You, Murderer

This episode stand out in my memory as one of the greatest and strangest episodes to date. I would have to had seen it once again to recall the details but I believe it uses the same First Person Narration/Perspective as the episode 'Abbra Cadaver' in Season 3 of the series and is in black & white. The plot centers around a Humphrey Bogart style character, following his appearance in Casablanca in the 1940's and those whom he encounters and the events leading up to his demise. John Lithgow also has a stellar role in this episode, but a much more serious role than his typical wacky 3rd Rock From The Sun style. I can't wait for this season to arrive on DVD so i can watch this episode once again.

Again, this is more noir than horror – but, all in all, quite a delightful TFTC episode (despite a rather weak title). The Humphrey Bogart credit is obviously an in-joke; actually, look-alike impersonator Robert Sacchi is the real star of this episode which displays a tongue-in-cheek approach to murder (extending to the improbable twist ending) and much use of the genre's traditional hard-boiled dialogue. Isabella Rossellini (daughter of a former co-star of the real Bogart) is perfectly cast as a femme fatale; also in the cast: John Lithgow (slimy as ever) and Sherilyn Fenn (as the "dumb" good-girl type). Following the success of Zemeckis' FORREST GUMP (1994), the punning cryptkeeper host of the series appears dressed-up like him and – just as the character in that film – is made to interact with long-dead personalities, in this case Alfred Hitchcock!

This episode is another favorate of mine, this tale is a really different entry but then again this show has had it's share of them and is part of the beauty of anthologies. This isn't entirely scary (though the thought of anything like this can be) it's more of a noir black comidy; but also in a twisted sense a love letter to the Noir genere. Also believe or not, I saw this episode when I was 12 or 13 I didn't know anything about the noir genre and Humphrey Bogart, so this episode was my first step into this genere I love.

I really like the structure of the episode, thoughout the episode were in the first person perspective and we never really see the protagonist's face but only a few times where we catch brief glimpses of the face which is the face of late actor Humphrey Bogart. I like the fact we don't see his face much it reflects the mystery of both his character and the predicament, but most importantly it really puts us in the action as if were experiencing the same things he is. I even like the voice acting, from how well the actor sounded and performed I sometimes bought this was the Humphrey himself (as a kid I actually thought this was the actor).

The supporting cast are great too, Issabele Roselini ironically cast is good as the feme fatale. John Lithgow another actor I really like is good as the untrustworthy friend or foe. Sherl Finn whom is also ironically cast as the pretty helpful secretary Erica whom we hope comes to Lou's aid, shame her looks don't bring anything to the upstairs department.

We see all the typical cleches like in most noir stories where there is a double cross or betrayal, one person is cheating on another, and death itself which is true in most noir stories. Here we kinda see two kinds of noir troopes where on one side were seeing a couple trying to get away from something and on the other side a solitary figure whom is forced to face a complex life and death dilemma.

I really like the bits of humor in this episode as we see what Lou's body goes though and the comendary of grief he delivers though also makes it glad I'm not in his shoes. It's funny when he hear what he says seeing that burial hole, "finally I can get some rest".

But it's suspenseful because like in all EC Comics fashion as well as some Noir stories, you already know this couple isn't going to get away with it and are going to get what's coming to them. In what happens in the final minutes if you wanted to you could call it a miracle.

Rating: 4 stars