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Recap and Review: ‘Twilight Zone’ Puts a New Twist on ‘Nightmare At 30,000 Feet’ [SPOILERS]

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It may be the most iconic episode of the original series The Twilight Zone. It was called “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” back then, and William Shatner starred as a man recovering from a nervous breakdown on a flight back home with his wife after six months recovering in a hospital.

He is markedly nervous as the plane takes off, and even more so, when he begins seeing a creature on the wing of the aircraft inflicting damage to the plane.

That original story, written by I Am Legend scribe Richard Matheson, became synonymous with the original series and was not only remade for The Twilight Zone: The Movie but it has been parodied, spoofed, and paid homage to more times than we could count.

Perhaps it was only natural, then, that when a new version of The Twilight Zone went into development for CBS All Access, the writers decided to bring a new adaptation to the screen.

To reiterate, this will be a spoiler heavy discussion of this episode. If you have not seen it and want to avoid spoilers, turn back now.

As the new version, “Nightmare at 30,000 Feet” opens, Justin Sanderson (Adam Scott), an investigative journalist, is at the airport preparing for a flight overseas. As he walks through the airport, he speaks to his worried wife on the phone. It becomes clear that he has not been in the best mental health after recent assignments to war torn regions of the world, and she wonders if he’s ready for this trip.

After multiple assurances that he will be fine, none of which she seems to believe, he hangs up and heads into a shop in the airport where he meets a mysterious man name Joe (Chris Diamontopoulos) who recognizes him and asks for an autograph. They chat for a few minutes before Justin heads to his gate to catch his flight.

It could be any flight on any given day anywhere in the world, but this is The Twilight Zone and we know that normal won’t last long.

Upon boarding the plane, Justin finds that Joe is on board. He also finds, as he settles into his seat and turns on a podcast to pass the time, that the very flight he’s on will disappear in a matter of hours.

As more of the podcast’s “known facts” become a reality around him, Justin becomes increasingly wary of his fellow travelers and the bane of flight attendants, pilots, and air marshals alike as his outbursts and accusations become more harried and pointed.

That original episode back in 1964 was interesting study of the way that we view and treat mental illness in America. Psychology and psychiatry were very different 60 years ago, all things considered, and the stigma that hangs over mental illness today was amplified 100 fold then.

What was interesting about Serling’s story was in the end, Shatner’s character would be vindicated. There was indeed damage to the plane. I like to think that, knowing what we do now of Serling’s own mental health issues, he made that episode specifically to combat some of that stigma.

I’m not entirely sure the writers fully thought through what the focus of their story was going to be in the modern iteration.

As Justin descends deeper into the idea that the podcast was sort of gifted to him to prevent the plane from disappearing, his one confidante becomes Joe. Joe believes him, and Joe doesn’t want to disappear either.

That’s where the real complication of “Nightmare at 30,000 Feet” begins. On the surface, we see a debate between free will and fate. If Justin has this knowledge, surely he is meant to stop the plane from disappearing.

There’s one glaring issue here, however, because upon a second viewing I noticed that no one seems to interact with Joe other than Justin.

Joe reassures Justin that everything he is thinking and feeling is correct. He urges Justin to keep digging and searching to find the culprits who will ultimately…do whatever it is that they will do to make the plane disappear. That part is never entirely clear.

So, from what we’re seeing Joe could very well be a manifestation of Justin’s illness, a hallucinatory encouraging angel on his shoulder helping him make decisions.

But we can’t forget the podcast which supplies Justin with information that he had no way of knowing previously.

For example, there’s a Russian man on board who has ties to the mob and turned on them. Surely, they’d love it if he disappeared.

Are you confused yet?

Believe me when I say this episode is dense. There’s a lot to unpack, and for me, it took a couple of viewings to know how I felt about it. Personally, I love the complexity. I love that a lot of the story is open to interpretation.

And then there’s the last five minutes.

So, long story, short…Is it too late for that?!

The plane disappears off the map after the machinations of Joe and Justin’s complicity. Justin wakes, washed up on a beach, and surveys the wreckage around him. When he notices another survivor and another and another, his first reaction is relief.

Then he notices how they’re looking at him. They know he’s the reason they’ve crashed. He spies his MP3 player and rushes to grab it up, and begins the next episode, only to discover that the survivors will be found…all of them except him.

What happens next is akin to the primal justice of Lord of the Flies, and ultimately, the  interpretation of the preceding events of the episode colors how the ending plays to me.

IF, in fact this is an exploration of fate vs. free will, then this is almost like cosmic justice, and there’s really no more to be read into it.

If, however, you fall on the side of the whole episode being triggered by Justin’s mental illness, then you have a rather bold statement about how the world reacts to this issue. How people are punished for ailments they cannot control.

Oh and by the way, I didn’t see Joe anywhere on that island among the survivors…

Overall, the episode is rich and plays well. Scott gives a top notch performance as Justin, and there are subtle nods to the previous incarnations of this story, particularly in that the pilot’s last name is Donner. Richard Donner directed “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” all those years ago.

You can watch “Nightmare at 30,000 Feet” today on CBS All Access, and I encourage you to see it for yourself!

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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