It’s A Good Life - Twilight Zone Episode REVIEW
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2020
- Think ONLY good thoughts or your ass is going to the cornfield. Little Bill Mumy stars in this famous Twilight Zone: It’s A Good Life.
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#twilightzonemarathon #billmumy #itsagoodlife 
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Excellent review of a classic Twilight Zone episode! Nice to see these classics are still getting the respect they deserve.
Thanks, yeah I can't get enough Twilight Zone. The next few TZ reviews are in progress.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater I'll be watching them!
Years later when they did a Twilight Zone revival they made a sequel episode called It's Still A Good Life. Billy Mumy reprised his role as Anthony Freemont who is now grown up. In it Anthony has a daughter who has the same powers like her father. Ironically she is played by Mumy's real life daughter!
Hey Melissa, that was an interesting continuation. I mentioned it briefly at the very end of this review. I wonder if we'll ever followup with his daughter and how she used the powers in a future iteration.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater It's a possibility. Maybe Anthony will have a grandchild that will have the same powers as he and his daughter does. Or an even bigger twist would be that his grandchild won't inherit his powers.
Yes i remember that episode as well
"Slowly, slowly don't make a sound. Don't even think cause he can hear your thoughts and when he's least expecting it bash his head in with a chair. End of monster."
Famous last words: " You're a bad man. You're a very bad man". Jack n the Box time
It’s amazing how that scene with the Jack in the box can be one of the most terrifying scenes of all time. It’s silly and honestly shot with the bare minimum of visual (mostly a shadow and close up shot) and yet when I saw it when I was little, I shrieked.
To this day, I still get goosebumps.
Part of my credits how terrifying it was was the actress who played the wife had a genuine scream. She totally sold the horrific nature of the incident.
God, I love this episode. God I love this show.
I hear you. It's the horrified reactions from everyone and just that eerie shadow shot that makes it all click. Also the suspense leading up to the moment....great stuff.
The first time I saw that Jack in the Box head shot, I was freaked out! 😮
This little actor whp played Anthony in this episode of the TZ Billy Mumy, has been in so many shows a real pro at that age
I saw an old Justice League Animated episode called "Legends". I thought the similarities with "It's A Good Life" could not be a coincidence.
So this is how Putin started! Great recap! What an amazing episode and so many lessons to be learned from it.
The short story by Bixby ( it is VERY short, can be downloaded for free, and is a worthwhile read) actually presents Anthony in a somewhat less evil light. Certainly he is a remorseless killer, at times. But he also tries to please the people and animals that he likes, albeit with sometimes disastrous results. His mother hopes that as Anthony grows older, he will develop more empathy. Of course even if that outcome were certain, there would remain the challenge of surviving the toddler-god's reign of terror for a few more years. Which is anything but easy.
Cya at the Corn Maize!
Fun fact about this episode: Rod actually probably knew how iconic this episode would become, as in the preview for this particular episode, he claims that what it is based on is ‘one of the most terrifying modern fantasies ever written’. And he even goes out of his way to refer to the episode as a ‘very special excursion into the Twilight Zone’. However even if the other previews I’ve seen he never refers to any other episode in a way similar to that
That's pretty cool, I have to go back and check it out. I'm glad they include those previews for streaming or watching them on disc. They were not included in all the marathons I used to watch so those are some fun new bits for me.
Great in depth review man!
Can't help but think about how this story seems like a slight bit of insight into what WandaVision could've ended up like if no one ever caused a reason for her to take down the Hex.
I also find it funny that everyone's forcing a smile the whole time, strictly because that would insinuate that they're having negative thoughts behind that fake smile, and you'd think baby terminator (great nickname btw) would pick up on that. Can't even imagine the ongoing battle inside of people's heads here
Thanks for watching man. Agreed, the phony smiles seemed painful. I guess the constant happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts, confused him enough.
That’s so true about WandaVision Jace! I think the big difference is Wanda isn’t straight up evil though haha
TrueMAGA Tee SpringForever XXL, Happy Bridges!
It's a good one! Still creepy to see that swinging jack-in-the-box man. Story reminded me of Bradbury's " The Small Assassin. " Cloris Leachman later won an Oscar and eight Primetime Emmy Awards.
Yes, that jack-in-the-box imagery remains creepy as ever. I'll have to check out Bradbury's "The Small Assassin."
