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Reviews
The Twilight Zone: The Invaders (1961)
Not the Endora we knew
This is another marvelous episode which showed the true talent of the "Bewitched" cast in the serious venue of the Twilight Zone.
One indicator of a performer's skill is what they can say to the viewer without dialog, in expressions and movements. Agnes Moorehead's expressions of drudgery and loneliness turned to fear and terror were pulled off wonderfully.
An aside to those focusing on the cheesy special effects and the obvious department store toys used for the spacemen; Shoestring budgets using cheap and cheesy effects even for their time can be and are overcome by excellent writing, direction, and acting. The TZ movie and subsequent remake series of the 80s and 2000s had much bigger budgets and state of the art special effects, but didn't have the flair for storytelling that Serling, Matheson, and Beaumont did. Remember that The Honeymooners made memorable shows out of a set of a bare room, a table, and a window.
The Twilight Zone: The Hitch-Hiker (1960)
Cross country trip of subtle terror
For those of you who've driven across the USA, or long distance anywhere on your own, this story resonates as the mind can race and feel paranoia when on a long lonely trip into unfamiliar places with only yourself for conversation.
Inger Stevens was wonderfully cast as the lone driver traveling across America, her sensitive and delicate features conveyed a vulnerability that had you worried for her, even when she took on the companion sailor ostensibly for protection against the unsettling apparition of the hitch-hiker. I remember the first time watching, wondering whether he'd protect her or sexually assault her.
The portrayal of the hitch-hiker was also done splendidly, not physically threatening or even overly menacing, just very unsettling.