The Twilight Zone (TV Series) Something in the Walls (1989) User Reviews

Mind numbing and strange episode.

[blanbrn · 6/10 · 15 August 2019]

This "Twilight Zone" episode from season 3 called "Something in the Walls" is one that's different and strange it's like a horror and paranormal thriller of the mind as what we see or think we see bothers us the most. A mental patient named Sharon(Deborah Raffin) is claiming to see things her claims are that of seeing faces and strange creatures that come thru her room wall! The doctor looks into this only to be made a believer! Overall different and simple one of fright and it shows that fear and the mind go hand and hand.

Something in the Walls

[Scarecrow-88 · 9/10 · 21 August 2011]

Dr. Mallory Craig (Damir Andrei) arrives at his new job, a mental hospital, fresh-faced and prepared to help his patients become well. One patient in particular, Sharon Miles (Deborah Raffin, hauntingly beautiful), has severe horrors regarding patterns, terrified of wallpaper, rugs, anything that has designs on them. The reason for this is that she claims there are faces which appear when you look into patterns closely, and one night she noticed that a creature of some sort appeared in a pattern on her wall, noticing her. She has a fear that this being will harm her family, relating to Dr. Craig that she thinks the monster in the wall wants to kill her. Is there an actual monster in the wall or is this just the fictitious ramblings of a sick mind? Good and creepy episode of the 80s Twilight Zone, "Something in the Walls" is another forgotten gem located in the underrated third season which should be reevaluated. The "monster in the wall", which torments Deborah Raffin, seems identical to the "sheet of spandex" technique in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" where Freddy "stretches the wall" above Nancy's bed. It is damned effective, too. Raffin is so breathtaking, the camera loves her face, and she delivers quite a performance, presenting quite a tormented woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown due to the horrors most people are unaware, "mistakenly" witnessing a monster she shouldn't have. Quite a terrifying twist regarding Raffin's fate, and an eerie use of a water stain located on the ceiling in the hospital room of Sharon Miles carrying a pattern of a face. "Something in the Walls" should be more highly regarded than it is which is a shame.

Right up there with Nightcrawlers

[psicosismark · 10/10 · 25 December 2006]

In one of the most surrealistic episodes the "new" Twilight Zone produced (sadly in the not so highly rated third season that aired only in syndication due to CBS canceling the series after the closing of season two) Sharon Miles played by Deborah Raffin is troubled by strange human like shadows that keep appearing in the walls and objects all around her. She commits herself to an institution and is helped by a doctor eager to find out what is going on. The art & visual aspect of this episode is right up there with the famous Nightcrawlers that many hail as being the best of the series.

After watching the episode I was surprised hardly anyone talks about it or remembers it. If it was shown in either season one or two on CBS I think it would be more remembered and given the respect it deserves, but the fact that at this point the show was reduced to syndication and late night airings it is underrated. The episode is included on the seasons 2 & 3 "Image Entertainment" 7 DVD set release and is highly recommended.

Remember Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper"

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 4 July 2017]

All you need to engender terror is the creeping unknown. What are the things behind what are usually mundane. In this case, a terrified woman lives in a mental hospital, fearing that there is something in walls where patterns exist that could lead to her demise. Enter a young new director who takes her under his wing, but she lies to him and so he is helpless to do much of anything. This is one of the more creative of the middle Twilight Zone shows. It will make one think twice as we lie in bed, staring at the wall. There is a classic ghost story that certainly lays the foundation for this particular episode.