"The Geezenstacks" is clearly one of the better "TFTD" episodes made. The story is well written and the mood is strange and creepy and it's theme centers around odd and neat material things like dolls and this is the way the series was meant to be. Anyway a little girl receives a gift from her uncle it's a playhouse with four play dolls they are three adults and a doll of a little girl. Like all of us can remember when we were kids our imaginations ran wild as when we played with our action figures or dolls we imagined them as real life people and wished that our thoughts would come true. Well that's exactly what this little girl did when playing with them and strangely enough her playing with these dolls later becomes real life and things start to happen to her family in real life! One by one the dolls start to take on more and more of a real life feel. And this episode ends in a shock it's really wickedly twisted and strange to show how material things can take the place of actual humans. Great episode one of the series best!
9 Reviews
Tales from the Darkside: The Geezenstacks
Scarecrow-8820 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Truly original, with an ultimately strange conclusion, has a dollhouse and a family of dolls called The Geezenstacks found in an empty house, given by Uncle Richard (Larry Pine) to the daughter of his sister, Judith (Tandy Cronyn). When Judith's husband, Sam (Craig Wasson; Ghost Story/Body Double/Nightmare on Elm Street III), begins to recognize that when his daughter has conversations with the dolls actual occurrences eerily similar to them happen to their own family! Sickness, a new coat, bad day at the job, returning home late all are mentioned by the little girl in dialogue with the Geezenstacks. When talks about jumping out of a window ensue between his daughter and the dolls, Sam begs her not to ever discuss that again because he has become convinced that these conversations will translate to them. Richard scoffs at that when Sam voices his concerns to him; Richard will realize only too late how right Sam was.
The dolls themselves, the facial details and how they're painted white with the blackest eyes, are quite sinister. The gradual realization that whatever forces are at work is worth getting concerned about plagues Sam, just enveloping his life as his wife and brother-in-law start to worry about his well being...this takes us right to a freakish conclusion where Wasson is justified in what he fears. The third season had been on a nice run early on, and this episode continued that trend of success. Wasson pays attention, questions one coincidence after another regarding the parallels of his life compared to the dialogue shared between his daughter and the dolls, and tries to communicate what is happening with his shared concerns falling on deaf ears. The "going away" and cycle the dollhouse (and family of dolls inside) seems to follow remains an enigma unsolved. Just make sure to get rid of a red two-story dollhouse if a relative arrives with it at your front door, found in an abandoned home.
The dolls themselves, the facial details and how they're painted white with the blackest eyes, are quite sinister. The gradual realization that whatever forces are at work is worth getting concerned about plagues Sam, just enveloping his life as his wife and brother-in-law start to worry about his well being...this takes us right to a freakish conclusion where Wasson is justified in what he fears. The third season had been on a nice run early on, and this episode continued that trend of success. Wasson pays attention, questions one coincidence after another regarding the parallels of his life compared to the dialogue shared between his daughter and the dolls, and tries to communicate what is happening with his shared concerns falling on deaf ears. The "going away" and cycle the dollhouse (and family of dolls inside) seems to follow remains an enigma unsolved. Just make sure to get rid of a red two-story dollhouse if a relative arrives with it at your front door, found in an abandoned home.
Can't go wrong with creepy dolls
Leofwine_draca12 June 2015
THE GEEZENSTACKS is a creepily effective episode from season three of TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE, and there's very little to dislike about an episode which builds a successfully creepy atmosphere from the start and then runs with it. The tale is a simple one in which a sweet young girl plays with her eerily lifelike dolls, only to discover that whatever happens to the dolls happens to her family in real life.
Of course, there's plenty of bad stuff going on here, and it helps that the dolls themselves are menacingly spooky creations. Even low budget films like Stuart Gordon's DOLLS worked well, even if just for the visual appeal of the dolls themselves. Craig Wasson, from Brian de Palma's BODY DOUBLE, stars in this one.
Of course, there's plenty of bad stuff going on here, and it helps that the dolls themselves are menacingly spooky creations. Even low budget films like Stuart Gordon's DOLLS worked well, even if just for the visual appeal of the dolls themselves. Craig Wasson, from Brian de Palma's BODY DOUBLE, stars in this one.
A very nice and creepy episode
StoneGriffin10 January 2008
Tales from the Darkside for a lot of it's run was either "hit or miss" . Though it bragged an impressive array of well known (or future) stars, a sizable portion of the scripts were either lame or were good until ruined by a lame or lackluster ending. This episode (amongst some others) is one of the finest in the series. For one, the musical score is rich with stringed instruments, a far cry from the synthesizer 80s schtick that appeared in so many other episodes. The themes are very haunting. Secondly, the 'twist' ending is something most viewers won't expect (and if they did anticipate it then they won't expect the double twist at the end). This episode, about a creepy doll house that happens to appear in suddenly vacant family homes, is a subtle and well crafted chiller. Tales from the Darkside always suffered from a low budget, but this one was extremely effective. A solid recommendation for this episode and the fine acting by the cast.
