The Twilight Zone - Trip 1

My experience with this original, assuming there have been multiple resurrections over the years, anthology series has been limited to one episode and one episode alone. I don’t remember the name of it, but it involves a man waking up in a hospital after a plane crash in the desert. Or something. I think it aired on either BBC 2 or the Bravo satellite channel, the latter of which used to be a haven for amazing cult movies and TV shows. Apparently it’s now a spewer of reality bollocks, I’m not sure. I daren’t ruin my childhood by finding out.

Anyway, I was surprised to find the complete series boxset on Blu-ray in Region 2, so there’s still hope for the UK home media distribution industry yet. They don’t have some crucial works of cinematic art, but they do have The Twilight Zone. So I thought, as long as my interest persists, I’ll try posting a little episode-by-episode commentary here, as regularly as I can manage. I’ll try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, but the show has permeated pop culture so much that I doubt one can spoil it. References in other media have been so widespread that I could describe whole episodes to you without having seen them, which is why I wanted to finally go through the boxset - I’m ready to get those references fully.

So, without further ado, let’s take a trip…

WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

Made a year before Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, this first episode actually gave me vibes of that movie. Even down to the Bernard Herrmann-esque score. Oh wait… it is Bernard Herrmann?! That’s insane. I quite enjoyed watching the handsome young piece of rough trade wandering around in overalls, which is an image I’m particularly inclined towards. I also like the idea of being the last human alive, which satisfies my depressed side very well. It’s probably why I love Red Dwarf so much - I wish I was Dave Lister. I first thought the main character in this episode might be part of some MK Ultra-type experiment, which is sort of the case, but instead it turns out he’s gone mad in a sensory deprivation tank in training for going to the moon. Erm… spoiler alert. Remember when we hadn’t been to the moon yet? We all thought it’d be made of cheese. Ha! But, yeah, I was surprised by the thoughtful filmmaking involved here, with some great framing and crane shots. I hope the quality persists. It’s also worthy of note that, after watching a bunch of modern horror movies lately, this “silly old TV show" is the first time I’ve been genuinely creeped out in a while. That’s progress for you.

ONE FOR THE ANGELS

Wow, how great is Murray Hamilton, huh?! Wouldn’t it just make the end so much nicer if he really turned up for your soul? I reckon I’d make an effective Grim Reaper, having spent a fair portion of my life as an anal bureaucrat. It was also fun seeing Ed Wynn in this one, whom Dave Stecoo of the Blurry Photos podcast does an amazing impression of. The episode gets super-dark when a little girl is knocked down by a car, which I was not expecting in this 50s TV show. It’s weird how she doesn’t get taken to hospital, but, for storytelling convenience, I understand why she needed to stay at home. It was cool seeing that iconic science fiction robot at the start. I’m not sure whether it was Forbidden Planet or Lost in Space it featured. Maybe both. Answers on a postcard! I’ve noticed we still haven’t got that classic Twilight Zone theme tune yet. I’ll let you know when it pops up. Oh and I pissed myself laughing at the “He’ll be stalked by… Mr Death!” moment. Having Hamilton turning abruptly to the camera was, just perhaps, an iffy choice by the director. Oh well.

MR DENTON AND DOOMSDAY

Speaking of westerns. From Death to Fate, this story of an alcoholic getting a second chance, of sorts, resonated with me somewhat. I suppose, the older we get, the more we start to wonder what we’d do differently if we got the chance. I’m sure I’d just mess things up all over again. Drinking was the only thing I was ever any good at. And breakdancing. I thought the actor playing “Henry J Fate” was Daniel Craig at first, then I remembered this show is 65 years old. Don’t worry, I’m pretty. An unrecognisably-young Martin Landau is in there, which is no bad thing. Pull the strings! I couldn’t quite work out whether the final confrontation involved the lead actor in a duel with himself, but I guess that would have required some awkward split-screen work. Could they do that back then? I’m not sure. Is it wrong that I keep wondering how hairy Rod Serling is under that suit of his? Hmm, I should probably keep my eyes on the road. Still no classic theme tune as of yet.

Well, I think that’s all for today. I really enjoyed this, so it’ll be a nice thing to do each morning as I sip my coffee and try to wake up. I’m glad I’m out of that nasty nihilistic slump for the time being. Fingers crossed I’ll stay productive for a good month or so.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!