Ep 14. Tormented

In season 4 episode 14 of Mystery Science Theater 3000, titled "Tormented," the crew of the Satellite of Love find themselves once again trapped in space and forced to watch a terrible B-movie. In this particular episode, they are subjected to the 1960 horror movie Tormented, directed by Bert I. Gordon.

The plot of Tormented centers around Tom Stewart, a jazz musician who is engaged to wealthy socialite Meg Arnold. When Tom breaks off the engagement to be with his old flame Vi Mason, Meg is devastated and threatens to reveal a dark secret from Tom's past. Tom and Vi retreat to a lighthouse on the coast, where they plan to start a new life together. However, Meg's revenge is far from over, and she soon comes back to haunt Tom, causing him to spiral into madness.

As always, the crew of the Satellite of Love provide running commentary on the movie, making fun of the bad acting, cheesy special effects, and nonsensical plot. Throughout the episode, they also engage in their usual antics, including creating puppet shows, singing songs, and making witty remarks about pop culture.

One of the highlights of this episode is the short film that precedes Tormented, titled "Speech: Using Your Voice." This educational short features a young boy who is struggling with his public speaking skills, and his guidance counselor helps him to improve by teaching him breathing exercises and vocal warm-ups. The crew of the Satellite of Love have a field day with this short, poking fun at the stilted dialogue and cheesy production values.

Another memorable moment comes near the end of the episode, when the crew creates their own version of Tormented's climactic scene using shadow puppets and props made from everyday objects. This hilarious skit showcases the crew's creativity and comedic timing, and serves as a reminder of why Mystery Science Theater 3000 has such a devoted cult following.

Overall, season 4 episode 14 of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a must-see for fans of the show's irreverent humor and love of bad movies. While Tormented may not be the most well-known B-movie in the MST3K canon, the crew's commentary and hijinks make it a memorable and entertaining episode.