The Twilight Zone has withstood the test of time so effectively because its core theme centers on the human condition, with this theme constantly present regardless of each individual episode’s time or place. Each narrative forces the viewer to confront what it means to be human, and a feeling is created, one that is difficult to describe and even harder to replicate. However, the recent sci-fi paragon The Man From Earth felt plucked straight out of the successful anthology series.
The movie was written by Jerome Bixby in the 1960s, with Bixby also penning an episode of The Twilight Zone. However, it wasn’t until the 2000s that the provocative feature came to fruition. The Man From Earth is isolated in its setting, with only a small cast and a singular location. This means it structurally feels akin to a stage play, and all the exposition and emotion must be told through the dialogue. Luckily, the movie had the likes of horror legend Tony Todd, David Lee Smith, and Richard Riehle at the top of their game, making each line delivery hit like a gut-punch. The Man From Earth may be simple in concept, but it stretches its idea to the extremities to stimulate the mind as much as any movie will do.
What Is ‘The Man From Earth’ About?
The Man From Earth sees John Oldman (Smith) call together his colleagues for a farewell party at his house. Each of his guests is a fellow academic, all experts in various fields and studying a different facet of humanity, such as biology, archaeology, and religion. John appears to be fairly young, in his mid-30s, so the group are surprised to see him go, but he explains that this is just the way he lives. However, the real reason he has gathered this eclectic group is that he believes they are the perfect pool of individuals to reveal his true identity due to their extensive and diverse knowledge.
Once he has got everyone together, John reveals that he is actually 14,000 years old, and he has to leave every job once people begin to realize he doesn’t age. At first, everyone is completely against the possibility, as it goes against their academic backgrounds. However, having this cast of characters encourages the dialogue to be rich and purposefully counteractive. Therefore, they enjoy the hypothetical nature of the situation and are open to discussing it as though it is a reality, even if they don’t believe it can be. Through this, the dialogue is stimulating and never simplified for the audience’s sake; allowing viewers truly feel like a fly on the wall in a densely fascinating discussion.
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‘The Man From Earth’ Redefines the Genre of Sci-Fi
When John reveals his true identity, he is aware that the group have an over-reliance on science and reason, which will cause a barrier to their belief. However, this wall is always foundational to science fiction, which often feels rooted in “the how” rather than “the why.” The Man From Earth uses this technique to offer an integration of the genre it belongs to. There are no technological systems or genetic mutation; John simply just is, and the group (and consequently the audience) can either choose to accept that or not.
Tony Todd is given a number of monologues within the script that carry the weight of how John’s confession fractures the fundamentals of human existence. At one point, John shatters the illusion of religion by claiming that he founded Christianity from Buddhist teachings, and he is actually Jesus. He offers logical explanations to pieces of history that are often difficult to understand. However, the group is mixed, as his individual stories may feel sensical, but his overarching narrative is not. Todd’s performance is the most secure throughout the chaos of the conversation, which evidences that the character is the closest to believing John.
The Man From Earth isn’t just a thought experiment, it is a total reframing of history, tracking from prehistoric times to modern day. Despite its vast ideas, it remains grounded through relevant conversations, from survivors’ guilt to the weight of mortality. It never tries to be more than it is. Instead, it is merely a conversation among friends. Managing to replicate that discomfort and marvel of The Twilight Zone makes it stand out amongst the noisy world of film and allows it to reward viewers who are inquisitive.