Overview"Twilight Zone: The Movie" is a 1983 American science fiction horror anthology film that was influenced by the 1959-64 tv series produced by Rod Serling. The movie was a theatrical variation of the original TV series and included four segments which were directed by four different directors. These include; John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, and George Miller. The anthology movie was a mix of both dream and troubling truth, serving as both tribute to the tv series and a stand-alone cinema experience.
Main PlotThe motion picture includes a prologue and four distinct but horrific tales, each based upon an episode from the tv series. The beginning sees an unlucky motorist (Albert Brooks) and his guest (Dan Aykroyd) experiencing a frightening surprise. This sets the tone for the occurring stories.
In the first segment directed by Landis, a bigot named Bill Connor (Vic Morrow) discovers what it feels like to be maltreated by traveling through time and experiencing discrimination in different historical periods: as a Jew during Nazi Germany, a black guy throughout the KKK age, and a Vietnamese during the Vietnam War.
The 2nd sector, by Spielberg, includes Scatman Crothers as Mr. Bloom, a senior man who has an unique power to instill life and youth into a group of old people at a retirement community.
In Dante's sector, a young kid called Anthony (Jeremy Licht) has odd and unlimited powers that make people do as he wants, causing a chaotic and horrible life for his instructor Helen Foley (Kathleen Quinlan) who visits his home.
The concluding story from George Miller has to do with a nervous air tourist, John Valentine (John Lithgow), who becomes terrified after spotting a gremlin undermining the wing of his aircraft during a rainy flight.
Production and ReceptionProduced by Steven Spielberg and John Landis, "Twilight Zone: The Movie" included excellent special impacts and a star-studded cast that also consisted of Donna Dixon, Kevin McCarthy, and Nancy Cartwright. Its script was co-written by Richard Matheson, an acclaimed writer who penned numerous of the initial series' scripts.
Nevertheless, the film is significantly notorious for the terrible mishap that took place during the shooting of the very first segment, resulting in the deaths of star Vic Morrow and two child actors, when a helicopter crashed due to special results explosions.
Seriously, the movie got blended to favorable reviews. While some found it to be an attractive mix of horror and science fiction that showcased the distinct styles of its popular directors, others believed it did not capture the essence and effect of the original tv series. It was a moderate success at the box-office. Lithgow's frantic performance and Miller's segment were typically pointed out as the film's highlights.
Conclusion"Twilight Zone: The Movie" holds an unique location in film history, as a tribute to one of the most influential television series of all time, while also supplying a display for a few of the most identifiable directors of its age. Despite its tragic backstory and mixed reception, the film stays a significant part of the cinematic landscape and a must-watch for fans of the category and the initial series.
Top Cast
