MARCH 31, 2010—BRIGHTON, MI—For most children, colorful dolls are toys that bring hours of innocent pleasure during the long, idyllic days of youth. For Kelly Metcalfe, a fictional character portrayed in “Midnight Hour’s” season one episode, “The Devil’s Locket,” dolls are things of horror—particularly when outfitted with cursed lockets which bring them to fiendish life.

After surviving both the assault of her tiny would-be killer and wearing the demonic locket herself in season one, Kelly (Chloe McDole) returns in season two for the equally bizarre follow-up to her saga. In “Harley Returns,” Kelly is released from a mental institution, where she has resided since attacking her father (Robert W. Maples) with an ice-pick she wrangled from Harley, her possessed harlequin-doll protagonist.

Unfortunately, life in the outside world is far from what Kelly expected. Finding herself the victim of a family conspiracy, she decideds to liberate herself with a most controversial plan: To deliberately re-animate Harley and let his murderous ways eliminate the obstacles to Kelly’s happiness. A night of bloody terror ensues.

Series vets Robert W. Maples and Jeff Kotlarz are back in “Harley Returns,” a special treat for the show’s hardcore fans. Maples reprises his role as Steve, Kelly’s father—while Kotlarz, best remembered as the vindictive husband who used voodoo to avenge himself on his ex-wife in “Portrait of Jadine,” plays a not-so-helpful child psychiatrist. McDole reprises her role as Kelly and newcomer Mollie Hanf appears as Kelly’s toxic step-mother.

“We had fun with this one,” remarks series creator Lee Martin. “’The Devil’s Locket’ was one of the most popular episodes from the first season, and everyone wanted to see more. They especially wanted to know what happened to Kelly after we implied she took her own father out with an ice-pick.”

The sequel answers these and other questions much in the spirit of the popular “Chucky” films of the 1980s. Hot-shot editor Daniel D. Smith, “Midnight Hour’s” latest discovery, brought the episode to slick life in short order with many colorful and entertaining touches. Like all “Midnight Hour” entries, the 24-minute episode flies by as if it were only seven. “So many people comment on how fast the shows go by,” continues Martin. “They ask if we have plans to expand the show to a one-hour format, so they can savor the stories a bit longer!”

“Harley Returns” will air Thursdays at midnight and Saturdays at 10:30pm on greater Detroit Comcast and WOW! stations. See the Air Dates page of www.themidnighthour.tv for details.

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