The Twilight Zone (TV Series) The Fear (1964) User Reviews

Prowlers from space

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 4 February 2014]

A rather wealthy heiress who has one royal high opinion of herself and a state trooper get thrown together on a mysterious night. Hazel Court and Peter Mark Richman positively can't stand each other, but before their time together is over they will have succeeded in repelling an invasion from outer space.

Richman answers a call about prowlers from Court near her house. What they find is some interesting aliens full of illusion and trickery.

This was a very clever episode that holds up well even today. I can only hope that first contact with these aliens is made by people like Richman and Court.

Scream Queen in a tale with a message

[darrenpearce111 · 7/10 · 15 November 2013]

This episode is very quaint now and, in parts, laughable too. However, it does deliver a nice message concerning the title. This is the sort of Zone to watch in a marathon or sandwiched between some others, it's light but has a nostalgic sort of appeal.

Hazel Court (Scream Queen from Hammer's first Frankenstein and several Roger Corman films inspired by Poe) and Mark Richman play an unlikely duo come together to face the unknown. I rather like the last shot of Ms Court and the last line delivered by Richman, but you'll have to watch it to see what I mean. One of the better of the very last episodes, as the series limped towards it's own fate with rubbish like The Encounter, Caesar and Me, and The Bewitchin' Pool.

Control Your Limbic System.

[rmax304823 · 7/10 · 25 April 2013]

A state trooper visits a young woman who is a recluse in a mountain cabin to ask her about strange lights. A strange light floods the cabin. The trooper goes out into the darkness to investigate and finds his car, despite its emergency brake being set, rolling down the driveway and turning over. The trooper (Richman) and the terrified woman (Court) are now isolated because neither the police car's radio nor the cabin's telephone works, and the nearest village is thirty miles away.

A noise outside attracts the policeman, who now finds the car upright with four huge fingerprints on it's side, suggesting it's been moved by a giant hand. There are only four prints, indicating that either the giant has only four finger like Mickey Mouse or that it has an opposable thumb that isn't engaged. Giant footprints complete the picture of a fifty-foot monster.

Nothing to do but wait until daylight. Over coffee, Court admits that she seems snobbish but it's because she wants to drive everyone away, since she fears them. Richman admits that he's been in two wars and is a police officer and he knows what fear is.

"There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them", observed Andre Gide. That turns out to be the case here. Next morning, the duo are confronted by a towering homonid figure in what looks like a space suit. The two overcome their fear and Richman plugs it full of holes, upon which it collapses. It's a huge balloon filled with air.

Behind the now-collapsed homonid blimp is a small space ship with two tiny figures inside, begging their leader that they be allowed to get the hell out of there because earthlings refuse to be frightened into submission. Zipp! -- and they're gone. Richman and Court smile at one another and we can practically hear the faint chime of wedding bells.

It's not a bad episode, considering it was the last. It carried a simple message, if an impractical one. Richman is okay, turning in the performance of a seasoned TV actor, but Hazel Court, despite being curiously attractive, lacks a convincing voice.

What I need to know is how these two miniature buggers in the space ship managed to disengage the car's emergency brake and then set the car back upright during the night. That's what scares me.

"It's how you react to fright, that's what really counts".

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 12 September 2010]

Earlier entries in the series dealt with a similar theme - the second season's 'The Invaders', and 'The Little People' in the third season. Further evidence that The Twilight Zone was about to run it's course, as various other topics had received the retread treatment more than once as well. As a stand alone tale of terror and tiny people, this one works OK, but just OK, with that blow up balloon of a Cyclops alien being just a bit over the top. The more imaginative thing here was that set of giant fingerprints on the trooper car; that was a fairly creative touch. But how the car wound up on it's side in the first place simply defied any kind of credibility. At worst, it would merely have hit a tree or some heavy brush and just stopped. Can't be too critical though. With one more story to go before the series ended, The Twilight Zone provided more interesting tales than clunkers in it's five seasons, and a legacy that keeps on providing fanciful entertainment to this day.

Underrated episode

[cpearce-02076 · 10/10 · 17 August 2019]

This episode is not only a terrific mystery as to what the heck is going on (as many Twilight Zones are) but the interactions between the sheriff and the snobbish woman is quite entertaining.

