I just saw this for the first time last night and I missed the beginning (thus the references to the honking car and to a Mrs. Goodbody who sprays pesticides, are lost on me) but found what I saw of the episode to be quite engrossing.
I began from the point where Roger (the character who warns the lead characters about a recent disturbing and mysterious phenomenon) has gone missing, then been found by police on a train headed for New Orleans for unknown reasons and will not return home, leaving a son and a distraught wife. Then comes the cryptic telegram from the aforementioned Roger with a warning to his neighbors.
The direction, overall, was great, particularly when the lead character is piecing together what is apparently happening, involving his own son (who is quite mouthy and fresh for a kid of that time), and estranging his own wife. Bathed in moonlight, he is on the patio of his home with his wife and by the time he reaches his conclusion she is completely obscured from view and silent. He has his back to her and is vulnerable. I was sure he was going to be stabbed or bludgeoned by her from behind and she would stand over his body, saying in a scary voice, "You got too close to our plan" or something like that.
That did not happen, removing her from suspicion, and, in fact, putting her in danger herself. Left to his own devices shortly thereafter by his now stressed-out wife who goes to bed, he goes into the dark cellar alone. We all know this is always a no-no and a place where bad things ALWAYS happen. This time is no exception although the exact nature of the menace must have been startling for audiences of the time. The acting is fine throughout, including by the kids.
NOTE: My only quibble about the direction is when he discovers something he knows to be related to his suspicions inside his own refrigerator, he actually RETURNS the item to the fridge and spends the rest of the episode with his eyes opened wide as saucers, like Little Orphan Annie but with eyeballs.
I began from the point where Roger (the character who warns the lead characters about a recent disturbing and mysterious phenomenon) has gone missing, then been found by police on a train headed for New Orleans for unknown reasons and will not return home, leaving a son and a distraught wife. Then comes the cryptic telegram from the aforementioned Roger with a warning to his neighbors.
The direction, overall, was great, particularly when the lead character is piecing together what is apparently happening, involving his own son (who is quite mouthy and fresh for a kid of that time), and estranging his own wife. Bathed in moonlight, he is on the patio of his home with his wife and by the time he reaches his conclusion she is completely obscured from view and silent. He has his back to her and is vulnerable. I was sure he was going to be stabbed or bludgeoned by her from behind and she would stand over his body, saying in a scary voice, "You got too close to our plan" or something like that.
That did not happen, removing her from suspicion, and, in fact, putting her in danger herself. Left to his own devices shortly thereafter by his now stressed-out wife who goes to bed, he goes into the dark cellar alone. We all know this is always a no-no and a place where bad things ALWAYS happen. This time is no exception although the exact nature of the menace must have been startling for audiences of the time. The acting is fine throughout, including by the kids.
NOTE: My only quibble about the direction is when he discovers something he knows to be related to his suspicions inside his own refrigerator, he actually RETURNS the item to the fridge and spends the rest of the episode with his eyes opened wide as saucers, like Little Orphan Annie but with eyeballs.
