'

Twonky

Play trailer

Twonky

1953

1h 12m

Sci-Fi

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

3 Reviews

19%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Kerry West (Hans Conried), a philosophy teacher at a university, acquires a new television. His wife, Carolyn (Janet Warren), goes on a trip, so he tests it out alone, only to discover that it has unexpected powers. The television, nicknamed "Twonky," is capable of performing an array of tasks -- from vacuuming to producing money -- but is equally adept at mind control and physical violence. Despite efforts from the police and the football team, Twonky begins to take over.

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…Arch Oboler’s dated, often wayward yet surprisingly on the money satire is worth looking at for Luddites and technology embracers alike…

Rated: 3/5

Nov 26, 2023

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Some films are so moronic that even seeing is not believing how foolish they are.

Rated: D

Apr 20, 2009

Full Review

Shane Burridge

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Would have made an ideal hour-long episode for Rod Serling's Twilight Zone.

Oct 27, 2003

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

All the characters are played as very broad, cardboard creatures, most even adopting wacky accents or styles of speech. It is a ham-handed slap at television and how it could control our lives. Conried, like always, chewed up the scenery. But, as an actor he was not built to carry a whole show by himself. Lastly, the music and sound effects were annoyingly obtrusive. They could have toned that way, way down. IF they had a serious message to relay, the quashed it with the children's television sound effects and practical effects. I doubt this is worth a re-viewing if you already saw it before.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/11/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Not much to look at, think Blobbo.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/11/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Not very funny comedy about Hans Conried, best know as the voice of Captain Hook, and his misadventures involving a television that becomes possessed by a spirit. The TV becomes mobile and sentient and then begins taking over his life. This probably could have been a funny half-hour episode of "The Twilight Zome" but even at 72 minutes it felt overlong and not all that funny or clever. Conried is probably the only reason to watch this film.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Completely entertaining 1950s piece on the horrors of television (a new and growing medium of which the film industry was terrified). It's all very silly but a great time capsule and a look into recent history. Best to catch it on TCM some late night preferably after a few drinks and/or smokes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Twonky is a very strange and humorous little film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

a very foolish and moronic pic-don't bother

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Arch Oboler

Director

Hans Conried

Kerry West

Gloria Blondell

Lady Bill Collector

William H. Lynn

Coach Trout

Trilby Conried

Baby

Janet Warren

Carolyn West

View more photos

Synopsis

Kerry West (Hans Conried), a philosophy teacher at a university, acquires a new television. His wife, Carolyn (Janet Warren), goes on a trip, so he tests it out alone, only to discover that it has unexpected powers. The television, nicknamed "Twonky," is capable of performing an array of tasks -- from vacuuming to producing money -- but is equally adept at mind control and physical violence. Despite efforts from the police and the football team, Twonky begins to take over.

Director: Arch Oboler
Producer: Arch Oboler
Screenwriter: Arch Oboler
Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 12m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)