Richard Matheson's intriguing concept aside, this episode suffers from lifeless direction and staging, usually known to produce overwrought, phony performances....as is the case here.
I agree with other IMDB comments-- including the silliness of the opening scene, where the "old" Diana Hyland screams at her younger self, guaranteed to terrify and send her galloping away. Hardly the way to help her out.
But quality really plummets once Diana hits home, with that interminably long shot of the family "group-hug" as they attempt to comfort her; everyone on screen seems uncomfortable, as if waiting for director Silverstein to give them a hint as to what to do next. How about a few close-ups, alternate angles, etc to add variety to the scene? The momentum of the episode really suffers. Maybe some better dialogue would have also helped. Or how about one of the menfolk running outside to check on the black-clad figure---ANYTHING to liven up this ineptly staged scene.
The big confrontation between David and the father is also pretty lame--very stagey and lacking in any honest intensity. And poor Marsha Hunt just stands around.
The "modern" scenes--despite Matheson's unexpected twist, are particularly bad, with Diana Hyland's over-the-top and even amateurish performance. And why does her hair look EXACTLY like it did 25 years earlier?? Add to it all the customarily grey-toned, clunky musical score of Rene Garraguenc, and you have another of TZ's 5th-season duds. Too bad, since it didn't have to be: Matheson's basic concept and script deserved much better. LR
I agree with other IMDB comments-- including the silliness of the opening scene, where the "old" Diana Hyland screams at her younger self, guaranteed to terrify and send her galloping away. Hardly the way to help her out.
But quality really plummets once Diana hits home, with that interminably long shot of the family "group-hug" as they attempt to comfort her; everyone on screen seems uncomfortable, as if waiting for director Silverstein to give them a hint as to what to do next. How about a few close-ups, alternate angles, etc to add variety to the scene? The momentum of the episode really suffers. Maybe some better dialogue would have also helped. Or how about one of the menfolk running outside to check on the black-clad figure---ANYTHING to liven up this ineptly staged scene.
The big confrontation between David and the father is also pretty lame--very stagey and lacking in any honest intensity. And poor Marsha Hunt just stands around.
The "modern" scenes--despite Matheson's unexpected twist, are particularly bad, with Diana Hyland's over-the-top and even amateurish performance. And why does her hair look EXACTLY like it did 25 years earlier?? Add to it all the customarily grey-toned, clunky musical score of Rene Garraguenc, and you have another of TZ's 5th-season duds. Too bad, since it didn't have to be: Matheson's basic concept and script deserved much better. LR