User Reviews

Well, naturally, I liked this episode, mostly because I wrote the story it was based on, though IMDb doesn't give credit.

The original story appeared in 'Twilight Zone' magazine not too long before the series went into production.

It was interesting to see the progress from a short story to the script to the final product. Reading a script, for people not used to reading them or reading plays, doesn't really give much idea of what the end product will be like. It makes you appreciate the director's work, especially since this was a VERY low budget series. There were only four actors and maybe three sets in the whole show. Alice Ghostley and Mario Roccuzzo did a great job.

It was a bit telegraphed, as the previous entry mentioned. If you see a giant spoon on the wall, you have to be pretty thick not to guess the end.

Horror fans who know their "Motel Hell" type of movies will see the twist of "Anniversary Dinner" coming from a mile away. Even though I knew the punchline, I had a blast watching the director/writer/performers telegraphing that twist in little macabre ways, foretelling us the conclusion in dialogue and acting. There is an air of sinister underneath the surface and I felt you could just feel that something's "off" about the country couple of this tale who seem to be just a polite, hospitable married husband and wife, lonely and longing for "children in the house again". Alice Ghostley has always been a whiz at conveying an easy-going, pleasant, easily trusting personality, women characters (she's a veteran character actress of television, stealing her scenes on "Designing Women" for years) that elicit comfort from others. This personality is perfectly suitable for the "delicious" warped twist as her character needs to earn the trust of "children" who might come across her "happy home". Mario Roccuzzo is Ghostely's edgy husband who seems to have a quick-trigger temper, but is brought to ease by the woman of his life because she is perfectly capable of calming the storm of his obvious inner rage when something sets him off. Fredrica Duke is a runaway who has always desired to find an ideal home and believes Ghostely and Roccuzzo are indeed the "substitute parents" she never had. I imagine many were screaming at the screen for her to leave the moment she walks into the "playroom", where Roccuzzo keeps his guns, hunting swords/knives, and animal heads as trophies on the walls. Included is a fancy Jacuzzi and Duke is drawn to it and her new "parents" are only thrilled to share it with their new guest. I think many can guess the rest. The final frame has unsettling black humor, with the dialogue cleverly preparing us for it ("It's been so long since we've had children" or "I think we should spend our anniversary dinner with the children").

Tales from the Darkside: Anniversary Dinner is set on a rural farm owned by Henry (Mario Roccuzzo) & his wife Elinor Collender (Alice Ghostly, a fitting name for someone appearing on this show?) who are about to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary after 25 years of marriage. Elinor is determined to make a special anniversary dinner for the celebration, they love having their children for dinner in a rather literal manner & young backpacker Sybil (Fredrica Duke) gets an invite which she may end up regret accepting...

Episode 13 from season 1 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during Februray 1985, the first of six Tales from the Darkside episodes to be directed by John Strysik I thought Anniversay Dinner was an OK time waster but nothing particularly special. The script by James Houghton is a touch predictable for my liking & is littered with some rather unsubtle clues & hints like a huge wooden ladle on the wall, the couple's large collection of knifes, talk of butcher's not killing animals properly, the old woman constantly preoccupied with cooking & in particular cutting up joints of meat, stuffed animal heads displayed on the wall & a huge cooking pot all point to a obvious twist ending which anyone who is familiar with the horror anthology style of film-making will spot the proverbial mile off. To be fair it moves along at a nice pace, at only 20 minutes it doesn't last too long, it has an OK story even if it is a bit predictable & provides basic if undemanding entertainment.

This one looks alright, it hasn't dated as badly as some & is generally well made although obviously low budget. There's no blood or gore even though it's a story about cannibals & I wouldn't even say there's anything scary in it either. The acting is OK from the whole four people in it.

Anniversay Dinner is an OK way to pass 20 minutes but is entirely forgettable & has absolutely no blood or gore which, considering it's about cannibals, has to be a disappointment. Worth a watch if your a fan of the show or can catch it on telly for free.

