Nightmare

Episode aired Dec 2, 1963
51m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

813

YOUR RATING

Drama Fantasy Horror Mystery Sci-Fi Thriller

A stranded team of soldiers are captured and experimented on by demonic-looking aliens.A stranded team of soldiers are captured and experimented on by demonic-looking aliens.A stranded team of soldiers are captured and experimented on by demonic-looking aliens.

Director
- John Erman
Writers
- Joseph Stefano
- Leslie Stevens
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

813

YOUR RATING

Director
- John Erman
Writers
- Joseph Stefano
- Leslie Stevens
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
This episode was one of John Erman's earliest jobs as a director and depicts Earth soldiers who have been captured and are being tormented by aliens on a mostly barren set, consisting of a few rock-like props and doorways. It bears many striking similarities to The Empath (1968), also directed by Erman, in which Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the titular empath Gem, played by Kathryn Hays, spend the majority of their screentime on a mostly bare set consisting of a few props and dark curtains, also being tormented by aliens. Willard Sage appeared in both episodes, playing the Chief of Staff in this episode and Thann, one of the alien tormentors, in that episode.

Goofs
The spaceship is deep in space and has engines that produce flames. Fire cannot exist without oxygen.

Quotes
Ebonite Interrogator: Are you ready to talk, Dix?
[Dix tries to speak, but no words come out]
Ebonite Interrogator: Perhaps you could speak if there was someone here you really wanted to speak to.
Dix's Mother: [Appears in a hallucinatory vision] Arthur. Arthur. You can talk to your mom, can't you, baby?
Pvt. Arthur Dix: Mom?
Dix's Mother: [Hugging and affectionate] Oh. Oh. You can talk. Tell me what they want to know.
[Dix shakes head]
Dix's Mother: Then whisper it to me then, baby. Whisper all about it.
[Dix whispers in her ear]
Ebonite Interrogator: Private Dix. You may go.

Connections
Edited into Incubus (1966)

User reviews20

Featured review

10/10

Incredible - one of the most memorable Sci Fi TV shows ever

This episode has horror and effectiveness, and yet is so simple. There is hardly any set or decoration. A couple of quite bare rooms and little more than scene cubes on a bare sound stage floor for the prisoner of war camp. The "enemy" was in make-up, yet there were just two of them. Everyone else was in off the shelf uniforms or costumes. There were very few props and almost nothing in special effects.

In this day where CGI can make anything appear, what made the episode so effective? To begin with, a wonderful cast. A young Martin Sheen played a pivotal role. Sad, wise looking John Anderson was under the alien make-up. Their talent helped. But that wasn't all.

The story resonated within us. It showed the true monster and enemy of mankind - man himself. Every inch of it lead to that final, wonderful last decision.

See this for yourself if you ever can.