In the newest episode of NBC’s horror anthology series, FEAR ITSELF, directed by Ronny Yu (“Freddy versus Jason” & “Bride of Chucky”) feels more like how this series should be going. I’ve commented previously on how average the first episode was and how much better the second one was, so I’m happy to report the third episode is another step in the right direction.

“Family Man” is about a typical American family and a brutal killer of families. The family is a church going, father knows best, good old fashion conservative family and again typical the killer is a minority, Mexican (played by a typed casted Clifton Collins Jr.), and is charged up the ying-yang with 26 homicides. I was beginning to dislike this episode off the start; it was an obvious set-up, filled with conveniences and stereotypes. Naturally, the father (Colin Ferguson) and the killer switch bodies. It’s all played out with an obvious (seen a mile away) twist ending, typical “I’m not him!” banter, but in the end I liked it, despite its familiarity.

Why? Well, it felt like an episode from “Tales from the Crypt”, which is, to me, the definitive horror anthology show. While that show got many of its stories from the great EC comics, they character’s were written in broad strokes, with obvious set-ups and the twist ending. Likewise, this episode plays much like that. There’s a creepy sequence in which the father, now in the killer’s body, dreams about his daughter’s recital. She’s cute as a button as she dressed up as a bumble bee, singing a song about being a bee and squishing a bee in her hands. Being a dream, it goes bonkers and gets bloody. I credit Ronny Yu for the bizarre, bloody imagery. His work in “Freddy versus Jason” is echoed here in many sequences.

The twist ending is quite telegraphed, especially if you’re a vet to the genre. Oh well, people, this show is finally finding its footing with back-to-back good episodes and next week’s episode is directed by John Landis (“American Werewolf in London” & “Blues Brothers”)!! Can’t wait, but on a side note about the series, I do wish they get more scary as these episodes don’t exactly put fear into me like “Tales from the Crypt” did. Maybe soon…oh, is that opening theme song bothering anyone yet? “La-la-laaa-la-laa-la”…grrrr