It’s a Good Life
(Season 3, Episode 8)
“On a given morning not too long ago, the rest of the world disappeared and Peaksville was left all alone. Its inhabitants were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only Peaksville left untouched or whether the village had somehow been taken away. They were, on the other hand, sure of one thing: the cause. A monster had arrived in the village…and you’ll note that the people in Peaksville, Ohio, have to smile. They have to think happy thoughts and say happy things because once displeased, the monster can wish them into a cornfield or change them into a grotesque, walking horror. This particular monster can read minds, you see. He knows every thought, he can feel every emotion. Oh yes, I did forget something, didn’t I? I forgot to introduce you to the monster. This is the monster. His name is Anthony Fremont. He’s six years old, with a cute little-boy face and blue, guileless eyes. But when those eyes look at you, you’d better start thinking happy thoughts, because the mind behind them is absolutely in charge. This is the Twilight Zone.”
One of Twilight Zone’s MVP’s would have to be Billy Mumy, whose three episodes (Long Distance Call, It’s a Good Life, and In Praise of Pip) are all excellent episodes of the series. His character in “It’s a Good Life,” little Anthony Fremont, has to be one of the most memorable examples of terrifying horror children in pop culture history. Adorable as he is, his big eyes have the ability to do terrible things to people (and animals) that simply annoy him, such as sending them into the undefined cornfield of the episode. The town lives in terror of committing undefined, minor infractions in the eyes of a 9-year-old with quick temper and violent will. No wonder the episode escalates with one of the townspeople begging Anthony’s parents to do him in so the reign of terror will finally end. -Lesley Coffin
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