![]() ![]() Rather brilliantly, the protagonist gets caught in a situation where she’s frozen time to avoid the bomb that’s about to drop, but it forces her to stay frozen because if she does resume things she’ll doom the world. One of the strongest elements about this entry is how it begins to seed the topic of nuclear fallout so that when it dominates the final act it doesn’t feel like a sudden development. This one features an overstressed mom with too much on her plate who can stop and resume time with the help of a necklace. Time freezing stories are plentiful throughout The Twilight Zone. The effect when one of the Nubbins becomes more of a “Shadow” is also a subtle, but helpful and creepy touch.ĭirected by Wes Craven Written by James Crocker Craven makes this all feel deliciously ‘80s, especially with the pan flute-happy soundtrack. The bleak ending makes a strong statement since it’s the first installment of the ‘80s Twilight Zone.īruce Willis does exceptional work in the episode as both takes on Nubbins, and it’s from a time in his career where he actually cares about his performance. It examines the process of how a man can become a shadow and when the self splits in half, but it does so in a literal manner. The story approaches the concept from a unique perspective that almost functions like a dark riff on “The Prince and the Pauper.” As the two versions of the same man switch lives, they begin to understand the human condition, how important decisions are, and a successful man gets completely destroyed and reduced to trash. At the same time, it’s also an uplifting conclusion because it shows the perseverance of man and how he wants to fit in here rather than just give up.ĭirected by Wes Craven Based on the Short Story by Harlan Ellison Teleplay by Alan BrennertĬuriously, a lot of Wes Craven’s Twilight Zone entries are about duality and sometimes even literal doppelgangers in more than one occasion, but “Shatterday” is certainly the most striking example. This problem doesn’t get solved, but rather he’s just forced to adapt to it. The episode’s ending is so damn good and pretty much turns into a variation on Dogtooth. It’s particularly grueling when he prays to God and worries if this Higher Power can even understand what he’s saying. Eventually his “regular” sentences don’t get through to anyone and he can’t accomplish anything. It’s also just fantastic to watch this guy flip out and say “dinosaur” about a dozen times in ten seconds. The salesman slowly gets frustrated as he thinks everyone is just using stupid new slang at first. The episode’s premise comes in slowly and subtly, where it seems like people just have mental slip-ups, but then “Wordplay” moves into overdrive. More: The Twilight Zone: Comparing Every Nightmare at 20,000 Feet The story takes that stress and then extends it to the entire human language. People say things like, “She’s gonna be here in five minutes and I can’t think of any place to dinosaur.” “Anniversaries” become “throw rugs,” “dogs” are now “encyclopedias.” It’s also smart that this dilemma is prompted by a salesman who is overwhelmed by the names of all of the complicated new products that he has to learn. “Wordplay” features a bonkers concept where a salesman goes crazy after everyone else in the world starts speaking English in a jumbled order. Directed by Wes Craven Written by Rockne S. ![]()
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