Our thanks to our Mysterious Listener and Patreon Supporter Carl for recommending this episode from the Listener Library, “Zero Hour” from Suspense! This adaptation of a story by Ray Bradbury features a strange children’s game called “invasion.” This game seems to have suddenly become an obsession of kids across the country, all working toward a particular deadline. Who is the mysterious Mr. Drill teaching this game to children? What will happen if children meet their deadline? Do you require a warning about the dangers of the Lindy Hop? Listen for yourself and find out! Then vote and let us know what you think!
Think about this if you ever relisten to the cinnamon bear
This story is intense and creepy as hell, all the way to the end—even creepier since children are involved—and that ending is really scary. No wonder people were freaked out by it back in the day, lol. This is the classic Martian invasion story with an interesting little twist
For some reason, I find the creepiest bit of this story to be the line “Peekaboo!” It’s somehow much more disturbing than it would have been with more conventional dialogue.
There was also an EC Comics adaptation in 1953, drawn by Jack Kamen, whose son invented the Segway. (That last fact has nothing to do with “Zero Hour”; I just felt like sharing it.)
Yippee! I’ve been waiting for this one for years… maybe even centuries.