"Nightmare as a Child" is one Twilight Zone episode that doesn't exhibit any of the usual fantasies or Sci-Fi themes the series is noted for. It deals strictly with a real-life traumatic event and lets the chips fall where they may. Janice Rule is Helen Foley, a woman who has been suppressing the horrific memory of her mother's murder for many years. She witnessed the brutal attack as a very young child and is now in her late 20's when the story begins. Living alone in an apartment in Chicago, she encounters a little neighborhood girl named Markie (Terry Burnham). The precocious child begins to bother and annoy her; it seems she knows everything about Helen including specific facts from her past. She's also aware that Helen had been frightened earlier by the face of an unknown man who she had seen but briefly in a passing automobile. His face had stirred Helen's memory to the night of her mother's murder and she begins to wonder how and why little Markie knows so much about everything in her life. One might surmise that Markie is beginning to seriously rattle poor Helen's nerves. Enter Peter Selden (old-time character actor Shepperd Strudwick). This dour and suspicious fellow unexpectedly introduces himself to Helen at her apartment and informs her that he knew both her and her late mother some twenty years earlier. Strangely, he doesn't seem to hear Markie singing away in the hall of the apartment building, but he does tell Helen that "Markie" was "her" childhood name.
"Nightmare as a Child" is a serious psychological study in suppressed memory from traumatic events and is presented without the usual Twilight Zone effects. Neither is there any unnecessary moralizing from host Rod Serling to interfere with the story. Little Markie is really Helen's inner consciousness coming to life and awakening her to the present danger that she faces. It all comes back to her in a hurry as soon as Mr. Selden arrives in town. The final confrontation between Ms. Foley and Selden is worth the price of admission for this entry and is extremely well-done.
Janice Rule was one of film and television's most versatile actresses and she handles her demanding role here with believability and considerable restraint. Shepperd Strudwick conveys just the right amount of understated ruthlessness for his character. It's clear that he's becoming totally unhinged and is desperate enough to do anything to escape justice. Child actress Terry Burnham is perfect as the all-knowing kid who arrives in the nick of time to wake up Ms. Rule and save her from a ghastly fate. Smart kid.
"Nightmare as a Child" is a serious psychological study in suppressed memory from traumatic events and is presented without the usual Twilight Zone effects. Neither is there any unnecessary moralizing from host Rod Serling to interfere with the story. Little Markie is really Helen's inner consciousness coming to life and awakening her to the present danger that she faces. It all comes back to her in a hurry as soon as Mr. Selden arrives in town. The final confrontation between Ms. Foley and Selden is worth the price of admission for this entry and is extremely well-done.
Janice Rule was one of film and television's most versatile actresses and she handles her demanding role here with believability and considerable restraint. Shepperd Strudwick conveys just the right amount of understated ruthlessness for his character. It's clear that he's becoming totally unhinged and is desperate enough to do anything to escape justice. Child actress Terry Burnham is perfect as the all-knowing kid who arrives in the nick of time to wake up Ms. Rule and save her from a ghastly fate. Smart kid.