Episode 75 (R4): Journey into Terror

Like many other children, I went through a phase of loving comedy horror. The British comic Shiver and Shake came along when I was nine, featuring Addams Family-style characters and situations that I adored (and I used to design monsters like the ones on the back page) - at the time it was my ideal reading material. The intensity faded over time but I still have a soft spot for the genre, and am more willing to forgive flaws in movies like Love at First Bite (or, indeed, The Addams Family) than films from other genres. As a result, Journey into Terror had the opportunity to hit my sweet spot.

It didn't. In fact, this episode is the worst by far of this marathon (to date). There are a couple of good things about it but I'll save them for later, just to break up my string of complaints.

Let's start with the acting. Most obvious is the mess of Billy-fluffs near the start, but it isn't just William Hartnell struggling: Maureen O'Brien and even Jacqueline Hill are flat, looking tired and as if they are going through the motions. Only William Russell keeps the side going, and he isn't exactly stretched by the material. Which also applies to the guest cast, who are playing Daleks, holograms or robots - and mostly malfunctioning ones at that, who either don't need to speak or are supposed to lipsync badly. The exception to this is the robot Doctor, who is supposed to lipsync well but doesn't (though it's an impossible ask in one take). Then again, he's supposed to look like the Doctor, too - but more on that next time. Other than to say that to have him so obviously played by someone else but then have a closeup of Hartnell at the end compounds the problem.

And speaking of compounding problems, the direction and script do this one no favours. The way Vicki is cut off from the TARDIS is (a) unbelievable and (b) dull, like the scenes in the DARDIS. The dialogue is generally weak and almost all the intentional humour seems to have slipped away, leaving (I think) just the stammering Dalek and a comment about Daleks being unable to go upstairs; while what we do have is an abundance of plot-holes. Why didn't they use the Fast Return Switch to go back for Vicki? How did the Dalek get upstairs? Why did the robots attack the Daleks? All these can be explained away, but they niggle. Still, there are some good points too: I liked the Doctor's explanation about the collective unconscious of the human psyche, and the fact that they never discover he's wrong. I also like the way they debate whether they are in Central Europe or South America, when in fact they are in Ghana (though the reference to Peking is... odd).

There's nothing wrong with the sets, either. The castle looks a bit of a jumble, but the explanation of it being a mothballed haunted house excuses that. Similarly, the bat on a string makes perfect sense. It's well lit, too. Against that, the ghost effect doesn't quite work, and there's a Dalek clearly visible in the lab before the DARDIS arrives. Furthermore, Vicki and Barbara comment on something they are hearing - probably a bell - which is completely inaudible to the audience. All of which were noticeable to me, not just things I picked up from DWM or the commentary.

In short, the few good things cannot rescue this. I really, really hope things improve next time...

Next week I will be on holiday, away from the Internet, so there won't be any updates until the new school term has started. Have fun everyone!

Broadcast:
Date: Saturday, 12th June 1965
Viewers: 9.5 million
Chart Position: 8
Appreciation Index: 54

Rating:
1/10.

Next Time:
The Death of Doctor Who.