This is one of those stories that epitomizes what The Twilight Zone was all about. Who else but Rod Serling could take something as simple as an inanimate object, a telephone, and turn it into an element of fear and dread? The show reminded me just how intrusive and annoying those old black dial telephones could be, and how loud they were when everything was so quiet you could otherwise hear a pin drop. The sound could literally make you jump out of your skin if you weren't expecting it.
But while the story sets us up for and delivers an effective dose of horror, Serling and writer Richard Matheson suddenly turn the tables on the viewer and deliver a note of tragedy. You don't see it coming even when Elva Keene (Gladys Cooper) establishes her character early as an overbearing and dominating spinster. The story actually features a double whammy of sorts. Not only was Elva responsible for the accident that claimed her fiancé's life, but in death he was keenly attuned to obey her wish to leave her alone. The irony is delivered with a subtlety that just hits you right in the face, forcing Elva to confront another missed opportunity because of her own intransigence.
This was the second time Serling placed a telephone at the center of one of his stories. The second season of the series featured a tale entitled 'Long Distance Call' with a similar premise involving a messenger from the beyond. 'Night Call' deals more with the horror element and leaves more to the imagination of the viewer than the earlier show, but both are recommended as effective Serling material.
But while the story sets us up for and delivers an effective dose of horror, Serling and writer Richard Matheson suddenly turn the tables on the viewer and deliver a note of tragedy. You don't see it coming even when Elva Keene (Gladys Cooper) establishes her character early as an overbearing and dominating spinster. The story actually features a double whammy of sorts. Not only was Elva responsible for the accident that claimed her fiancé's life, but in death he was keenly attuned to obey her wish to leave her alone. The irony is delivered with a subtlety that just hits you right in the face, forcing Elva to confront another missed opportunity because of her own intransigence.
This was the second time Serling placed a telephone at the center of one of his stories. The second season of the series featured a tale entitled 'Long Distance Call' with a similar premise involving a messenger from the beyond. 'Night Call' deals more with the horror element and leaves more to the imagination of the viewer than the earlier show, but both are recommended as effective Serling material.
