One of the 3 or 4 really classic creepy, shadowy, moldy haunted house "Thriller's", this one is truly a feast for the eye. Herschel Daugherty racks up another in his list of impressive episodes, immeasurably aided by John Russell's cinematography. The amazing shot of the unconscious Pippa Scott in her car with Jeanette Nolan and James Griffith peering in from outside in the rain is worthy of Conrad Hall's finest first season Outer Limits work.
There's plenty of chills in this one, as the feisty Pippa faces a most terrifyingly uncertain fate trapped in this mad mansion; her slow walk up the attic stairs is yet another example of director Herschel Daugherty's fabulous "Thriller" work.
Unfortunately,it's the the SCRIPT that lets everyone down, as it seems to keep running in circles while we wait for something significant to happen. How many times can we watch Granny or Victor confront Marcia and rehash the same basic dialogue? The show loses its direction rather quickly for me.
1.) Jeanette Nolan (related to Tommy?) was a fine and respected film and stage actress, who had a knack for playing wacky old hags. She is REALLY scary in "Parasite Mansion", and totally inhabits her role through every word and action. The make-up/lighting shots of her near the end with the floating knife look as is she's decaying right before our eyes. What a gal!
2.) James Griffith as Victor is, I think, one of the most curious and fascinating of all character actors from the period. What a face---those big, baleful eyes and droopy features atop that scarecrow-like frame--a perfect choice to play this southern gentleman with a most troubling family problem. His performance is one of the strongest aspects of this episode, IMHO. LR
There's plenty of chills in this one, as the feisty Pippa faces a most terrifyingly uncertain fate trapped in this mad mansion; her slow walk up the attic stairs is yet another example of director Herschel Daugherty's fabulous "Thriller" work.
Unfortunately,it's the the SCRIPT that lets everyone down, as it seems to keep running in circles while we wait for something significant to happen. How many times can we watch Granny or Victor confront Marcia and rehash the same basic dialogue? The show loses its direction rather quickly for me.
1.) Jeanette Nolan (related to Tommy?) was a fine and respected film and stage actress, who had a knack for playing wacky old hags. She is REALLY scary in "Parasite Mansion", and totally inhabits her role through every word and action. The make-up/lighting shots of her near the end with the floating knife look as is she's decaying right before our eyes. What a gal!
2.) James Griffith as Victor is, I think, one of the most curious and fascinating of all character actors from the period. What a face---those big, baleful eyes and droopy features atop that scarecrow-like frame--a perfect choice to play this southern gentleman with a most troubling family problem. His performance is one of the strongest aspects of this episode, IMHO. LR
