Nerds That Geek Movie Review – ‘Twilight Zone: The Movie’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

I think it is safe to say that every geek/nerd out there, can easily pinpoint what shows and movies helped them become the geek/nerd they are today, and one of the many stories that I grew up with that did that for me, that I try to revisit as often as possible, is The Twilight Zone. Because this unique series broke ground when it first arrived on the scene, offering up unique perspective on our society and our world, and this is a series that often stayed with you long after an episode came to an end thanks to all of the fascinating ideas it sent our way. In fact, I would venture to say that this series is one of the big reasons that social commentary found its way into pop culture since so many episodes focused on parts of our world that we weren’t discussing enough at the time.
 
If anything, this particular series is back on my mind once again, simply because it’s about to see itself reborn on CBS All Access in a few weeks when Jordan Peele’s iteration of the show premieres. And as we grow closer to that all-important premiere, I find myself revisiting old episodes of the show, and this need to consume as many of these incredible stories as possible, has also motivated me to dust off the Blu-Ray that I own of the motion picture version of this franchise that hit the silver screens back in 1983. Because, Twilight Zone: The Movie, is a film that is special to me on several levels, in large part due to the fact that I saw it the instant it arrived on Home Video back in the day, giving me a chance to consume a big budget version of the show in my own home, but also because…it’s one of the finest collections of Twilight Zone stories out there.
 
After all, this particular film stays true to the spirt of the franchise, by offering up stories that feature the fantastical, like ‘It’s a Good Life’, since that segment features a psychic boy who can conjure anything he imagines at will. And the movie is also able to address problems in our modern world since ‘Time Out’, takes a good long look at Racism in America by way of a man named Bill Connor, who is forced to understand the plight of minorities throughout history because of his own issues with people who are slightly different than him and well, this is indeed a segment that gives one pause because it’s a little terrifying how little has changed when it comes to people like Bill…

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​However, all of that aside, there are really two segments that instantly ignite joy in my heart when they come on since they remain so special in their own magical way, and the first one I truly adore is ‘Kick the Can’, which is a remake of an episode of the series, but putting Steven Spielberg at the helm of a story involving old people wishing to be young again ups the ante in ways one never thought possible. For at this point in his career, Spielberg was a master of stories that involved the magic and wonder of youth, so who better than Steven to helm a story that focused heavily on staying young at heart and appreciating the moment since it will never come again. 
 
But for me, the true masterpiece of this anthology, is the remake of ‘Nightmare at 20,000 Feet’, in large part due to the fact that this story is one of the first Twilight Zone stories I ever had the pleasure of watching and also because, John Lithgow sells this sucker like no other. I mean seriously, you really do believe the terror oozing from him once he discovers the strange little gremlin hanging out on the wing of the plane and really, this vignette is a master class in horror themed storytelling when all is said and done, simply due to how well its paced, and the sheer sense of claustrophobia this tale provides the audience with, since the walls seemingly begin to close in as the nightmare continues to grow…
 
If anything, this movie is just a delight. It captures the spirit of the show, it makes you laugh, it makes you jump, and it is the kind of anthology that I’m more than happy to watch over and over again, simply because I find something new every time, I put it in. Plus, there’s an added bonus to this film in that, you’ll find some other big names featured throughout the various stories, including Dan Aykroyd and Albert Brooks in the most memorable wraparound story out there, one that answers an important question in unsettling fashion and if by chance you haven’t seen this one yet, please do. It’s just an incredibly fun ride, and if you’re like me, and you’re needing your fix before the new series arrives, this is a movie that will definitely help to satisfy your hunger…

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