Midnight Never Ends/Brenda

S02-E07 gives us a creepy pair of stories, but with a distinct problem: the first tale is too brief to really catch fire and the second is hurt by overlength. The opener, "Midnight Never Ends", written by series host Rod Serling, has Susan Strasberg picking up hitchhiking Marine Robert E. Lyons on a lonesome highway--a scenario both know well. Is this a case of déjà vu or is something else going on? "Midnight" is an intriguing piece that begs to be expanded upon; Serling cuts too quickly to the reveal, which director Jeannot Szwarc delivers matter-of-factly. "Brenda", written by Douglas Heyes from Margaret St. Clair's short story, has a dynamic set-up which is unfortunately tempered by too much detail. Laurie Prang is a trouble-causing youngster on an island vacation spot who befriends a boggy monster in the woods. Director Allen Reisner isn't very talented with his actors (everyone is hyped up for no particular purpose), although he delivers a boldly serious finale which, while not scary, is certainly admirable.

Now that these are up on Hulu I'm getting to see episodes I'd missed. This one, Brenda, if from a short story I happened to read a few years ago. The story doesn't explain much more than the Night Gallery version... except that the girl just finds the creature trapped in the quarry. She's an odd girl... has no friends... and the creature probably would do her in if it got a chance. In a way Brenda is more frightening because of her strange, dreamy malevolence... whereas the creature is just a wild thing, an animal. The 80's horror film 'The Pit' seems like it might have been based on the same story... though 'The Pit' is much more gruesome... and silly.

'Midnight Never Ends'. A Rod Serling original, directed by prolific 'Night Gallery' director Jeannot Szwarc. Robert F. Lyons ("The Todd Killings") and Susan Strasberg ("The Manitou") star as Vincent Riley, a hitchhiking Marine, and Ruth Asquith, the motorist who picks him up. They're puzzled because they don't really seem to be in control of their own destinies. They inform us that they're performing the same routine so frequently that they can easily predict each others' dialogue. Things don't change when they drive up to a diner and forcefully order coffee. Still, they and two other characters can feel themselves being manipulated as if they are puppets. Overall, the script is good stuff (it's Serling, so you expect a degree of quality), with some sharp dialogue, but when we get to the conclusion / revelation, it doesn't come as any Earth-shattering surprise. Still, this is at the least well-directed and well-acted.

'Brenda'. Scripted by Douglas Heyes, based on a story by Margaret St. Clair. Laurie Prange ("Looking for Mr. Goodbar") plays the title character, a rather devilish kid who doesn't seem to care for making friends in any conventional way. Therefore, she's a lonely soul, albeit one who doesn't take her fathers' (Glenn Corbett, "Homicidal") lectures seriously. One day, she encounters a truly bizarre creature; although roughly humanoid, it seems to be made of mud and vegetation. Fear turns into intrigue soon enough, and once she's managed to trap it in a quarry, she finds herself making a connection with the beast, which does seem to respond to her words. Billed as an "unusual love story", 'Brenda' is by turns creepy, humourous, and just plain sad. It does go fairly far on the strength of young Pranges' affecting performance. The rest of the cast is fine (Barbara Babcock ('Hill Street Blues') and Pamelyn Ferdin ("The Beguiled") co-star), but the segment rests largely on Pranges' shoulders. Some viewers may feel some dissatisfaction with the rather open ending, but overall this segment IS fairly memorable, staying with you after it's over.

Seven out of 10.

'Midnight Never Ends' - A hitchhiking marine on his way back to camp is picked up by a young woman, who then stops at a roadside diner, where the marine is convinced that he knows what is going to happen, but doesn't know why. Then there is that mysterious clicking being heard... Predictable tale isn't as surprising as it thinks it is, but still provides some fun.

'Brenda' - Laurie Prange plays a mysterious young girl named Brenda staying on an island with her parents who gets along badly with the residents, but finds solace in a hulking swamp creature who washes ashore, and causes trouble until it is trapped for later use... Odd tale does have an eerie quality about it, though isn't entirely satisfying.

Midnight Never Ends is yet another Rod Serling scripted episode that suffers from feeling too much like Twilight Zone material. I like the black background, though. The camera work is great here.

Brenda is such a sad and beautifully done episode having to do with childhood and friendship. Very touching. Laurie Prange is superb in the title role.