Two strangers alone in a mountain cabin with possible space aliens outside? That's a neat story.

And the message about fear is another relatable moral, told in a most interesting way.

I'm surprised this isn't considered one of Rod's classic episodes.

Unseen Fear

[hellraiser7 · 7/10 · 22 July 2021]

This is a good one and another under the radar episode. This is the very last story Rod Stirling wrote for the show let alone episodes in the final season. It may not be one of the strongest send offs but it's better than a weak or lousy one.

The two characters are good there's good back and forth between them.

I like the sheriff who isn't a stereotypical small time sheriff but is really smart, does his job well, and I get the feeling does venture outside of town every once in a while. Really like that he's the voice of reason and the one that is really keeping his cool in the whim of danger.

The woman at first, she comes off a little unlikeable at first as she's guilty of antisocial behavior when she talks to the sheriff at first there's some snobbery. But she turns out alright as she does apologize as it was some old bad habit, she hasn't completely kicked off yet.

We also get some depth on her as she use to live in the city and had some big career in Fashion with popularity and all the other goodies; until it all just became meaningless and made her unhappy. That I feel gives the notion of popularity and glamour a sense of reality, showing how even with all that it doesn't equal happiness or even a better life. She moved to the town to get away from it all and start all over again but is still trying to figure out where to begin.

I really like the feel of isolation, the episode is like your cabin in the wood's horror. Just the use of the darkness which really create the atmosphere of fear. I like that we don't get to see the monster (at least not until the end); it's that less is more style you see in most horror movies and in pretty much most of this show. Were just given nuggets of clues from a mere giant shoe and fingerprint, to even certain strange noises we hear every once in a while. It really feeds our imagination as to what this thing is and from the evidence, we can't deny something strange is going on.

The theme is about the nature and dealing with fear. Fear really has no power over one unless we give it power and is by its nature an illusion that disappears once confronted with logic and reason which are always powerful weapons against it.

Overall, I feel this is an episode that's at least worth a try, will both of them make it though the night, you'll just have to wait and see.

Rating: 3 stars.

Facing Fear

[kellielulu · 10/10 · 30 October 2022]

I have always loved this one. Yes I rate it higher than many good to see here others like it. I also might rate it higher than some classic episodes but it's not to say anything against them . This is a personal favorite but I also enjoy the tone and the message about fear and how to deal with it. It's one of the most basic parts of being alive so it's very relatable.

I agree with some that the tone here is lighter but deals with the unknown .

The two leads I would also agree have a subtle chemistry and make a good team.

I felt how quickly Charlotte the fashion editor revealed her supposed snobbery was a cover up for her anxiety and fear was handled quite well by a nervous but witty performance by Hazel Court she makes Charlotte relatable and sympathetic. Mark Richman's trooper Franklin is a good match for her finding respect for her after her honesty.

I love the remote cabin setting in the forest it's one of the most desired places to get away from it all but doesn't help when you are hearing things that are actually there !

The outcome isn't one of the more serious ones but while some it seems silly there is a bit more too it and they both face it down . Charlotte had found her courage.

Nearly the last episode and an enjoyable one.

Stand your ground

[Calicodreamin · 7/10 · 24 June 2021]

Solid episode with an unexpected twist. Characters were well acted and the cast members have great chemistry. Storyline was well developed and was able to build the suspense with minimum special effects.

Not all it,s cracked up to be!

[sscal · 8/10 · 14 June 2019]

" A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing ". On it,s surface, this was a derivative episode; however, the moral of the story was done rather well. Miss Scott was hiding out in a mountain cabin as she had had a "nervous breakdown" because of her inability to face her fears. Well, here she did more than that by not running away and sticking by a loyal comrade and thereby realizing the threat she encountered was literally and figuratively full of hot air! That she may have encountered true love as well is icing on the cake (gotta love these sagas done in 20 minutes!)

The worst thing to fear is fear itself.

