Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Revisiting The Twilight Zone: S02 E15: The Invaders


Revisiting The Twilight Zone: S02 E15: The Invaders

One of the more remarkable episodes from The Twilight Zone in many ways, including the acting and directing, but also the writing and the final twist in the tale that comes with all of the best episodes from the series.

The Invaders stars Agnes Moorehead in a one woman role as the only person who appears on screen throughout the episode. It is also important to note that she does not utter one word throughout, and emotes he character’s feelings to the viewer completely through her actions and her occasional gasps and cries. It is quite a performance, one that is sometimes lost within the scope of the Twilight Zone universe. While the ‘invaders’ appear in the episode and are occasionally heard to be communicating, there are no other actors as the invaders are so small they are seen as such.

The woman is in her small ramshackle house when she hears noises in her attic, and she eventually discovers that she has been invaded by small creatures that are beginning to make their way through her home. Through the episode we watch as they come together and she fights for her property. It isn’t until the final scene that we discover it is not a human being invaded by small being from outer space, it is indeed small humans from Earth ‘invading’ a giant of another planet.

This is so well done on all levels that it is a must watch for all devotees of the programme. Richard Matheson’s story perfectly encapsulates the way this show can turn around what may appear to be normal and like a mirror make you face yourself and your own beliefs. A wonderful episode.

Rating: Things are not always as they appear on the surface. 5/5

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