@@FeverDreamlandTheater It's a very strange story. Too weird to make into a Zone episode.
The original story by Jerome Bixby is even scarier than its TV adaptation. In it, Anthony is only 3 years old, and even killed his doctor at birth. In fact, the story even scared the master of horror himself, Alfred Hitchcock.
Hey Joshua, thanks for watching! I'd be interested in an adaptation of the Bixby story too. Something closer to the source material. This episode of course will always remain a true classic no matter what for me, I love it. I did not know about the bit with Hitchcock! Very cool.
That was awesome. I have never seen this episode but did see the sort of remake they did recently and The Movie version. This actually looks scarier which I tend to find seeing the originals.
That whole part with the jack in the box is disturbing. What they can do with simple silhouette is far more effective than actually seeing his severed head on a spring. A great example of less is more. I’m having a great time with these videos. Thanks again.
Less is more - absolutely. For the most part, the show was able to accomplish some good visuals for its time. I actually rewatched the movie segment again recently and its very interesting - a whole new take really.
Your commentary was excellent and I enjoy your comical use of language.
😀👍 thanks!
Great review! This episode is fucking terrifying.
Agreed NCC-1701. (great name btw) This episode also shows how a grim concept can still be pure horror even without blood and guts. The idea of a child forcing everyone to think happy thoughts so he wont go nuts is disturbing as hell.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater Exactly. The guy getting turned into a Jack-in-the-box is the most horrifying for me.
I find Your regional accent fascinatingly soothing. Well done. This episode is like the metaverse. If you can control everything around you, the only result is pure sadism
Aw thanks Brigita, that's really nice to hear. I appreciate it. : ) As for this classic episode, I agree, Anthony Fremont is as villainous as they come.
All capacities of life are spread among the great distance between universes and souls!
palnt it, meant pant it damn fingers controlled
PLANT the Potato! not you Irish talk to the Peruvians Yum Yum!
I have an interesting take on this. What if the young lad ran into a psychopath -- someone incapable of feeling love, shame, guilt or any other social emotion. The lad himself is obviously a psychopath. He would never be able to get a read on another psychopath. He couldn't tell what those people thought of him... he'd only be able to see intentions but not feelings.
The episode seems to have inspired a recent movie Brightburn.
Hey Michael, that's an awesome twist on this classic story. Anthony was such a monster, but in this case, like you said, he'd only be able to see intentions but not feelings. Very interesting, there's no telling how he'd react. I also dug the remade segment in the movie which had a unique addition on the story too. Thanks for the watch, have a good weekend!
The message that this episode conveys is a perfect example of extreme narcissism. Narcissism basically revolves around a behavior of entitlement, constant need of undying admiration, and the forceful demand from others to be unconditionally happy and content(even if its pretending) with the unfair standards of their narcissistic oppressor. Narcissism is VERY real throughout humanity, as it can be found in parents(over controlling parents), husband's especially(abusive husband) and most of all, human trafficking.
Most victims of human trafficking must play the role of any sort pretending to be content at the pleasure of their kidnappers, so that they don't be punished or severely brutalized. Last but not least, this episode is a prime example of Narcissism in a manner of old school slavery.
ALL BLACK SLAVES I'm sure were defiant in their minds and wanted to fight or run away, but yet most of them played the role(picking cotton/field work/cooking/cleaning etc.) and did as instructed in order to survive. Living under narcissistic conditions is a mf. What's really disturbing is that narcissistic people actually believe that their control and powerplay over other people is an expression of their LOVE FOR YOU (OBSESSIVELY), but it's not because that so-called love dissappears when their not in control anymore, or when their subjects reveal that their not really happy under the conditions.
When a person only loves you for how they want to perceive or paint🎨 you, and then want to destroy you when you no longer entertain their controlling perception, that's a narcissist; they don't love you, only themselves and their own agenda.
What it is to love someone TRULY(not narcissisticly), is being willing to except a person for who they are and who they want to be, with you supporting them. You care about their best interests at heart over your own and what makes them happy, even if it means you painfully not being part of their happiness.
