fetish' - a rather scary-looking old wooden figurine that's been imbued with voodoo-like powers.

When it falls into the the hands of young couple Graham and Sarah, they amusingly nickname him 'Charlie Boy' - but the fun starts to stop soon after...

Following a terrifying road rage incident that leaves the couple shaken, it appears Charlie Boy has taken on their feelings of revenge towards the other motorist - and its dormant voodoo powers are unleashed.

But, things get even grimmer when people close to the couple also start to fall victim to Charlie - and very soon they're desperate for a way to reverse the curse they've unwittingly released, before it's too late...

This has always been one of my favorite episodes, and the tension builds nicely as we learn of Charlie Boy's powers - and share the couple's desperation to stop them. The road rage incident is a memorable scene, and there are some imaginative deaths for Charlie's victims along the way. Back as a child in 1980, I don't believe I'd heard the term 'fetish' before, so I imagine Sarah's quip probably went over my head! I also got excited that they mentioned my hometown of Maidenhead at one point - although sadly for me, the scene wasn't actually filmed there.

Leigh Lawson and Angela Bruce (before her 80s stint as the Brigadier in Dr Who!) are good as the leads, and there's plenty to enjoy in this slightly tragic tale which will leave you maybe slightly wary of what you might wish for - especially if there's a fetish about.
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2/10
Mumbo jumbo
begob27 March 2016
An aspiring movie producer fights with his partner after an unexpected inheritance, and the wished for but unwanted show down comes through a voodoo doll.

To start with a cliché is OK, so long as you twist it into a new shape. So we get the ancient artifact with the impersonal supernatural power to visit death on helpless characters, the best example of which is The Monkey's Paw - but these writers make a mess of it.

Horror rules require suspension of disbelief but they still have to make sense, and instead this randoms on, basing its conceit on an accidental death and carrying through with an unconvincing schedule of gory mishaps.

Also the characters have no real choice so they're flat and make little impression. There is an element of be careful what you wish for, but it's not introduced properly or driven to an inevitable conclusion. There was a chance to twist things round by linking the hero's girlfriend with the African origin of the voodoo doll, but that gets passed by without a thought, and we end with a weak climax.

The actors do OK, everything else is bland.

Overall - sadly, a waste of time.
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8/10
Another top Hammer House of Horror story.
poolandrews9 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Hammer House of Horror: Charlie Boy starts as Graham Elder (Leigh Lawson) inherits his recently deceased uncle's exotic art collection, his girlfriend Sarah (Angela Bruce) takes a fancy to an African fetish voodoo carving & calls it Charlie Boy, they decide to take it home with them & display it. Graham was given the arts collection while his elder brother Mark (Michael Culver) was left all the money & when he refuses to go into partnership with him in a business venture Graham becomes angry & upset, while looking at a photo of his brother Graham sticks a knife into Charlie Boy out of frustration. The next day Mark dies in a horse riding accident, then another person on the photo Phil (Michael Deeks) dies shortly after. Graham becomes convinced there are sinister forces at work & has to save the remaining people in the photo including Sarah & himself...

Charlie Boy was episode 6 from the unfairly short lived British horror anthology series produced by Hammer studios for TV & this story originally aired here in the UK during October 1980, directed by Robert Young this is another great episode. The series dealt with various horror themes & this particular episode's script by Bernie Cooper & Francis Megahy tackles voodoo curses & a fine job it does as well, since it was made for TV the short 50 odd minute duration helps as it moves along at a great pace, it never becomes boring, there's not much dull unnecessary exposition & it's just a nice compact length to sit down & watch without the slim story running out of steam or becoming stale. There's some nice novelty set-piece death scenes that entertain & amuse, the character's are good as is the dialogue, there's just about enough going on without things becoming over complicated & I really liked it for what it was. Definitely recommended especially for horror fans.

The low TV budget obviously doesn't help things but like the other Hammer House of Horror episodes I've seen this looks very good & quite cinematic but that's probably due to Hammer's experience making feature films & director Robert Young worked with Hammer before when he made the excellent Vampire Circus (1972) for them. There's some nice scenes here & Charlie Boy himself is an ugly & creepy looking little thing. There's some gore here, it's not that graphic but it's satisfying & quite exploitative. The acting is pretty good from all involved.

Charlie Boy is a great Hammer House of Horror episode & it's as simple & straight forward as that, an excellent story in an overall excellent series the likes of which they unfortunately just don't make anymore.
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5/10
A slightly more middling entry in the Hammer House of Horror series
Red-Barracuda9 February 2015
Charlie Boy is the sixth episode of the 'Hammer House of Horror' TV series. It's about a man who unwittingly sets off a chain of fatal accidents among his friends and family after he comes into possession of an African voodoo doll. This series pleasingly often gives off the impression that most of its thirteen instalments were conceived by going through a horror check list. To that end there is the witch episode, the haunted house episode, the werewolf episode, etc. This is the one that revolves around a voodoo doll.

It's constructed in a similar way to the Omen films in that it is made up of a series of inventively gruesome set-pieces. To this end, it's a little bloodier than most of the other episodes in the series. Although the most memorable encounter was a strange encounter with a maniac driver which was more strange than violent. In all honesty though, despite a very solid central idea, this episode on the whole could have been better handled. The dynamics between the characters wasn't maybe as good as they needed to be so the violent set-pieces don't have the impact that they should have. Nevertheless, this one is still okay and has a nicely macabre ending which was typical of the series as a whole.
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8/10
One of the show's most entertaining episodes.
Sleepin_Dragon11 June 2023
Graham and Sarah inherit a fetish, a wooden voodoo doll, one they amiably name Charlie Boy, unfortunately Graham brings Charlie Boy to life, and a series of macabre, grizzly deaths begin.

Charlie Boy is one of my favourite episodes from this short lived period. It's a plot that's been lifted from any number of Hammer films, but it's a winning formula, it's gory, amusing, fast paced and features some wonderfully macabre moments.

There is a real sense of urgency, imagine and then there were none, with a horror vibe and a countdown timer running, that'll give you a sense of the mix.

This was made in 1980, I don't recall seeing many mixed race relationships on the box back then, so this makes something of a refreshing change.

Doctor who fans will recognise two familiar faces from the 1980's (and a later appearance in 2022) we have The Brigadier Bambera and of course the wonderful Tegan Jovanka, namely Angela Bruce and Janet Fielding.

Worth watching for Marius Goring (another face Dr Who fans will know well,) alone, he's so wonderfully charismatic as Heinz, what a character actor.

8/10.
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5/10
A right ole Charlie
coltras3517 September 2022
A young man named Graham inherits an African voodoo fetish from his late uncle. After a harrowing incident with a motorist, his girlfriend Sarah and he use the voodoo doll, unwittingly releasing it's power. The desired effect backfires however as the mystical power of "Charlie Boy" begins killing off people in one of Graham's family photos. Desperate to bring this horror to an end, Graham seeks the advice of an antiquities dealer named Heinz Hoffman.

It's a familiar tale, has some spooky atmosphere, good acting, but the first half can be slow. However, things hot up a little towards the end. Still, it wasn't a standout episode, not engaging enough.
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