Twilight Zone: The Movie Movie Review

Four horrific tales are anthologized in this film as a tribute to Rod Sterling and his popular television series. Three of the episodes are based on classic Twilight Zone scripts. “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” is the most genuinely chilling of the group, effectively reworking the original tale of a monster glimpsed on the wing of a plane. “It's a Good Life,” the story of a malevolent little boy gifted with supernatural powers, gets a bit too cartoony in places (but does feature an amusing cameo by Billy Mumy, who played the little boy in the original TV episode). “Kick the Can” is an icky-sweet tale of senior citizens who briefly regain their lost childhoods. The fourth story is a well-meaning but rather predictable blast at racism. Actor Vic Morrow was killed in a helicopter crash during filming of this episode. All in all, this Zone is somewhat uneven, but still a strong effort, thanks to some fine actors and directors.

1983 (PG) 101m/C Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Vic Morrow, Kathleen Quinlan, John Lithgow, Scatman Crothers, Kevin McCarthy, Bill Quinn, Selma Diamond, Abbe Lane, John Larroquette, Jeremy Licht, Patricia Barry, William Schallert, Burgess Meredith, Cherie Currie; Cameos: Billy Mumy; D: John Landis, Steven Spielberg, George Miller, Joe Dante; W: John Landis; M: Jerry Goldsmith. VHS, Beta, LV WAR