12 reviews
Mixed bag with a very disturbing ending.
- vertigopersona
- Sep 19, 2008
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Effect and Cause
- holt-lover
- Mar 31, 2007
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Tales from the Darkside--Effect and Cause
- Scarecrow-88
- Apr 13, 2013
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Effective moments but an ineffective story
"Effect and Cause" is almost a mini-metaphor for "Tales from the Darkside" overall: it has its creepy moments, but also flounders in amateurish production values. The series strong point was always its casts, though it was "Summer Stock" casting, with one or two big name actors, often miscast, supported by unknowns. The big name in "Effect and Cause" is Susan Strasberg, who is badly miscast in a stereotypical young, kooky ditz role. Her relationship with the other characters is vague at best, but the biggest problem is that the script really makes no sense at all. Written by Michael Kube-McDowell (not to be confused with the more successful horror writer Michael McDowell, who also wrote for the show), it sets up an intriguing situation but offers no explanation whatsoever as to why it is happening. It apparently has something to do with paintings, but maybe not. Director Mark Jean makes the most of several scare moments, but again, there is little attempt to rationalize what's going on. As for the ending...well, a lot of "TFTD" episodes didn't really end, they simply stopped, and this is a prime example.
- michaelmallory-57825
- May 23, 2023
- Permalink
Not bad, not great.
This one has a really decent premise but unfortunately goes a little off the rails with delivering it's ideas with clarity. Still it has some cool ideas behind and some good jumpy moments. It's definitely not the best from the series but it's far from the worst and you can't help what it could have become with another rewrite or two.
- shellytwade
- Jan 22, 2022
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Zinc Oxide and You
Muddled Tales from the Darkside episode.
- poolandrews
- Apr 6, 2008
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Messy Storyline
The aspirant painter Kate Collins (Susan Strasberg) lives in a chaotic life style, and meets frequently her friend, the school teacher David (Ben Marley), at home. When she has an accident at the stairway of her apartment, her sister Janet (Judith-Marie Bergan) helps her. One day, she finds that she has the ability to change reality and her life turns upside down.
"Effect and Cause" is a messy episode of "Tales from the Darkside". The plot does not make sense and is absolutely forgettable. My vote is four.
Title (Brazil): "Effect and Cause"
"Effect and Cause" is a messy episode of "Tales from the Darkside". The plot does not make sense and is absolutely forgettable. My vote is four.
Title (Brazil): "Effect and Cause"
- claudio_carvalho
- Apr 3, 2022
- Permalink
My interpretation
- dave-48711
- Apr 13, 2022
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Devoid of interest
Another unwise comedy episode of TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE, EFFECT AND CAUSE tells the tale of a scatterbrained young woman who has a passion for painting. Unfortunately the woman is also an accident prone figure as seen in a series of groan-inducing slapstick routines, but in addition she has weird things constantly happening at her home. It soon transpires that her paintings have the power to influence reality, and she must decide what to do with her gift.
Susan Strasberg was a well-known actress of her era (her father was Lee Strasberg, who ran an actor's school that pretty much all of the most famous actors around went to) who started out in the likes of Hammer's psychological thriller A TASTE OF FEAR. I guess she had to pay the bills in her later years which is why we see her appearing in this piece of fluff.
Susan Strasberg was a well-known actress of her era (her father was Lee Strasberg, who ran an actor's school that pretty much all of the most famous actors around went to) who started out in the likes of Hammer's psychological thriller A TASTE OF FEAR. I guess she had to pay the bills in her later years which is why we see her appearing in this piece of fluff.
- Leofwine_draca
- Jun 4, 2015
- Permalink
Lack Luster
Although the premise of the story was brilliant, it didn't reach anywhere near its full potential. The ending was very unsatisfying and left too many unanswered questions.
Nifty episode
- Woodyanders
- Sep 17, 2013
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