For example, why is James compelled to visit little William Morton’s grave? What causes a peaceful Rottweiler to become a rabid beast? And how could all of Mr. Morton’s lab bunnies have been viciously slaughtered?

The answer, of course, is the wrath of a vengeful child spirit!

Compared to the first three strong entries, Growing Pains is truly an anomaly for Hammer House of Horror, but one in the best head-shaking (and scratching) tradition.

This episode feels inspired by the best and wackiest supernatural Italian films of the time. We have all the tried and true ingredients: weird children, animals gone wild, bodily possession, and wonky line deliveries that typically occur only through the benefit of dubbing.

Any kind of review for this strange episode would only turn into a laundry list of its bizarre choices: Mr. Morton yelling at his son’s ghost to give him his plant back; a stuffed bunny toy spilling very real innards; the rationalization that William’s spirit is returning because the LSD-like powder he ate induced a trance in him at the time of death; and on and on.

Definitely the episode to turn on in the company of friends—and for the extra adventurous, to create a drinking game based on how many times Mrs. Morton snaps at little James.