8) Tales from the Darkside: 'Inside The Closet'
While even as a kid I found the show enjoyably cheesy, this episode was the one that floored lil' Barnick. A college student moves into an older man's upstairs spare room on campus, but warned not to use the small boxlike closet in the corner. Naturally curiosity gets the better of her as she notices shoes missing, items scattered..and it's revealed early on that SOMETHING makes the little closet its home..and it doesn't like the new guest.
The episodeÂ’s two creepiest moments..
The young woman investigates a noise at night and finds nothing; as she lifts her heels off the floor to settle into slumber, a bleach-white emaciated clawed hand reaches for her ankle and misses. As she sleeps, a small shaft of moonlight illuminates SOMETHING under there, waiting. Every childÂ’s fear that made them hop quickly into bed made manifest.
That's already enough to give any kid phobias; but it was the reveal/assault to follow that really messed with ten-year old yours truly. As with most of these, the FX are dated but admirable given the time. The thing in the closet, "Lizzie", is still a truly disturbing design, and its horrible crackle-noises still get me. But THE moment, which I remember being far more effective as a kid but is still pretty tough, was when Lizzie jumps on the heroine's back, and yanks her to the floor, breaking her neck before she even collapses. Brrr.