This might be the episode that best represents the series' vibe, what it was all about. At the very least it has to be counted as one of the most representative. Although the cast is uniformly fine (as we rightly come to expect from _Twilight Zone_ ), I don't believe "It's A Good Life" would have been half as memorable with any other child actor as Anthony Fremont. Billy Mumy is like a few others with multiple _TZ_ appearances--e.g. Shatner, Meredith, Klugman---who never fails to give a solid performance. He dominates the action from start to finish as Anthony. (By the way, he's said his last name is correctly pronounced Moomy, not Mummy.)
I don't try to read much into it as an allegory for this, or for that -- Mumy himself says he simply regards the character as some kind of mutant in this interview, where he also describes Anthony as one of his two favorite roles, along with Will Robinson in _Lost in Space._ ruclips.net/video/6lLYHBdMFCE/видео.html
The birthday party scene is one of the strongest dramatically. I love the confrontation between Anthony and Dan Hollis. Anthony couldn't care less that his extreme -- and with Anthony I do mean _extreme_ --- aversion for any singing means that Hollis can't even play the Perry Como record he just received as a birthday gift. Little Fremont's nastiness causes Dan to crack open his bottle of liquor, and as his tongue loosens, he hatches a plan that must have sounded a bit shocking for TV audiences of the day: He tells Anthony to keep thinking bad thoughts about him, and while the monster is so engaged someone -- _anyone!_ needs to end their enslavement by "lay(ing) something heavy across your skull".
Another scene I like is a brief one that almost, but not quite, brings a little levity to one of the darkest corners of _The Twilight Zone._ It's TV time, and everyone must watch what Anthony _wants_ them to watch. Keep in mind that the program must be one that he's dreamt up himself, because it's unlikely that any networks exist anymore. In this instance, it's a prehistoric tableau with two triceratopses fighting to the death. At some site I visited, someone belittled the idea as him just having toy dinosaurs go at it. I, on the other hand, had a different view I shared. To begin with, I think whoever was making that assumption based on _Jurassic Park_ or other modern depictions of giant reptiles. Fine, but back in 1961 this representation was state of the art stop motion as was also used to depict a real brontosaurus in "The Odyssey of Flight 33".
I maintain what was particularly horrific is that he has _real_ dinosaurs battling, and either he had a way to recreate something from that distant past or more terrifying, what if it was part of what used to be Earth, but is now Anthony's World. Remember Rod's intro included this line: "On a given morning not too long ago, the rest of the world disappeared and Peaksville was left all alone."
Well, we know that there is more than Peaksville, depending on whether the sinister _corn field is included as part of the town. Is it possible for anyone to enter that field of their own free well, or is it just a place to which Anthony alone has access, and that has a part amounting to a human junkyard, where former humans like Dan Hollis ends up. Could the corn field also be a place that no one dares venture for fear that Anthony will decide to keep them there in some misshapen form?
Now, back to the dinosaurs. What if on the other side of the field where no one dares venture is distinct area where sanity and insanity meet and mingle, and even triceratopses can be found amidst lava flows.
But now for something really terrifying. Suppose that when Anthony turned Hollis into a Jack-in-the-Box and sent him to the cornfield. the head of the toy wasn't just a likeness of Dan's "bad face" and all, actually was a a grotesque modification of the man's head to fit the toy, but that it retained Hollis's consciousness. And further that his face & head can feel things...like _pain._ And that Anthony has remade Hollis's head so that it would be particularly attractive to crows, ravens, foxes, snakes, and other predators. As a consequence, like in some ancient Greek myth, face and head are torn apart day and night, only to be restored for another round of torture the next day, and this would go on endlessly.
But even Anthony Fremont, little monster that he is, couldn't be that cruel, could he???
*5 out of 5 Jack-in-the-Boxes with Dan Hollis' bad face*
To answer your final question, I do think little Anthony could be that cruel...or that dismissive with the results of his power. He could leave poor Dan suffering and go about his day as if nothing happened. Thanks for watching Galantski!
@@FeverDreamlandTheater Your welcome, Anthony. Always a treat.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater This got me thinking about the scenario even more. What could make a spooky episode (or even movie) is something that could be titled "The Cornfield", and it has people getting lost in the little monster's junkyard of things he's ruined, like the three-headed gopher and Dan-Hollis-in-the-Box for starters.
