The Twilight Zone Review: Not All Men (Season 1 Episode 7)
A chance at romance turns into chaos and a fascinating subject on The Twilight Zone Season 1 Episode 7, “Not All Men.”
Every episode has something to say about the times we live in. Some are far more successful at turning the analogy into a smart and cutting comment, while others flounder and become good ideas but not well-executed episodes.
The case of “Not All Men” is a surprising and essential story.
The episode mainly touches on male aggression and the very real fear women have to face every day. Annie justifying the make-out session’s concerning turn, the way her project at work is turned over to a male co-worker, being followed home; they’re all instances of women’s real life daily crises.
It’s taken to the extreme, as the episode continues on, as it wouldn’t be an episode of The Twilight Zone without some heightened sci-fi/supernatural tinges to it. But with the relatable fears of things that are prevalent in our society, the heightened takes on a more tense and significant meaning.
The murderous rage the men display on one another is an intense traumatic image on both Annie and Martha as they navigate the madness. It’s almost like an attempt on alpha male dominance, in how they attack each other.
It’s at this point the episode does stumble a bit. The first half is fantastic, playing on very real concerns and making Annie an interesting character. Even when in Martha’s house, the episode takes on terror with great force.
It’s when “Not All Men” takes to the streets to get to the docks where it loses some of its power. Annie and Martha wander through the chaos without much trouble, only a single threat after stopping for a while really leaving any worry of their safety.
The episode has a very strange sense of humor. Once the men go completely haywire, a sadistic comedy rears its head. A man commenting on knowing Annie before getting clobbered from behind, and a strange communal pool sequence as meteors are shoveled in are so bizarre, but oddly comical.
Taissa Farmiga and Rhea Seehorn as the leads really helps the episode out. Farmiga plays Annie with a sense of shyness but determined underneath, while Seehorn plays Martha with a fun but also frustrated tenor.
Two other performers stand out, as well. Luke Kirby’s Dylan is hard to read, but once he’s in rage mode, he becomes incredibly tense. But it’s in Ike Barinholtz where one of the episode’s standout scenes comes from. His slow breakdown in the kitchen is mesmerizing and terrifying.
The episode being written by Heather Anne Campbell and directed by Christina Choe helps keep the female perspective throughout the episode, never letting go of Annie and Martha as the main draws of the episode.
“Not All Men” is uniquely shot. One scene in particular really caught my eye, of Annie and Dylan’s romantic time together. As it grows more uncomfortable, the cuts become more sporadic and the framing closer, making for an almost claustrophobic feeling, much like how Annie is likely feeling.
“Not All Men” suffers from what a lot of The Twilight Zone episodes do: ending fairly abruptly. There is resolution here, which cannot be said for some other episodes, but it’s at a point where the story could likely continue on from there and have something more to say.
However, The Twilight Zone Season 1 Episode 7, “Not All Men,” does have a lot to say, regardless of the suddenness of its departure. The commentary on what women go through, and punctuating their trauma with a line about smiling more, makes this episode a success in delivering a perspective needed in the times we live in.
What did you think of this episode of The Twilight Zone? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Twilight Zone streams on Thursdays on CBS All Access.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.