Night Visions: A View Through the Window/Quiet Please

January 13, 2025 6:05 PM - Season 1, Episode 3

Night Visions is a short-lived Twilight Zone wannabe anthology series from the early 00s hosted by Henry Rollins. This particular episode (which you can watch on youtube here) is an especially fun and creative 42 minutes of cheesy outre television and I think more people should know about it.

Our first vignette, A View Through the Window, was directed by and stars Bill Pullman. Wikipedia summary: "A military scientist is compelled to investigate the strange appearance of a lush farm in the middle of a desert."
Based on the short story Window by Bob Leman, which you can read here.

The second half, Quiet Please, stars Cary Elwes and Brian Dennehy. Sometimes you just want a weekend off! The Quiet Please segment was directed by Joe Dante, who you may recall from such films as The Burbs, Gremlins/2, and Small Soldiers.

I realize it's weird to post one single episode from a random defunct tv show, but I just REALLY love this one. Maybe you will, too. (I'll be honest, I haven't watched any of the rest of the show but I should probably seek those episodes out, too. Came across this episode several years ago in a reddit thread and haven't got it out of my head since!!)

posted by phunniemee (6 comments total)

No shit, that Henry Rollins
posted by ginger.beef at 8:32 AM on January 14

I've seen Rollins speak a few times, and he has mentioned this show. Apparently, the producers specifically asked for him. He couldn't figure out why they needed anyone at all, and why him, of all people, but hey, it was a paying gig, so he took it. I find the tone of his delivery in the show a little too much to take seriously, but he's also working with trash writing.

I haven't seen this particular episode, but I've watched a few and they are not great. If you were ranking all the Twilight Zone knock-offs, this would be low on the list. That said, I totally need to watch this episode because that cast and crew just HAVE to elevate the material, right?
posted by mrphancy at 8:47 AM on January 14

I read the attached story and it was really good!
posted by Kitteh at 12:00 PM on January 14 [1 favorite]

I've been watching more of these and oh boy the Sherilyn Fenn episode (#4 part 2 "Used Car") was almost great. One plot point too far.
posted by phunniemee at 6:00 PM on January 14

> No shit, that Henry Rollins
That's....what I wondered too.
posted by cocoagirl at 3:50 AM on January 16

This was delightful. Good rec.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:02 PM on January 16 [1 favorite]