[BA_Harrison · 7/10 · 19 April 2022]

Trooper Robert Franklin (Peter Mark Richman) pays a visit to ex-New York fashion editor Charlotte Scott (Hazel Court) at her remote cabin to investigate her story of strange lights in the sky. At first, Miss Scott is rude to the officer, but eventually admits that she only acts superior to hide the fact that she's a frightened woman. That night, Miss Scott experiences a new level of terror when she and Robert are subjected to a series of inexplicable occurrences.

The Fear, the penultimate episode of The Twilight Zone, is a slight return to form after the abysmal Come Wander with Me. It's message, that that being frightened is normal and it's how we react to fear that makes the difference, isn't particularly insightful, but the story itself is quite a lot of fun, as is the wonderfully cheezy comic-book twist. The episode is directed in style by Ted Post, who also gave us the amusing Mr. Garrity and the Graves (Season 5, Episode 32), the predictable Probe 7, Over and Out (Season 5, Episode 9) and the highly enjoyable A World of Difference (Season 1, Episode 23).

Fear Itself

[telegonus · 8/10 · 27 September 2016]

The Fear is a pretty good sendoff (well almost, but not quite) from the Twilight Zone, and it doesn't seem to get the respect it deserves, at least as I see it. As science fiction, it isn't much; and from that perspective, given the reputation of the series I can see why many find it a letdown, and a rather repetitive one at that. The good news is that there really are aliens in this one.

For me it works as a two character story about how people face fear, with one person a self-confessed angst-ridden New Yorker, the other a state trooper, veteran of two wars, thus presumably a seasoned fear fighter, so to speak. Not so easy, though, where the unknown is concerned; and by the half-way point in this story he's getting a bit rattled himself.

Both characters learn a lesson in life. As to exactly what it is, I can't say, however what strikes me as the often self-referential nature of the Twilight Zone itself is the moral of the story: strange things do go bump in the night sometimes, and this might not be your imagination. It could also be your television set, specifically the show you're watching, that's yanking your chain, and in the end you're going to be alright.

Been There, Done That

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 16 April 2014]

This isn't a bad episode, but if you've watched The Twilight Zone long enough, you've seen the same basic plot done before a couple times. The idea of some sort of mystery force doing things to frighten us simple earthlings has appeared before. In this one a woman has sought refuge in the woods after suffering a nervous breakdown. She has reported seeing some bright lights and a trooper comes to her home. She is full of anger and belittles the "hicks" that live in the area and is eventually scolded by the young man who appears to be her intellectual equal (he even quotes Shakespeare). Fear, as the title indicates, is the central theme here. There is something out there that is big and impressive and threatening. The couple soon find themselves allied against the unknown. The trooper's patrol car is tipped over, the radio disabled, and huge fingerprints (that look like they have been painted on) appear on the side of the car. Later, the cruiser is back upright. I won't go any farther because the resolution would be unfair to the viewer. Let me just say that it is a bit schmaltzy.

Unintentional Moral of the Story...

[GreyHunter · 4/10 · 25 August 2019]

...what matters is how you react to fear -- do you listen to yourself when you observe that the "alien" could have destroyed you at any time but didn't, or do you just start shootin' a stationary figure who hasn't shown any aggression toward you and hope that it's a giant one-eyed balloon?

This was actually the weakest of the "giants and/or aliens toy with humans" episodes because it seems blissfully unaware of the flaws in its message. The two confront fear with unwarranted deadly force (or standing idly by while the other engages in unwarranted deadly force) and then stand looming over tiny aliens with grim satisfaction at the tables being turned. I expect better from Serling. He usually had a keen eye for using the medium to expose and comment on the nuances of human nature. Here, all he seems to be saying is violence is a good way to dispel fear, and sometimes you can inflict the same fear on others that they inflicted on you. Not a particularly deep message, really, for The Twilight Zone.

"The Fear".....of the unknown

[chuck-reilly · 6/10 · 28 January 2008]

"The Fear" explores a familiar theme with narrator and writer Serling. By fear, Serling was referring to the fear of the unknown. In this case, it's an alien invasion that lands out in the boondocks and near recluse Hazel Court's remote cottage. When state trooper Mark Richman shows up to investigate, they're both confronted with what appears to be a gigantic alien being that is seemingly impossible to defeat. Colossal footprints are everywhere and all signs indicate that the two of them are doomed. As it turns out, the alien monster isn't quite as big as they thought it was. Perception soon turns to reality as Court and Richman discover that the only thing to fear is "fear itself."