This "TFTD" episode titled "Anniversary Dinner" is clearly one of the better ones from season one even though it ends quite twisted and in a wicked manner. It centers around a story of a woman who's traveling along with her boyfriend and she wants escape so when she meets an old couple who live in the rural country she's taken in by their charm and grace! The old man and woman invite this woman to spend time with them as their big special anniversary dinner is ready to approach. Oddly enough she reminds the couple of one of their daughters who no longer lives at home! So a very very special dinner is planned. This should teach you a lesson never be the dinner guest of a couple that's lonely unless you want to be the main course! Good episode which ends in a horrifying and wicked manner.

Chipper Elinor Colander (the delightful Alice Ghostlet) and her grouchy henpecked husband Henry (well played to the cranky hilt by Mario Roccuzzo) are an old couple living in the country who are about to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The seemingly sweet and harmless pair invite young hiker Sybil (an appealing portrayal by the pretty Fredrica Duke) into their home to be the guest of honor. Director John Strysik, working from a compact script by James Houghton, relates the deliciously macabre story at a snappy pace, does an able job of creating and sustaining a quietly sinister atmosphere, and tops everything off with a wickedly funny line in tasty gallows humor (the punchline might be predictable, but still rates as a perfectly sick doozy just the same). Ghostley's pleasant and cheerful personality gives this episode an extra sparkling charm; the scenes with Ghostley bickering with her irritable sourpuss hubby are absolute hoots. A nifty show.

Like in the most episodes this one also has predictable ending, but it does not spoil overall impression too much. Good acting and very disturbing atmosphere. Although I knew precisely what ending twist will be I still felt uncomfortable through whole episode.

8/10

This episode reminds me of Hansel and Gretel. I just re watched this episode, it's one of my favorites. The story starts out with what appears to be a normal older couple getting ready to celebrate their 25th anniversary. A minute later a younger couple come up Sybil and her boyfriend. The guy is a real jerk, in fact he gets a gun pulled on him by Henry. Sybil on the other hand is really sweet, and views the couple as harmless. Elanor be- friends her quick, and tells her she is welcome anytime at their house. It's not even 5 minutes later the girl arrives back at Elanor's and Henry's house. Sybil got mad at her boyfriend and split,returning to Elanor's house. Elanor strikes up a conversation about their anniversary, and how it's not the same without the children. At first the viewer assumes they have grown children that never come around anymore. Sybil is kind of green, because she takes up with these people she doesn't know, she believes they are lonely . They are real nice to her and show her the house especially the nice hot tub they have. They tell her she can use it, so she does. Thinking they are just a sweet old couple she gets closer to them, not knowing what's in store for her. One day Henry catches her in the hot-tub room getting too close to a locked shelf. He scolds her and she is surprised by his anger. She tells Elanor, and Elanor calms her down about how possessive Henry can be. While Elanor is preparing the dinner, the girl drinks some of Henry's Sherry. She is allowed to get in the hot tub; and at this point she is totally drunk. In comes Elanor and starts throwing in vegetables with her in it. The girl thinks it's a joke, but it's not. Sybil is their main course on their Anniversary. Henry and Elanor's children they talked about were their previous victims. This is where the camera cuts to the locked shelf and we see six skulls. This episode is very disturbing, it reminds me of the old saying "Wolves In Sheep's Clothing". Anniversary Dinner gives a life lesson on the dangers of strangers.

Henry and Elinor Colander (Mario Roccuzzo and Alice Ghostley) are making a special meal for their 25th anniversary. Yet they still have a place at the table for Sybil (Fredrica Duke), a girl they've just met who has broken up with her boyfriend Mark (Michael Cedar).

Directed by John Strysik and written by James Houghton, this was based on a story by D. J. Pass that originally was printed in Twilight Zone magazine. Obviously, you can tell the direction that this is all heading as soon as it starts, but it's still a pretty solid episode that doesn't descend into the silliness that some Darkside entries get into.

Ghostley's acting makes this episode. If it was filmed today, they would probably lean in more toward the idea that the old couple doesn't want children but a young woman to spice up their sex lives. But hey - it was 1985. That certainly happened, but it wasn't as prevalent as the internet allows us to believe.

Look - if you're hiking with your abusive partner and suddenly a nice couple wants you to get into the jacuzzi in a room full of animal heads, don't. Just don't.