I solely just lately realized that there’s a film primarily based on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, an iconic Disney attraction, within the works from producer Scarlett Johansson, who mentioned the mission’s standing whereas selling Jurassic World Rebirth. That is definitely attention-grabbing information to me, not simply as a fan of all issues spooky and the Disney films primarily based on theme park rides (nicely, Pirates of the Caribbean, specifically), but additionally as a fan of the unique Tower of Terror film.
If you weren’t conscious that the thrilling attraction – a drop tower experience set at a dilapidated Hollywood lodge with a defective elevator – had already impressed a movie, you may not be alone. In truth, it’s at present not even obtainable to stream with a Disney+ subscription, or wherever else, which I discover disappointing as a result of I actually imagine Tower of Terror is value a watch. Enable me to indicate you why, when you dare…
Tower Of Terror Is An Underrated Ghost Story
Premiering on October 26, 1997, as a part of ABC’s The Fantastic World of Disney collection, Tower of Terror stars Steve Guttenberg as a disgraced tabloid journalist who, alongside together with his niece (performed by Kirsten Dunst), investigates an incident through which 5 folks mysteriously disappeared whereas driving the notorious Hollywood Tower Resort’s elevator in 1939. It is later revealed that this can be a ghost story informed from the attitude of the ghosts, in some respects, after they uncover the deserted constructing is, certainly, haunted by the 5 victims who want our residing heroes’ assist to cross over.
I feel Guttenberg provides one among his finest performances right here, and future Academy Award nominee Dunst (who made her breakthrough with a real horror film basic, Interview with the Vampire) can also be robust alongside Melora Hardin in an important pre-Monk and The Workplace flip.
On high of the appearing, Tower of Terror is rooted in a genuinely intriguing supernatural thriller plot and affords some participating thrills that make this gem an ideal entry-level horror film for the entire household to like.
How I Would Adapt Tower Of Terror Into A New Movie
Scarlett Johansson informed Leisure Weekly, when requested about her Tower of Terror adaptation 4 years after the mission was introduced, that it has been a “onerous nut to crack,” however insists it’s “taking form.” Whereas I really feel that the unique made-for-TV adaptation nonetheless deserves extra love amid the event of this mission (which was stalled in 2023 by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes), I’m definitely open to the concept of bringing the attraction to the large display screen this time. I even have an concept for the way Johansson might successfully crack this nut.
The experience is impressed by The Twilight Zone, and even options narration by an animated Rod Serling. So, I feel, as a substitute of making an attempt to create an entire new story like the unique Tower of Terror film did efficiently, why not proceed to make use of the basic horror anthology TV present as inspiration (however with out breaching any copyright restrictions) and make it a horror anthology film?
Every phase might happen in a special room or period within the historical past of the Hollywood Tower Resort, main as much as a grand finale that makes the hazardous haunted elevator the main focus. Going from black-and-white to technicolor could be a further option to convey the present’s historical past into it, ought to the filmmakers be so inclined.
There aren’t sufficient not-so-scary horror films appropriate for youngsters that take the anthology route, and I imagine this could be a superb method of breaking the mould. If not, I want Johansson and co. luck in crafting a Tower of Terror film that lives as much as the anticipation, however I particularly hope it raises curiosity within the unique movie and that it returns to Disney+ someday quickly.