Nothing outstanding in this episode except to note that the Twilight Zone's budget was minimal at best. Richman and Court's dialog is a bit contrived and forced, through no fault of their own. The beautiful red-headed Ms. Court was a fixture in "B" horror films throughout the 1950s and early 1960s and she tries her best to put some life into this episode. Unfortunately, this story was one of the weaker ones in Serling's vault and seemed to be aimed at a very young audience. It does make its point, however.

Mark and Hazel make a nice couple

[gregorycanfield · 9/10 · 5 August 2021]

This episode, second from the last, managed to capture the spirit of the earlier shows. Yes, I think (Peter) Mark Richman and Hazel Court looked nice together. They carry the whole episode, and do so very well. Hazel's character is introduced as a bit of a snob. Richman makes this observation while assuming she buys her clothes on 5th Avenue. Interesting. Wouldn't shopping on Park Ave have made her even more of a snob? Whatever. Hazel soon informs him that she's not a snob, but simply trying to escape the rest of the world. The story focuses on the fear of who (or what) is causing disturbances outside of Hazel's cabin. Watch to the end and find out! Again, I think Richman and Court made a nice couple. Any chemistry between them is depicted in a very subtle way. That was also nice to watch.

Not so horrible I couldn't watch it, but needed better writing

[talonjensen · 6/10 · 30 March 2018]

Unlike some of the other reviews I blame the poor acting on the writing, there is only so much actors can do if they decide to follow their lines.

I've seen both of the actors do better in other shows, so I think it is writing/direction that is a little weak. I do think this episode is a little below average for The TZ, but I do prefer episodes where I can't guess the ending twist.

I did like that the monster was shown as blowing in the wind a little before we are told it is a balloon, it gives the viewer another important clue to the reality of the episode.

One of the goofs is supposed to be the car on its side, which could have been the parking brake releasing as it rolled down the hill, because it clearly is no longer where he parked it. But, they both express disbelief as to believing in failed brakes which is realistic. So, I don't think that goof is correct.

I did like the little mischievous glint in the woman's eyes as the episode ends. lol

YOU WANNA' GO OUTSIDE TO TAKE A LOOK?

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 7 September 2022]

It's been bantered about for years. There are some T. Z. stories that could easily have been mistaken for an ALFRED HITCHCOCK episode.

They are campy and creepy, and so well acted. This is one of them.

10 STARS.

Veteran director Ted Post did a super job here, with a two person cast, and lots of middle of the night atmosphere. Post is best known for directing PEYTON PLACE and GUNSMOKE.

A remote mountain cabin is the claustrophobic setting with reclusive Hazel Court (a staple in many classic British/Hammer horror films) who is visited by the unknown? Enter dead pan cop Mark Richmond, and what a couple these two make. Between insults and arguments, there's a lot of strange things going on outside, especially Richmond's police car being tipped over -- with giant finger prints on it?

Watching that scene as a kid was fun, and still to this day. The ending is definitely a big surprise, and that's when it shifts from Hitchcock to Twilight Zone insanity. So well written by Rod Serling, who must have spent some "quality time" in a remote cabin to come up with this cult classic.

Watch the closing, and listen to the dialogue.

A late, late night fave, addictive with pizza. Season 5 Episode 35 remastered dvd box set.

She doesn't know what's right and what's real anymore. She's being taken over by the fear...

[Coventry · 6/10 · 4 February 2023]

Hazel Court, phenomenal actress of such horror classics like "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Curse of Frankenstein" stars as an obnoxious and non-stop bickering lady in the penultimate episode of the "The Twilight Zone"; - this I simply had to see! But the honest truth is also that I'm a bit fed up with the series lately, and a story like "The Fear" is probably one that I would have given a slightly more favorable rating and review if it had featured in season one or two.

