The Ray Bradbury Theater (TV Series) The Wind (1989) User Reviews

Everyone Knows It's Windy!

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 27 March 2015]

This is right out of the "don't mess with nature" ouevre. Michael Sarazen plays a man who has made the study of the wind his life's work. in the process, he has discovered the secrets of this force of nature. He knows that the wind is more than a natural reaction to changes in temperature and pressure. It is a monster with an intellect that knows he knows and makes his life miserable. He lives in a lonely house and has been labeled an eccentric by the few friends he has. So when he reaches out, people believe he is off his rocker. One night, the wind launches a full frontal attack on the guy and the results are actually sort of comedic. Sarazen made a career of playing odd characters (I think it is that wide forehead and those piercing eyes). This is one of the Bradbury stories that is just a bit lacking.

"It's like a great big shuffling hound!"

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 12 January 2022]

John Colt (Michael Sarrazin) is a meteorologist specializing in the study of wind formation, who suddenly begins experiencing an evil intent in the weather outside. He traces his bad fortune to a mountain in Tibet, where he discovered 'hundreds' of winds causing devastation, and now feels that those same winds are seeking him out in retribution for knowing their secrets. It seemed like a flimsy premise for a 'Tale of the Unexpected', but it's played out in a manner consistent with the series, as John's retreat into the basement of his home finds him fashioning a noose to escape whatever fate the wind holds for him. How could that have possibly been better? To add another layer of credibility to the story, a nearby neighbor (Ray Henwood) calls on Colt in response to his troubling phone calls, and only encounters John's voice trailing on an errant breeze.

ZERO out of ten.

[joegarbled-79482 · 1/10 · 6 July 2023]

I might recommend this piece of garbage to my worst enemy but I'm not totally sure I could live with myself afterwards. Watching paint dry for 25mins takes on a tinge of "entertainment value" (as they used to call it on Derek Hobson's "New Faces") when compared to this aimless drool. We get different wind noises, rustling branches, broken windows but none of the excitement/terror created during videos featuring crazy people who "chase" every tornado going.

I think the wooden Michael Sarazen was well matched to this NOTHING "story", it'd only be an even greater crime had a decent actor's talents been wasted on this pointless drool. I really can't think of even one redeeming aspect, maybe if you can fall asleep to the sounds of wind machines?? It's not worthy of even one star.

This is the kind of rotten episode that you try to bury in the middle of a season, like hiding badly burnt toast under a larger portion of baked beans. Bradbury was capable of the truly macabre to the truly beautiful ("The Coffin" & "The Lake") but like Rod Serling, he gave birth to the odd clunker, and compared to Serling, did so, seemingly more often.

Near perfect example of the TV anthology form

[lyhue-w · 9/10 · 3 March 2019]

Somewhat typical Bradbury, "The Wind". The story takes place in yet another parallel universe of our world circa late 1980s. This time, there is an evil wind that is driving a man insane in his own home. The wind's attacks on the man grow with intensity until something horrible happens. No time is wasted explaining why this man was targeted by the demon wind. The episode ends suddenly, without answering every question in the viewer's imagination. Great short form, vintage television anthology series and, I believe, one of the better episodes.

The premise might have worked, but the script is rubbish.

[fedor8 · 20 May 2022]

A climatologist discovers the secret of winds while on a mission to Tibet, and is later haunted by winds that want to dispose of him (or steal his intellect or some such malarkey).

The premise of sentient winds having a "secret society" of sorts is quite promising, despite its loony silliness. Unfortunately, the plot is very thin hence stretched out, the lead actor is dull, and the ending is unconvincing. Him being driven to suicide seems over-the-top dramatic, doesn't quite make sense. Bradbury didn't give us enough reason to believe that he was desperate enough to kill himself.