The Norliss Tapes

The Norliss Tapes

Year: 1973

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: English

Director: Dan Curtis

HorrorThrillerHorror

A newspaper publisher discovers a set of personal tapes recorded by missing investigative reporter David Norliss. Through the tapes he follows Norliss’s probe into a recent widow whose deceased husband has been spotted in his private studio. Their joint investigation uncovers a dark conspiracy of Voodoo practices and the rise of the walking dead.

The Norliss Tapes (1973) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Norliss Tapes (1973) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the fog‑laden streets of 1970s San Francisco, a modest newspaper office becomes the unexpected gateway to a world that whispers of ancient rites and unseen forces. When the publisher discovers a stack of personal audio recordings left behind by a vanished colleague, the ordinary rhythm of deadlines is shattered, replaced by the crackle of a voice that beckons curiosity and dread in equal measure.

The tapes belong to David Norliss, a tenacious investigative journalist whose reputation rests on exposing charlatans who masquerade as mystics. His close friend and employer, Sanford Evans, is drawn into the investigation not only out of professional duty but also because the recordings suggest that Norliss stumbled onto something far larger than any typical scandal. As Evans listens, the atmosphere thickens with the scent of sea‑salted cliffs and the unsettling quiet of a coastal estate where a recent widow is grappling with lingering mysteries surrounding her late husband.

Through fragmented testimony, the narrative hints at a convergence of personal grief, enigmatic art, and a shadowy practice rooted in Voodoo, all of which seem to reverberate with the unsettling notion of the walking dead. The tone is deliberately moody and unsettling—half‑light corridors, hushed conversations, and an ever‑present sense that something ancient is stirring beneath the veneer of modern life.

The film balances journalistic curiosity with eerie, almost mythic horror, inviting the audience to experience the tension between rational inquiry and the inexplicable. As the tapes play on, the boundary between recorded truth and haunting speculation blurs, leaving viewers perched on the edge of a mystery that feels both intimately human and ominously otherworldly.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:01

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Occult investigation movies like The Norliss Tapes

Skeptical reporters follow a trail of evidence into supernatural darkness.If you liked the journalistic inquiry into the supernatural in The Norliss Tapes, you'll enjoy these movies where reporters, writers, or researchers uncover dark occult secrets. These films combine detective work with horror, building suspense through evidence and logical deduction leading to illogical, terrifying truths.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a methodical investigation, often presented through found footage, recordings, or notes. The protagonist uses their professional skills to connect clues, leading them deeper into a conspiracy involving cults, demons, or dark magic. The journey is one of growing dread as rational skepticism is systematically dismantled by undeniable supernatural evidence.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by the central trope of the professional investigator facing the occult. They share a specific procedural tension, blending the logical (investigation) with the supernatural (the threat), creating a unique brand of horror grounded in the process of discovery.

Supernatural dread movies like The Norliss Tapes

A steady, oppressive build-up of supernatural menace and fear.Fans of The Norliss Tapes who appreciated its tense, atmospheric build-up of supernatural menace will find similar vibes here. These movies prioritize a steady, oppressive mood over fast-paced action, using pacing and tone to create a profound sense of dread about an unstoppable supernatural threat.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative unfolds steadily, allowing the sense of a supernatural threat to permeate every scene. The horror is atmospheric and psychological, often involving a force or entity that is felt long before it is fully seen. The plot focuses on characters realizing the scale of the danger and their powerlessness against it, leading to an ambiguous or bleak conclusion.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films based on their shared mood and pacing—a specific type of horror experience centered on atmospheric tension and a slow, steady accumulation of dread. The similarity lies in the feeling of being slowly cornered by an inhuman force.

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The Norliss Tapes Summary

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The Norliss Tapes Summary

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The Norliss Tapes Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Norliss Tapes

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Norliss Tapes

More About The Norliss Tapes

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