The Twilight Zone - The Fear

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I have added my old user comments from January 1st, 2011. I've since removed these with plans to update them on my IMDb some New Year's marathon in the future. I remember not particularly disliking this episode, just not feeling especially impressed one way or the other. Peter Mark Richman--92 and still with us--grits his teeth as he's about to face down what he believes to be a giant with one eye, seemingly in a space suit, but this creature turns out to be an inflatable, meant by tiny alien explorers to scare earthlings. Earlier Richman describing what he feared was a giant tall as mountains standing perhaps 500 feet could have been laughable but, to his credit, he provides conviction in the words, a real pro. The episode is perhaps at its best when less was known about what they were up against. Creaking on the roof of Hazel's house, Richman investigating in the dark as his police car moves into a crash seemingly by an invisible force which turns it on its side, cracked tree limbs and tree branches where a bright lighted UFO hovered towards, Richman returning to the location of his car later as he finds it back where it once was with huge finger print impressions on the side, and the giant foot print in the ground; I think the build towards the confrontation is stronger than the actual reveal of what truly was behind it all.

I can see why THE TWILIGHT ZONE couldn't survive past the 5th season as evident in the rather unspectacular THE FEAR, despite two strong performers in Mark Richman(the a$$hole teacher on the boat in "Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan")and the gorgeous Hazel Court(her kind of beauty is definitely missed)who try to make the most of it. The plot is simple--there could be alien invaders surrounding the wilderness home of Court, a snobbish outsider from "the big city" who escapes from a nervous breakdown with not-so-hospitable feelings for the common folk(she calls "country bumpkins")and so a trooper(Richman)hangs around to keep her safe. Both are scared silly about what might be out there leaving giant finger and footprints as a calling card. Trooper Robert Franklin(as brought to us by Richman)sounds and acts exactly like Serling, kind of unrealistic..I think at some point he even quotes Shakespeare, a means I guess to prove that not all country hicks are uneducated and lack communication skills. Hazel is mostly worried and lovely. Her opening is pretty hostile, in the script she admits to using such acid as a means to mask underlying psychological troubles. Her occupation is a fashion editor, and she cuts into the trooper upon his immediate entrance. So the two eventually bond over the night as the fear continues as they wonder if some giant alien creature plans to crush them. What they do encounter leaves less to be desired and sure fell flat, something Serling normally delivered with panache. Even Serling had his off days..

The series was about to end for good. This episode, I must admit, has grown on me over repeated viewings. I guess because of the two principles more than anything else. They get off to a rocky start. She's defensive and snappy after he arrives and he retaliates by putting her in her place. She's a neurotic with little patience for small-town small talk, her tart tongue ridiculing Richman and his people, eschewing his polite visit after hearing of her reports of suspicious activity outside her cabin. He even matches her educational barbs with some of his own, as if you were listening to two Serlings of different moods arguing with each other. He's been in two wars he tells her when both discuss fear as she eventually reveals her vulnerable state of mind and past with nervous breakdowns, opting to hide under a bed instead of face what might exist in the unknown. He tells her it really is about how to face it, being strong or allowing fear to overcome you.

I guess eight years ago I was lamenting the end of Twilight Zone as its final slate of episodes seemed indicative of why the series came to a close. The Fear is a masterpiece compared to The Bewitchin' Pool. It just wasn't in an earshot of the series' best and most iconic. The plot was kept in isolation, mostly just outside Court's cabin and inside it. Only two characters and a lot of the episode is back and forth acknowledgement that something is near and could endanger them both.

You can find much worse in the fifth season than The Fear, though. Plenty of mediocre and even obnoxious episodes give The Fear a lot more shine. And I even can say that if this is ever on I always watch it. Can't say that about Caeser and Me or Black Leather Jackets. Getting to see Hazel Court in a TZ episode has its novelty value, and she does evolve her character from wholly unlikable cipher to a more engaging and hospitable citizen, not leaving Richman's side when it appears danger is at its most imminent. And they share a warm final exchange, a far cry from the animosity that was brewing before the bright light disengaged them from the stewing resentment and hostility.

Sighting of the oft-used Forbidden Planet saucer once again returns, a favorite prop for The Twilight Zone. I guess my main complaint is that the episode feels like it has a combination of different elements from any number of past TZ episodes. I don't think anything from this doesn't feel familiar. The inflatable space suit alien that eventually deflates once Richman pumps bullets in it might be a bit disappointing but the talent unsettled by it do their best.

I tried to watch this on Syfy early this morning at 5 AM, as I figure this would have been ideal for this episode but only watched two minutes before getting a few more winks of sleep before work. But I do think this would be the perfect watch when it is black as pitch, right before the dawn breaks. And uncut without commercial interruptions is far preferred.