Main cast: Malcolm McDowell (Martin), Miguel Ferrer (Dr Dan Critchley), Terrylene (Sandra McClinnon), Lombardo Boyar (Perez), John Finn (Malone), and Henry Rollins (The Host)
Directors: Keith Gordon and Ian Toynton
Dr Dan Critchley, a psychiatrist at the Bishop Mental Health Hospital, is asked to carry out a psychiatric evaluation on an unusual man upon the request of the cops: Martin, a man that carries out precise, methodological actions every day, such as walking in a specific manner, switching the lights on and off the same number of times at a specific time at night, and so forth.
Oh, and attacking anyone that may be in his way of carrying out his Patterns, which is why he is now dragged to the hospital.
Martin points out that he carries out his methodological actions every time, at the precise second, every day, because otherwise, the world to come to an end. In fact, the longer Dr Critchley keeps him in the hospital, the closer will the man usher in the end of the world.
Of course, the psychiatrist says it’s just OCD in action, so let’s see if the world will indeed come to an end or it’s just a delusion of a mentally unsound person…
This is a great segment. It’s right up there with A View Through the Window as a solidly acting segment with a very intriguing story. Sure, the ending is kind of to be expected, but Malcolm McDowell puts on a most memorable performance and he plays off Miguel Ferrer’s more straitlaced character very well.
This is all good because most of the segment consists of the two actors interacting with one another in a room, and they have good chemistry to make this segment a most riveting one.
Voices has a more conventional story in comparison.
After undergoing ear surgery that will eventually restore her hearing, deaf courtroom sketch artist Sandra McClinnon is shocked to hear a man’s thoughts in her head while she is doing her thing. She soon realizes that she’s overhearing the thoughts of a police officer on the witness stand, Malone, and he may be the actual killer instead of the man on trial, oh no.
As to be expected, no one believes her, while Malone is now on to her, ooh…
This one is okay, but the ending is pretty silly in my opinion, because Sandra basically tells Malone that some traumatic event in his past is not his fault… so that guy repents just like that. What kind of resolution is that? The whole thing takes a skidding swerve into Care Bear territory at that moment that the entire thing is ruined for me because it’s so corny.
Anyway, this is the very last episode of Night Visions, as the whole thing got cancelled, but it still goes out with a bang with that first one. All things considered, I find this show an intriguing one, and it’s a shame that this show never gets at least one more season to live up to its full potential.
Still, things are pretty good while it lasts!
