Common Sense Media Review
By Elka Karl
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Pop star cameos can't elevate remake of creepy classic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
The second remake of the 1960s series, THE TWILIGHT ZONE (2002) skews towards a younger, teenage audience than the original, and features a number of actors who would later make it big, including Hayden Christensen, Portia De Rossi, Jeremy Piven, and Robin Tunney. Each 30-minute episode is a separate, self-contained narrative, similar to the original series' set-up. The only recurring character is host Forest Whitaker, who introduces and then concludes each episode. The majority of episodes feature new storylines, though there are some remakes of original episodes, including "The Monsters Are On Maple Street" and "The Eye of the Beholder."
Is It Any Good?
On its own, this sci-fi series fares reasonably well. The writing is solid, and constant cameos by famous or up-and-coming actors are definitely a fun touch, especially for a teen audience (Jessica Simpson guest starring as a babysitter paranoid about a doll collection is definitely entertaining). However, it's impossible not to compare this series to the original. To ask Forest Whitaker to step into Rod Serling's shoes is a difficult request, and the normally excellent actor is unconvincing as the new host in the updated version of the show. Also, the episodes aren't consistently good, and very few will pull at you for much longer than the time it takes you to watch them -- there's no similarly affecting image as that of the gremlin on the airplane wing from the original's "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet."
On the bright side, the writing is lively and imaginative, and viewers will be treated to television that will surprise with twist endings and impossible scenarios. But even though the series isn't terrible, viewers would be better served by watching the original Twilight Zone.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about imagination and fear. What do you find more scary, the violence in the series or the psychological elements? How can one's imagination create more fear than the actual situation?
Do you think the episodes contain lessons or are they purely for entertainment? What kinds of things do these episodes make you think about?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 18, 2002
- Cast : Forest Whitaker , Jeremy Piven , Olivia d'Abo
- Network : UPN
- Genre : Science Fiction
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate