Image from io9
Back in the mid-1980s, there was a resurgence of interest in anthology horror and sci-fi programs. Among the offerings were programs like Amazing Stories (produced by Stephen Spielberg), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (a remake, using old footage of the late director, colorized), Tales from the Darkside (a cheapie) Monsters (another cheapie) and The Twilight Zone (another remake). And that was just a little before HBO's Tales from the Crypt. All had stellar episodes, and I was in geek heaven
I only recently tossed a couple dozen VHS tapes containing countless episodes from most of the above shows. I'd taped them when they originally aired. Watching them could be kind of fun, seeing the original commercials, news breaks, and the like. But the sound started getting choppy, the picture quality was never top notch in the first place, and, well who uses VCRs anymore?
One of the short stories from The Twilight Zone that still stands out in my mind is one from 1986, "Button, Button," starring Mare Winningham and Brad Davis. The story revolves around a couple given a box with a domed cover, and a red push button inside. The man who gives it to them says that they have 24 hours to decide whether or not to push the button. If they do, they get a million dollars. But there's a catch: if they push it someone will die. Someone they don't know, but someone. The rest of the story revolves around their choice. It's a higher stakes version of Indecent Proposal. And there's a neat little "a-ha!" stinger at the end that I'll never forget.
Well, somebody got it in their head to turn this neat little story into a full-fledged Hollywood feature, The Box. But unless they've grafted a whole B-story onto this puppy, there just isn't enough there there for a whole film. I like the cast though, Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella, the latter two co-stars from Superman Returns. Still, since I already know the "twist" ending, I'm not sure what this film would have to offer.
I only recently tossed a couple dozen VHS tapes containing countless episodes from most of the above shows. I'd taped them when they originally aired. Watching them could be kind of fun, seeing the original commercials, news breaks, and the like. But the sound started getting choppy, the picture quality was never top notch in the first place, and, well who uses VCRs anymore?
One of the short stories from The Twilight Zone that still stands out in my mind is one from 1986, "Button, Button," starring Mare Winningham and Brad Davis. The story revolves around a couple given a box with a domed cover, and a red push button inside. The man who gives it to them says that they have 24 hours to decide whether or not to push the button. If they do, they get a million dollars. But there's a catch: if they push it someone will die. Someone they don't know, but someone. The rest of the story revolves around their choice. It's a higher stakes version of Indecent Proposal. And there's a neat little "a-ha!" stinger at the end that I'll never forget.
Well, somebody got it in their head to turn this neat little story into a full-fledged Hollywood feature, The Box. But unless they've grafted a whole B-story onto this puppy, there just isn't enough there there for a whole film. I like the cast though, Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella, the latter two co-stars from Superman Returns. Still, since I already know the "twist" ending, I'm not sure what this film would have to offer.
