I am currently working my way through every single Twilight Zone episode in chronological order, and have just reached "It's A Good Life". Immediately this became my favourite episode and after repeated viewings it just gets better and better.
Why is it so good? Well it captures everything that made The Twilight Zone brilliant. In less than half an hour and just a couple of locations (inside and outside the house), this episode is scarier and edgier than almost any horror film I've ever seen. It's certainly scarier than the 1983 movie remake.
Also, this episode features one of the most iconic, instantly recognisable images of the entire series (I believe the image was used as an ident for a re-run, in and out of commercial breaks)... I'm talking about Mr Hollis rocking back and forth. I won't tell you why he's rocking back and forth, but those of you who have seen this episode will surely agree that what happens to him, complete with perfect accompanying music, is the stuff nightmares are made of.
Bill Mumy's performance as Anthony Fremont is one of the best pieces of child acting I have ever seen, and I've just seen him in another Twilight Zone (the one about the telephone) playing a very different type of child. In fact all the acting is absolutely top-notch. Anthony's father is played to perfection by John Larch, who manages an incredibly three-dimensional portrayal of a man straining every nerve in his body to do the right thing and think the right thoughts, every second of every minute of every day. When he discovers it is snowing, his mixed emotions and his way of expressing them are pitch-perfect.
Everyone in this story is a fully developed character, from Anthony and his parents through to Dan Hollis and the various inhabitants of the village.
The structure of the episode is perfection as well (sorry to bandy about the word "perfection" so often, but in this episode almost every aspect is perfect). A wry, quirky introduction from the genius that is Rod Serling lulls us into a false sense of security. It seems as if this will be a light-hearted type of episode, but slowly the drama builds up until the denouement. Cue lots of blood-curdling screaming - some of the most frighteningly realistic screams you have ever heard.
I agree with the poster who said what you don't see is just as scary as what you do see, particularly the cornfield. I would NOT want to spend a night there! And I love the unspoken, subtle actions of Aunt Amy, who comes very close to doing something (again, I won't reveal what) but at the last minute lacks the courage to go through with it.
And I haven't even got to the metaphors and analogies inspired by this programme. You can read various different messages into it - from a simple tale of what spoiling children can do, through to the effects of dictators or religious cults.
All in all, after almost 50 years, this is one of the finest pieces of TV I have ever seen. Everyone involved gets the highest praise possible from me, particularly Billy Mumy, John Larch, Rod Serling and author Jerome Bixby. I'm gonna watch it again right now!
Why is it so good? Well it captures everything that made The Twilight Zone brilliant. In less than half an hour and just a couple of locations (inside and outside the house), this episode is scarier and edgier than almost any horror film I've ever seen. It's certainly scarier than the 1983 movie remake.
Also, this episode features one of the most iconic, instantly recognisable images of the entire series (I believe the image was used as an ident for a re-run, in and out of commercial breaks)... I'm talking about Mr Hollis rocking back and forth. I won't tell you why he's rocking back and forth, but those of you who have seen this episode will surely agree that what happens to him, complete with perfect accompanying music, is the stuff nightmares are made of.
Bill Mumy's performance as Anthony Fremont is one of the best pieces of child acting I have ever seen, and I've just seen him in another Twilight Zone (the one about the telephone) playing a very different type of child. In fact all the acting is absolutely top-notch. Anthony's father is played to perfection by John Larch, who manages an incredibly three-dimensional portrayal of a man straining every nerve in his body to do the right thing and think the right thoughts, every second of every minute of every day. When he discovers it is snowing, his mixed emotions and his way of expressing them are pitch-perfect.
Everyone in this story is a fully developed character, from Anthony and his parents through to Dan Hollis and the various inhabitants of the village.
The structure of the episode is perfection as well (sorry to bandy about the word "perfection" so often, but in this episode almost every aspect is perfect). A wry, quirky introduction from the genius that is Rod Serling lulls us into a false sense of security. It seems as if this will be a light-hearted type of episode, but slowly the drama builds up until the denouement. Cue lots of blood-curdling screaming - some of the most frighteningly realistic screams you have ever heard.
I agree with the poster who said what you don't see is just as scary as what you do see, particularly the cornfield. I would NOT want to spend a night there! And I love the unspoken, subtle actions of Aunt Amy, who comes very close to doing something (again, I won't reveal what) but at the last minute lacks the courage to go through with it.
And I haven't even got to the metaphors and analogies inspired by this programme. You can read various different messages into it - from a simple tale of what spoiling children can do, through to the effects of dictators or religious cults.
All in all, after almost 50 years, this is one of the finest pieces of TV I have ever seen. Everyone involved gets the highest praise possible from me, particularly Billy Mumy, John Larch, Rod Serling and author Jerome Bixby. I'm gonna watch it again right now!