Reviewed by Melissa Antoinette Garza
“I’m Talking Tina – and I’m going to kill you”
As we are fast approaching Halloween, horror films have found themselves on the shelves of stores once again. It’s great to walk in and see more than the Saw series available for purchase at shops like Best Buy.
One of the greatest aspects about the holiday is thinking back to the movies and shows that were the most frightening during childhood. For me, the movies Don’t Go to Sleep, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things, The Amityville Horror, and television shows like Tales From the Darkside and of course the iconic The Twilight Zone kept me up at night.
One of the episodes of The Twilight Zone that scared me the most was the very popular The Living Doll. In all
honesty, it still holds up today and causes chills every time I watch it. Had it not been for this great tale classics like Child’s Play, Magic and Dolls may never have seen the light of day. Even in more recent films like Dead Silence and Pinnochio’s Revenge one can see the influence of this simple but very effective episode.
Eric (Telly Savalas) is an angry and dissatisfied husband and step-father. He’s upset at the attention and money his wife Annabelle (Mary Laroche) spends on her young daughter Christie (Tracy Stratford). He is incapable of having children and despite Annabelle and even Christie’s efforts the bond between Eric and the girl is strained.
When Annabelle brings home a talking doll named Talking Tina, Eric is upset about the money spent. When mother and daughter are present, Tina only says kind things, however whenever the duo are not in the room and Eric is left alone, the doll says not only mean but threatening things. At first, Eric is convinced that his wife and stepdaughter are messing with him, but when the phone rings and Tina is on the line talking to him, he knows that the doll is evil. He attempts to destroy by hacking it with an electric saw but the doll remained unharmed. He finally just discards it in the trash, but when his wife threatens to leave him, he agrees to give it back.
Talking Tina is one of the most popular and recognized inventions of The Twilight Zone. That’s a large accomplishment considering some of the amazing contributions the show has given. Whether referring to the cook book in To Serve Man, the mystic seer in Nick of Time or the Gremlin in Nightmare at 20,000 feet. There are so many memorable moments within the show. Though Living Doll, isn’t the most intellectually stimulating episode nor is the moral message as deep as some of the other episodes, it still leaves its mark in horror history.
It goes without saying that Telly Savalas shines as Eric. He is after all the man who created the character of Kojak and boasted enough charisma, confidence, and suaveness to sell ice to an Eskimo. Even as a villain, his brilliant one-of-a-kind portrayal is riveting. His talent pours off the screen and one is instantly taken in by the episode.
Overall, this is a show fans can watch over and over again without getting tired. It’s also one that scares repeatedly. Hearing the doll utter threats is truly frightening. The fact that the doll is designed to look sweet and innocent only makes her true nature more terrifying.
For those who haven’t seen this episode, find it immediately! It’s season 5 episode 6. For those who are already fans and in the mood for a freaky, fun time, give it a watch this Halloween.
Scared Stiff Rating: 9/10