This nightmare landscape would stretch out for who knows how far. And everything that's out that in one way or another has the little Anthony touch. And there could be some things from the remake from the movie. A person can be walking threw the field, see a magician's top hat, then makes the mistake of looking to see if there's anything _in_ the hat. Bad idea..
Excellent review - I’ve shown about 10 classic episodes to my son so far- this is his favorite. We even watched the sequel.
Hey Mr. Dan, thanks for the watch! This is one of my favs as well. What did you guys think of the sequel, It's Still A Good Life?
@@FeverDreamlandTheater It was pretty good - a worthy follow -up. Hard to equal the original!
Time of Castro maybe. 5-5 Awesome episode. 1959 Just subscribed. Great channel
Hi Robert, happy to have you here, always great to meet a fellow TZ fan! Thanks for checking through these.
Cracking review of a brilliant episode. Subscribed to your channel and i love the content. Im a huge Twilight Zone fan so i'll be looking forward to your latest videos as they upload. Dave from Savage Zombie Reviews recommended you to me. certainly glad he did too. Great channel mate
Dave is the best. Thanks for coming by, I hit up your spot as well. Good looking out Retro Movie Zone, I'm looking forward to checking out your work too. Have a good one. 👊
A timeless classic
this is hands down the most scariest episode ever of any spooky tv series. The idea alone is terrifying and a choice that will be hard to decide for many people. Nothing tops this. Of any like it. I created my own episode idea simular to this but not exactly, but a speck of it the story is called "AL"
As beautiful and simple as that seems it is far as that. For AL is a white man, old white hat white suit, slacks, and shoes. That walks around the world. And everything he comes in contact with any person. He gets whatever he wants, they do exactly as he says, he is by far the most sick, evil character in any movie or show. HE is by far the most hated most want to die villian of any series or show or movie. When someone dares brave to face him. He is actually thrilled someone dares. For no one really dares stand up to him. He always get what he wants and he can make anyone do whatever he wants to whom ever he wants. Thus creating the end. Where when the guy has a chance to kill Al. He is taken down by the townsfolks, scared they will die. They rather be turtured killed or have a person die to save their own hide which again creates a sick evil that never been seen or heard before. Al tells the man when the townsfolk leave., him be Al, tells the man that yes he is a alien but his kind is so weak so fragile that basically anything can kill him. But he can only die, by the hands of a human. But Al is indeed intelligent and wise. He knows he can put fear in a whole entire planet, to make them do whatever he says. Thus he gets to harm, hurt, and get whatever he wants and do anything he wnats to another person. For no effort of death. When you hold that fear over weak humans, that let and allow a Alien to do whatever he wants to your family your friends to you. Out of fear of death, knowing secretly he is far weaker than a bug. But who is the real monster of all monsters. A man that commands humans to do whatever he wants? Or ones tougher allowing the man to do whatever he wants? ... the story is Al.
What can anyone say? That's what Rod meant by "No comment".
Besides. Anthony might hear him.
I watched the sequel on RUclips last night. I won't spoiler it but I urge you to review it as .... Damn. And I'd love to speculate about the ending.
Also, is the remake episode in the movie very different? Or does it follow beat for beat? Is there a different ending to the original? I'd love for you to talk about the movie too, as I remember being surprised they even released it after the horrible accident.
As usual, great review.
It's been a little while since I saw that sequel episode, I think it may be streaming on Tubi too now. Love your idea about doing a review on that one & the movie! The movie version had a fascinating twist on the story.
Love ya!
I can't even listen to Perry Como!
The story of a overly spoiled child who got everything he wanted and never got any discipline or limits.
Great review Anthony I still have yet to see the Twilight Zone but I couldn’t wait to start checking out your reviews for it! This kid sounds like Joffrey before Joffrey but with godlike powers damn!! 😅 I know this is an iconic series and your passion for it has raised it way up on my list to watch ASAP!! 😃
Hey Eric, that's good to hear! I know these are older stories, but a great story is timeless. Also, I had tons of fun with you on the live-stream the other night! Hope to do it again! Be well.
Thank you and awesome channel by the way. Great video 😊👍🎬
Thanks man!
@@FeverDreamlandTheater your welcome keep pushing your videos 😊👍🎬
Great work mang 🚀
oddclod, thanks for the watch, hope you've been well. 👍
Great review! Very well done.
Thanks!