My second favorite episode!!!
TOMNEL2 August 2006
What bad can be said about this episode? It is just so good and professional in every way. The surprise ending is really great and the acting is really good. This episode deals with a little girl playing with these dolls that she's named The Greezenstacks. There's a mom doll, dad doll and girl doll. Whatever she does with he dolls happens to her and her parents in real life. The music for this episode is absolutely brilliant. The ending is so good, that it just makes this episode worth it. However the entire episode is better than the good ending. I love this episode and if I were you I'd look for a copy!
My rating: Perfect episode. 22 mins. TV PG
My rating: Perfect episode. 22 mins. TV PG
Creepy little Tales from the Darkside episode.
poolandrews17 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Tales from the Darkside: The Geezenstacks starts as her uncle Richard (Larry Pine) gives young Audrey (Lana Hirsch) an old dolls house he found in an empty house. Inside the dolls house are four dolls which Audrey names Richard after her uncle, Audrey after herself, Sam after her dad (Craig Wasson) & Edith after her mom (Tandy Cronyn). Audrey begins to describe the things the Geezenstacks get up to & the same equivalent thing happens to the person the doll is based on, her dad Sam becomes increasingly concerned about his daughter Audrey & the sinister Geezenstack doll family...
Episode 5 from season 3 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during October 1986, directed by Bill Tavis one has to report that The Geezenstacks is a nice creepy Twilgiht Zone styled episode. The script by Nancy Doyne probably could have been expanded to fill out a longer time slot & I personally think it would have benefited form that, as it is it's a cracking little story which sends the odd chill down ones spine but at only twenty minutes in length it's a bit rushed with a twist ending which initially feels great but when you actually think about it doesn't make that much sense. This could have been a great episode, as it is it's a very good one but a bit more time to develop the plot & crank up the tension would have made it even better.
Know for setting entire stories in a single location Tales from the Darkside was very good at it, here the majority of the action takes place in a living room. The dolls themselves look suitably creepy & eerie but given more screen time they could have been even scarier. The acting is good from a decent cast.
The Geezenstacks almost achieves greatness but just misses the mark slightly, if the plot had been developed a bit better & the twist ending given a little bit more explanation then The Geezenstacks would have been great. As it is it's merely very good.
Episode 5 from season 3 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during October 1986, directed by Bill Tavis one has to report that The Geezenstacks is a nice creepy Twilgiht Zone styled episode. The script by Nancy Doyne probably could have been expanded to fill out a longer time slot & I personally think it would have benefited form that, as it is it's a cracking little story which sends the odd chill down ones spine but at only twenty minutes in length it's a bit rushed with a twist ending which initially feels great but when you actually think about it doesn't make that much sense. This could have been a great episode, as it is it's a very good one but a bit more time to develop the plot & crank up the tension would have made it even better.
Know for setting entire stories in a single location Tales from the Darkside was very good at it, here the majority of the action takes place in a living room. The dolls themselves look suitably creepy & eerie but given more screen time they could have been even scarier. The acting is good from a decent cast.
The Geezenstacks almost achieves greatness but just misses the mark slightly, if the plot had been developed a bit better & the twist ending given a little bit more explanation then The Geezenstacks would have been great. As it is it's merely very good.
One of the best.
shellytwade1 February 2022
Good lord is this episode great. Only if all the other episodes followed this template we could be onto a great overall show here. There's a subtlety that lingers in this one that is missing from most of the other episodes. Plus it's dealing with dolls which are always creepy.
creepy!!!
loricossette-200614 June 2020
Holy cow, this is one majorly creepy episode! I am a sucker for evil doll stories (see Trilogy of Terror, a film that scarred me for like) and this one delivers. Deliberately paced, well cast and the ending is a whopper! A must see!
Effectively quirky episode
Woodyanders14 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Sam Hummel (a solid performance by Craig Wasson) discovers that that whatever his daughter Audrey (adorable Lana Hirsch) does to a set of dolls that she calls the Geezenstacks in turn happens in real life to both himself and other people. Director Bill Travis, working from a crafty and unusual script by Nancy Doyle, relates the intriguing offbeat story at a steady pace, grounds the oddball premise in a believable everyday reality, and does a good job of creating a pretty unnerving off-center atmosphere. Moreover, the dolls are genuinely creepy, the shivery string score further enhances the spooky mood, and the surprise double twist ending rates as a real corker. A welcome and refreshing element of mystery helps a whole lot; there's no explanation provided for the bizarre events which occur throughout. Well acted and cleverly written, this one overall sizes up as another definite highlight from the third season.
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