Court plays a stressed-out NYC fashion editor who seeks peace and quiet in a remote mountain cabin, but the sighting of enormous light flashes in the sky renders her terrified. Two-time war veteran and state trooper Franklin teaches her that it's perfectly normal to be afraid, as long as you act responsibly. Or something along those lines, at least, it's hard to take the moral of the story serious when it also deals with a giant cyclops! The plot twist at the end is decent, but it won't surprise you at all if you are familiar with the previous 150 Twilight Zone episodes. Mrs. Court is terrific, and she has good chemistry with actor Peter Mark Richman.

*Note: review subject line inspired by the lyrics of "The Fear" by Lily Allen.

Aside from Serling's usual mediocre, negative dialogue, a fun episode.

[fedor8 · 2 April 2022]

In-between horrifying events the two characters always find time to philosophize and moralize to each other in a sort of bitter and cynical way, an annoying Serling staple. Nevertheless, it's wonderful pulp fiction cheese and it's a pity there isn't more of it in the show. Could have been an "Outer Limits" episode and that's (mostly) a compliment.

Alien invasion.....again.

[joegarbled-79482 · 8/10 · 20 November 2023]

"The Fear" revisits the somewhat over-used Twilight Zone theme: alien invasion. The "spook factor" here is just about sufficient for a 25 minute episode. What makes this episode work is the excellent way that the stars, Mark Richman and Hazel Court work off each other, THEY are far more interesting than the aliens.

Court is perfect as the snotty misanthrope, city girl magazine editor who lives in a lonely cabin in the woods, thirty miles from the nearest village, which is full of, to her, country bumpkins. Needless to say it, but she's single and gives off about as much warmth as a bag of ice cubes. She portrays herself as being independant when in fact, she's merely frightened.

Richman plays a sheriff who has seen it all, including combat in two wars. He's become a decent judge of character, but he'll have met very few like the character that Ms Court plays.

She reports what turns out to be, a genuine flying saucer that has left a trail of damaged trees in its wake, making its landing. They're in the cabin when they hear the roof creaking! Court is beside herself with fear, but naturally, Richman climbs the roof to investigate. His patrol car is wrecked (the radio with it), someone or some THING released the parking brake and naturally, Court's phone is out of action too. The pair of them are cut off, 30 miles away from the nearest phone. Court puts Richman up for the night.

They begin to understand each other as they are sharing this scary situation of virtually being under siege by some unseen force. Court admits her fear of getting close to people and says she is incurable. Richman's attitude softens as he realises that her arrogant confidence is merely a front, there's a likeable woman beneath it.

Spooksville returns when Richman finds gigantic finger prints on his patrol car. The couple decide it's best to make a run for the village, one of them might make it. Then they find a giant footprint and "the giant" who made it. Richman uses his revolver and they find, to their relief, that it was merely a giant balloon and the aliens are really just tiny people. To wrap up the episode, Richman praises Court for being gutsy when courage was needed. As this episode was basically about the relationship between the two characters, it was a satisfying ending. If you prefer your TZ episodes to make you jump, every few minutes, this episode will probably disappoint you.

A solid 8/10.

Tiny People

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 8 November 2023]

After a nervous breakdown, the former New York fashion editor, Charlotte Scott, lives alone in an isolated house in the countryside. She is visited by state trooper Robert Franklin that wants to see if she is OK, since she mentioned in the town that she saw and heard strange lights and noises nearby her house. He investigates the area and realize that apparently an alien race of giants is invading Earth.

"The Fear" is a nice episode of "The Twilight Zone", with a story of an alien invasion. The plot is tense, with great performances of Peter Mark Richman and Hazel Court. The conclusion is ironical, showing the giants and the tiny people. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Medo" ("The Fear")

The Unknown

[AaronCapenBanner · 5/10 · 8 November 2014]

Peter Mark Richman stars as Trooper Robert Franklin, who is checking up on a cabin inhabited by visiting big city fashion editor Charlotte Scott(played by Hazel Court) whom he dismisses as a snob after an argument, but the coincidental arrival of a UFO seemingly manned by a giant causes them much fear, though as it will turn out, it will become a question of who is really afraid of who... Run-of-the-mill episode has little originality or purpose, having been done before and better in the series. Though Richman in particular is perfectly fine, thin and even bland effort comes up short. Would prove to be the penultimate episode of the series as well.