I dont like noise when the music is playing. Not even Perry Como?
yep, Playing Perry Como for a child back then would be like playing Barry Manilow for a kid nowadays.. they won't like it
I have to admit, I prefer the 1983 version of this. It's soo crazy and colorful. I also love the ending where we see Helen being the teacher and speaking about his powers. He just needed a mentor and guidance. In my mind the family also got back to their normal lives; even Ethel did not die.
Wow, that's interesting. I hear you, The 80's version added such a fresh spin on the concept...but it also manages to give enough of the original story as well. Thanks Susan!
This is pure horror.
If you don’t see parallels to the world we live in, you’re not paying attention.
where is my ticket to ride! you you adonis why you steal my cleopatra
Brilliant review on my favourite Twilight Zone episode.
It certainly is an excellent one. This one in particular got my mind going. Thank you for watching man. 👍
@@FeverDreamlandTheater anytime man. I really dig your content.
I never liked this episode that boy was holding adults hostage I seriously wanted to kill him! To this day I've watched all 156 episodes of the twilight zone when this comes on I turn the channel!
Peeksville sounds like the perfect description of Christian Heaven, with Anthony Fremont as the Christian God.
Hey wassup tuttt99, that is another very interesting way to look at it. I mean, Anthony is all-powerful and can even hear their thoughts.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater I can't take credit for the analogy though. Aron Ra was the first I know to make the comparison.
@@tuttt99 Gotcha, writer / podcaster / activist. Have to look into that a bit. Thanks!
@@tuttt99
😂😆🤣😂😆🤣😆
Interesting idea, but as a Christian, I can't imagine anything further from the truth. If anything, Peeksville is more like Hell (warning, long response):
Peeksville is small and cut off from the rest of reality, but God says that the "Christian heaven" will one day be united with a perfect, remade universe, and all the glories of space and time will be open for exploration to God's children!
Anthony is petty, simple-minded and has a twisted, self-pleasing concept of right and wrong. God has both infinite power and infinite wisdom as the Maker of everything, the definition of what "good" is. How could pitiful human morals be better than the Author of Good himself?
Anthony can read thoughts, but not intentions. He sees that one character wants to play a record for his own enjoyment, and Anthony calls him bad and punishes him arbitrarily, not seeing the whole picture. God not only knows us better than we know ourselves, but he also knows exactly what will bring us lasting joy: Himself, because we're made to know God and delight in him. Defy Anthony, and you go against one little boy's tiny view of what's nice. Defy God, and you go against the fundamental idea of health, peace and joy itself. Look in the Bible in that light, and you'll see just how much God's rules make sense.
Anthony is a pathetic, small-minded bully. The Eternal, Triune God is a wise, just and all-knowing king with an infinite kingdom of joy waiting for those who would just admit they need him and ask his forgiveness.
*TL;DR*
Peeksville is more like hell than heaven, and the petty, tyrannical Anthony is more like the pathetic Devil than the just, all-wise Lord of Love. Look at who Jesus was and is, and you'll see for yourself!
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be mourning or crying or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." --Revelation 21:4
Awesome review! :)
Thanks man, I appreciate you watching.
@@FeverDreamlandTheater You`re very welcome! :)
Did you see the one when he got older and it’s him and his real life daughter in it
Yeah a while back I saw it. 'Its Still a good life' from the rebooted 2003 series with Forest Whitaker as the host. It was an interesting sequel from what I recall. I only touched on it a little in this video, but I'd have to watch it again to really speak about it.
Love yr accent
ha ha! Thanks.
I abhor this episode and i especially hate billy mumy in this( the little boy)...lol everytime it comes on i turn the channel, the fact that grown able bodied adults are succumb to fear of this little monster and no one i mean no one are able to discipline this child...
It can be a tough watch because it is basically psychological horror. Thanks as always for watching & commenting Nakeisha. Be well!
Exactly.. i hate the boys character too. it physically make s my stomach turn. I feel like thats essentially what they want of society GROTESQUE
The episode was in black and white. If people would have known Anthony had red hair. People would realize gingers have no souls, so Anthony being the monster would not have been a surprise.
Minority opinion alert: Can't stand this much-liked episode. Not a thing about it that I like.
Ha, ha thats totally okay. I'm glad to hear any opinion on these shows. A differing view can make for some interesting discussion.
Me neither