User Reviews

Strong episode in the early part of the second season of Tales from the Darkside just proves how capable yet uneven this anthology series was in regards to quality. I don't think it was necessarily the story that sets this off as much as the talent involved. John Heard is just natural on screen and his work really gives this episode exactly what it needs in regards to the everyday man involved in an extraordinary event that changes his life forever. He's an inventor whose workshop gets shaken up by a certain earthquake, a literal small volcano rises up through his floor with a "magic ring" that is an actual portal to another world. He begins to use a hook on a pulley, dropping it into the volcano, through the ring, pulling out rubies, objects, and eventually a woman! A young Penelope Ann Miller, all doe-eyed, virginal, and innocent, is the young woman, Keena, that comes out of the volcano magic ring. The magic of this episode is familiar but I found it irresistible: Heard teaches Keena, a quick study, the English language and before long she's speaking clearly and understanding science, the two eventually in love. Heard relates this to a news reporter (Caris Corfman) who records this on cassette while they are in a prison cell. Heard's on death row for a murder he didn't commit, related to a sleaze he knew from high school (Greg Thornton). Thornton took the ring from the volcano by force, started pulling rubies from it to benefit financially, soon actually ripping an arm from one of Keena's people! This is a reason Thornton's life is "crushed" while in the middle of an argument with Heard. Ultimately this is a blossoming romance with quite an ending: while in The Chair, Keena returns to his rescue as the Execution onlookers watch behind the glass. The storyline, admittedly, is flat bizarre, no doubt, but Heard's sincere performance really helps keep this episode grounded. Miller is a cutie, sugar sweet and captivating, and you understand why John falls hard for her. This may be a bit too equally cute and odd for many viewers, but I liked it myself.

Death row prison inmate Billy Malone (an excellent and engaging performance by the always reliable John Heard) is about to be executed on the electric chair for a murder that he didn't commit. Malone relates to a reporter how an attractive woman named Keena (a radiant and appealing portrayal from the ravishing Penelope Ann Miller) who he met under unusual circumstances brought about his current predicament. Writer/director Theodore Gershuny handles the neat fantasy premise with remarkable precision and assurance: The pace unfolds at a steady clip, the tone is warm and winning, and the whole thing concludes on a pleasant upbeat note that's a welcome and refreshing departure from the standard downbeat conclusions which are a trademark of this show. Heard's customary stellar acting holds everything together; he ably creates a likable character that one can't help but root for. Miller brings a disarmingly sweet innocence to her role; the charming chemistry between Heard and Miller gives this episode an extra beguiling lift. Moreover, there's sound supporting contributions from Caris Corfman as sympathetic reporter Adele and Greg Thornton as Billy's smarmy pal Jimbo. An utterly delightful episode.

Tales from the Darkside: Ring Around the Redhead starts as convicted murderer Billy Malone (John Heard) is about to be led to the electric chair, before he is though a journalist named Adele (Caris Corfman) is allowed to interview him. Billy denies the charge of murder & tells Adele a fantastic story about a large metal ring which transported an alien shaped woman named Keena (Penelope Miller) into his basement, after teaching her English within two days Billy's problems really started as his friend Jimbo (Greg Thornton) steals the magical ring...

Episode 3 from season 2 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during October 1985, the second of three Tales from the Darkside episodes to be directed by Theodore Gershuny I have to say I personally thought Ring Around the Redhead was total crap. It's almost as if someone came up with this bizarre outline for a story & decided to turn it into a 20 minute TV program without any regard for the poor audience who has to sit through it, the story is just weird & if you like strange stories which make no sense & don't work on any sort of narrative level then Ring Aroiund the Redhead may be the TV program you've been waiting for your whole life. If, however, like me you like your stories to have a purpose & actually tell an entertaining tale then Ring Around the Redhead isn't for you at all. There's no twist at the end, it's predictable, it makes no sense, it's just bizarre & I really can't see what anyone would get out of it.

I thought Tales from the Darkside as a series focused on horror anthology type material, a sort of forerunner to the excellent Tales from the Crypt (1989 - 1996) but it doesn't have that show's dark humour, it's twists, it's gore or it's horror content. Again I was left asking myself just who Ring Around the Redhead was meant to appeal to, it's some sort of horrible lighthearted Disney type fantasy with no horror elements at all, no bite & no substance. This was Penelope Miller's screen debut & has gone on to appear in many films & TV show's since.

Ring Around the Redhead perplexes me as a viewer, it did nothing for me & I just can't see why anyone would enjoy it. It doesn't really do anything & I struggle to see why anyone would like it & even at a brisk 20 odd minutes in length it still bored me.