The Sins of the Fathers/You Can't Get Help Like That Anymore

The reviews of Sins of the Fathers fall into two categories: the "one of the most horrifying things I've ever seen" category and the "I don't see what's so scary about this" category. The difference here, I think, boils down to the difference between terror and horror. This episode (typical of Night Gallery in general) is about horror, not terror.

Terror is the start you feel when somebody jumps out from behind a bush and lunges at you. It's a simplistic emotion that almost everyone has as an instinctive response to danger. It requires no empathy. In Sins of the Fathers there are no monsters jumping out of shadows. It is not terrifying.

Horror is the revulsion you feel when you witness something deeply disturbing. I'm guessing that it requires some level of empathy to fully experience horror, and a fair segment of the population is probably immune to it. To fully appreciate the horror of Sins of the Fathers requires the ability to put yourself in the position of the main character. If you have the capacity to do that...then this episode is freaking HORRIFYING and you will never forget it.

Another entry from Season Two. This is really one of the most frightening and uncomfortable things to watch, that has ever been presented on television. Richard Thomas deserves accolades for his performance. The finest work he has ever done. This is one of those--"You have to see it to believe it" episodes. Some of the finest horror that television has ever seen. Nothing I can say can describe this episode. It has never been matched. I dream of seeing "Season Two" again on DVD. Without the "Sixth Sense" episodes that were added for syndication. For they were crap. As I said, this episode Scared the S&%T out of me. I bet it would still.

I do not understand what the other reviewers were trying to suggest that this episode of Night Gallery is so scary and horrifying and that Poe would be jealous. It is about as scary as an episode of Captain Kangaroo. The acting of course is wonderful with Thomas and Page (she could do anything) but honestly this is not scary. It is just a lot of screaming and yelling. That in itself is not horrifying it is just loud. Barbara (last name ?) who played the widow was pretty good too. I have a feeling that the reviewers who find this episode of Night Gallery to be so frightening and appallingly scary and horrifying are really Rod Serling groupies who would approve of anything he did. Don't fret if you miss this episode.

I only saw the show once when it was 1st aired.. My husband and I both remember it well. It was so well done and so creepy at the same time. Anything that has that much effect on viewers deserves of 10.

'The Sins Of The Fathers' - Richard Thomas and Geraldine page star as mother and son in Wales, who are forced by famine to resort using their father's technique of "sin eating" which involves consuming food surrounding a dead loved one in order to consume their earthly sins into himself. Thomas reluctantly performs this ritual for a rich family, but at a later high cost... Original tale is quite graphic and grim, but most atmospheric as well, with a fine cast, and strong ending.

'You Can't Get Help Like That Anymore' - A cruel married couple abuse android servant after android servant until an uprising turns the tables... Mediocre tale uses ideas from "Westworld" with mixed results.