Charlie's Angels (TV Series) The Sandcastle Murders (1978) User Reviews

loosey goosey

[robrosenberger · 9/10 · 8 November 2010]

Once in a while, a loosey goosey episode comes along where they break out of the standard plot devices, and show the Angels being more human. Here, they're hanging out at Kris' beach house (where Jill used to live), plotting how to avoid the new assignment so they can have a party. A teenage runaway Kris befriended becomes a serial killer victim. Cis Rundle (Farrah and Cheryl's stunt double) gets a short pulse-swelling beach scene. John Crawford plays a condescending police lt. who was once Charlie's partner. The identity of the baddie stays hidden longer than usual. In a rare occurrence, Bosley shoots the murderer...a hell of a shot, too.

Successful "darker" episode

[gridoon2024 · 7/10 · 19 November 2012]

A generally successful - and fairly rare - excursion of "Charlie's Angels" into giallo territory, "The Sandcastle Murders" deals with a serial killer who seems to target young, blonde, blue-eyed girls. When he strikes too close to home, in both the physical and the emotional sense of the expression, the Angels take it upon themselves to stop him, even though nobody has actually hired them to do so. The plot turns out to be very similar to an early season 1 episode, "Night Of The Strangler", and the killer's identity is rather predictable after a point, but this episode contains some of the most ambitious and cinematic camera shots of the series up to that point, as well as another (after those in "Angel Baby") extremely well-acted dramatic moment for Cheryl Ladd, who also gets the most tense action sequence. Oh, and despite the beach setting, don't expect much in the way of eye candy, the sky is grey and the weather is cold. *** out of 4.

Malibu Noir

[adamcshelby · 9/10 · 22 July 2021]

This was enjoyable. The weather was misty and cold when they shot this (save for one sunny day) which leant to a darker atmosphere than typical. It also featured a Detective Francona (played by John Crawford) that insisted on wearing a trench coat, adding to the noir flavor.

The guest cast features two returning Charlie's Angels alums. Steve Sandor plays Ovie Gerson, a creepy guy who spies on women at the beach. He played Red Loomis in the 1st season ep called 'Angels on Wheels' (the roller derby one) where he had a menacing scene with Jaclyn Smith. Here the hunky meat stick has a creepy stalkerish moment with Kris at her Malibu home, the same one that belonged to Jill in season 1.

I love continuity.

Also returning is Alan Feinstein playing Dave Christopher, a Malibu rent a cop who teams up with Kris to investigate Ovie. Alan played a dirty DA in the first season episode 'Dirty Business'. In that show he got to romance Farrah, here he tries the moves on Kris. Talk about keeping it in the family.

Making an early TV appearance is Young and the Restless veteran Melody Scot Thomas, who is so young as to be unrecognizable. She plays a beach friend of Kris's and doesn't last too long.

Bosley goes undercover as a short order cook. I love how he always gets the glamour jobs. Favorite scene is where Kelly and Kris find a body under a pier. Their outfits are amusing, Kris in a red satiny jumpsuit and Kelly wearing a stylish white hooded jacket. Just the kind of outfits for sleuthing. Sabrina is not quite as prominent in this one, talking her way into a sales position at a door to door jewelry company.

All three Angels have a nice scene early on where they plan a party at Kris's beach house. Sabrina claims some LA Rams will show up, hoping for Joe Namath to make an appearance. I'm sure Joe Namath (who played for Rams at the end of his career), could not turn them down.

My only real complaint was the murders themselves, they aren't really elaborate sand castle creations, which is a bit of a title cheat. But I enjoyed the performances and the change of pace atmosphere that a misty Malibu offered.