AllMovie

One of the best of the made-for-TV "horror" films that proliferated in the early 1970s, Crowhaven Farm will always play better with those who experienced its in their youth than with those encountering it for the first time as adults. The warm glow of nostalgia will help those in the former category overlook some of Crowhaven's flaws, of which there are several. For example, as a TV movie, it shares some of the shortcomings that are part and parcel of that genre, such as a need to create climaxes every fifteen minutes or so in order to accommodate a commercial break. However, most viewers will forgive these flaws, as Crowhaven manages to create sufficient chilling and captivating moments to make it well worthwhile; chief among these are the sequence in which Hope Lange wanders into the woods in search of the source of a baby's cry which then turns into mocking, haunting laughter and the climactic sequence involving Lange's punishment. Director William E. Grauman does an exellent job of building suspense and tension, taking advantage of the surefire sequences in John McGreevey's screenplay and covering up some of the weaker moments. Lange is quite good as the victimized woman, and Cindy Eilbacher does very well as the witch child. Paul Burke is less effective, although much of this is due to some sketchiness in the way his character is written. John Carradine is unnerving as always, although his talents are definitely not used to their full.