TV.com

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

The Tale of the Twisted Claw

Season 1, Episode 4, Aired Sep 05, 1992

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

Episode Summary

EDIT

7.9

EPISODE RATING: Good

80 votes

Your Rating: 10

"Perfect"
Your Rating: 9.5

"Superb"
Your Rating: 9

"Superb"
Your Rating: 8.5

"Great"
Your Rating: 8

"Great"
Your Rating: 7.5

"Good"
Your Rating: 7

"Good"
Your Rating: 6.5

"Fair"
Your Rating: 6

"Fair"
Your Rating: 5.5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 4.5

"Poor"
Your Rating: 4

"Poor"
Your Rating: 3.5

"Bad"
Your Rating: 3

"Bad"
Your Rating: 2.5

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 2

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 1.5

"Abysmal"
Your Rating: 1

"Abysmal"

Rate Now!

One night, two friends, Dougie and Kevin, play a trick on an old woman who lives in a creepy house. On Halloween night, they trick or treat at her house, only to find that she has a special treat for them. They receive a magical twisted claw that can grant them three wishes apiece. However, they soon find out that the wishes come true but at a terrifying price.moreless

WRITE A REVIEW FAN RECAP

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

GUEST STAR
Erika Felix

Punk
GUEST STAR
Shane Leonard

Punk
GUEST STAR
Donny Lucas

Punk

Watch Online

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

See All

claw is so unoriginal

9.5

"Superb"

By nejihyuga21, Sep 22, 2008

Mischief night, you got me. Yeah! I loved this episode at the beginning the Phantom was so scary and I screamed as well. Ok, Kevin was sort of kind of like the adventurous guy yet Dougie was a bystander. They're like both so young and they still play pranks? Give me a break! At halloween, they have great costumes and Kevin just put the kids down. They're brave enough to go to Miss Clove's house. She gives them a claw and three wishes apiece. The gang was scary. Boston losing the race was so atypical. In the end, awaking from the dead and finally Dougie wishes everything never happen. Ah thank god. This makes a great Halloween show. Trick or Treat?moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
A claw that gives two boys three wishes each comes alive in this episode.

9.0

"Superb"

By Vampyr_raye666, Apr 30, 2007

This episode was a well written one but I felt like it was jsut there to be there. To me it had no point in the plot of the whoe show. It was infact a filler episode. I think that the writers couldnt think of another episode to do so they did a spin off of many other plots in other shows. It was well written so i give it a 9 outta ten.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
1 0

Flag
Share Hide
Two boys get a claw that allows for their wishes to come true.

9.5

"Superb"

By MadeInIreland23, Jun 26, 2006

This is based on the classic horror story The Monkey's Paw. The two boys get something every kid wants, so as a viewer you get behind them. You start wishing this would happen to you. Then when things start going horribly wrong, it makes you question yourself as well. The kid actors were fairly bad, but they didn't have too far to act in this one. Act happy, Act nervous, Act guilty, Act scared. Not too difficult. The script was one of the best for a kids show in the 90's, as it is in most episodes. This one is actually very scary and contains some pretty disturbing ideas. i.e. Dead bodies reanimated, Parents die in a car acident...moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
This one scared me to death when I was little!

10

"Perfect"

By LisaGansky, Jul 30, 2005

I will never forget this episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? It frightened both me and my sister! The twisted claw was really freaky looking.

I didn't like how Dougie and Kevin played a trick on the old lady... but I guess they got what they deserved. Definitely ultra creepy being aired on Halloween. I did really creep out my sister by clawing at her while we were watching, ha ha!

Would love to see this episode again. I wonder where I can find copies (DVD or video) of it. Would also love for Nickelodeon to re-air these episodes again. I really miss this series!moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
1 0

Flag
Share Hide

WRITE A REVIEW

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (4)
ADD TRIVIA
- Eric was initially the storyteller for this episode, but he can't think of an ending to his story, so David tells "The Tale of the Twisted Claw."
  EDIT SHARE
- This story is told by David.
  EDIT SHARE
- Ms. Clove claims that the claw comes from a vulture, a bird that is known for its penchant for death.
  EDIT SHARE
- When the boys are messing with the guy's car at the beginning, a voice yells out, "What are you doing? Go away," but there is no person saying it.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (4)
ADD QUOTES
- David: Kevin and Dougie were best friends, but Kevin was way more daring.
  EDIT SHARE
- Ms. Clove: Nonsense, you must take it. I won't take no for an answer.
  EDIT SHARE
- David: (Opening Line to Story) It was the night before Halloween. The night of tricks. The night they call Mischief Night...
  EDIT SHARE
- Kevin: I wish you would just lose your parents! (the twisted claw glows)
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (5)
ADD NOTES
- Though this episode is technically the Pilot, Frank's presence does not make sense without The Tale of the Phantom Cab. This is because "The Tale of the Phantom Cab" is Frank's initiation story, so he should not be in The Midnight Society at all until after that story has been told.
  EDIT SHARE
- In Canada, this episode aired as the pilot on October 31, 1991.
  EDIT SHARE
- The reason this episode is listed as the pilot episode, is because it is. It didn't air first because the network picked the show up before it reached the air. The Tale of the Phantom Cab was the first to air, but did not serve as the pilot that the creators pitched to the network.
  EDIT SHARE
- This is the second episode David told in a row, but Frank still hassles him for not telling a story in a long time. This means that the meetings we see aren't one right after another. The episodes skip over some of the meetings.
  EDIT SHARE
- The actress who played Ms. Clove, Ann Page, is the wife of Aron Tager, most likely known for his recurring role, as Dr. Vink.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (1)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- The Monkey's Paw
  
  "The Tale of the Twisted Claw" is based on the short story by W.W. Jacobs, "The Monkey's Paw".
  EDIT SHARE