One Step Beyond-Volume 2

Rating:
Summary: Two classics alongside two weaker episodes from the series
Review: Although you may find inaccurate information in the product description of this item, One Step Beyond Volume 2 contains the following four episodes from the first season of this classic TV show: The Vision, The Devil's Laughter, The Return of Mitchell Campion, and The Secret. One Step Beyond preceded and brandished much more creepiness than The Twilight Zone, inasmuch as the stories portrayed here were reportedly taken from real life. This collection pales in comparison to most of the other available volumes, but it still presents four intriguing stories well worth the watching.

The Vision (original airdate: March 24, 1959) is a tale of reincarnation - while the premise of the story is interesting, this is just an exceedingly tedious episode to suffer through. A painter becomes haunted by the face of a woman he does now know and can paint nothing but her face - this is unfortunate, since he is supposed to be doing portraits of actual clients. The painter refuses to speak most of the time and goes around all moody when he is not off his nut, but he does eventually discover the identity of the woman and, possibly, something unbelievable about himself - or I should say his past self. Thanks to the unbearably annoying main character, this is my least favorite episode among those I have seen up to this point.

The Devil's Laughter (original airdate: March 31, 1959) is a memorable episode featuring a man who could not be hanged. We've all heard stories like this, featuring a rope that breaks and whatnot, but this tale takes us well beyond the gallows, all the way to the death this condemned man predicted in a last-second vision. The Return of Mitchell Campion (original airdate: April 7, 1959) is an excellent episode which sort of turns déjà vu on its head. Mitchell Campion vacations in a nice, quiet town far away from home. Much to his surprise, everyone he meets there seems to know him, including a beautiful young woman. I don't mean these people recognize his face or merely know his name; they act as if they have known him for a very long time - yet he has never been there before. This is a truly classic episode. Finally, you get The Secret (original airdate: April 21, 1959), which has to do with the mysterious disappearance of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage. The husband is jealous of a new friend his wife has picked up - until he learns that "Jeremy" died some eighty years ago. The ending of this episode could not be more memorable.

Let John Newland lead you into the world of the unknown with the fascinating, oftentimes creepy stories featured on One Step Beyond during its all-too-short three-season run in 1959-60. While this particular volume includes a couple of less memorable episodes, it still makes for the kind of compelling viewing experience sorely lacking on television today.