David Wayne is great fun as unlikable hypochondriac Walter Bedeker. Bedeker is an arrogant son of a bitch who greatly exaggerates his own importance to the world, while constantly fretting over the matter of his health. One day, a character named Cadwallader (the great, corpulent character actor Thomas Gomez) appears to offer Bedeker a deal. If Bedeker will sign over his soul, he'll get immortality and indestructibility in return. Our protagonist thinks he's gotten a sweet deal, but soon gets bored. Very bored.
Dark humour rules the day in this delicious, if not that memorable, 'Twilight Zone' episode. It's especially amusing, the way that Bedeker "kills" himself over and over again in order to pull off insurance scams. Wayne is a real hoot in his irascible performance. Gomez is equally engaging as a very jovial man who just might be Satan himself. Excellent support is also provided by Virginia Christine as Bedekers' long suffering wife, and Raymond Bailey as the doctor in the opening minutes.
There's a solid twist late in the episode when a tragedy occurs, and Bedekers' attempts to manipulate the situation don't go as planned.
Mostly, this episode is worth watching for the acting by Wayne and Gomez.
Seven out of 10.
Dark humour rules the day in this delicious, if not that memorable, 'Twilight Zone' episode. It's especially amusing, the way that Bedeker "kills" himself over and over again in order to pull off insurance scams. Wayne is a real hoot in his irascible performance. Gomez is equally engaging as a very jovial man who just might be Satan himself. Excellent support is also provided by Virginia Christine as Bedekers' long suffering wife, and Raymond Bailey as the doctor in the opening minutes.
There's a solid twist late in the episode when a tragedy occurs, and Bedekers' attempts to manipulate the situation don't go as planned.
Mostly, this episode is worth watching for the acting by Wayne and Gomez.
Seven out of 10.