Twilight Zone , a movie in four segments, takes us back to Rod Serling's television dimension where things are not what they seem and fate is full of devious twists and turns.
Following a whimsical opening featuring Dan Aykroyd and Albert Brooks, John Landis directs a tale starring Vic Morrow as a bigot who learns what prejudice really means. His instructors: German Nazis, Ku Klux Klansmen and soldiers in Vietnam.
Steven Spielberg's humanism and light cinematic touch shine through in the second story. Scatman Crothers magically transports residents of an old folks home into the wondrous world of childhood. The film offers some interesting observations about elderly people.
Joe Dante directs the third segment which is centered around the demonic exploits of a young boy (Jeremy Licht) who has strange psychic powers. Kathleen Quinlan is a traveler who helps this troubled kid turn his gifts to better use. The surreal dimensions of this portrait warp the tale.
George Miller's expert sense of pace and expressionistic understanding of paranoia combine to make the final segment the best one. John Lithgow plays a panic-stricken airline passenger who is convinced that a monster is tearing apart the plane's wing. This psychological profile is in perfect sync with Rod Serling's unique blend of commonplace and the extraordinary. It is right on target.