Tragedy on Set of ’Twilight Zone: The Movie’ | Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

“You are about to enter another dimension." No, but it feels like that when it comes to safety in the film industry in the 1980's. The Twilight Zone was such a HUGE hit in popular culture, an anthology movie aptly titled Twilight Zone: The Movie started filming in 1982 and was released on June 24, 1983. “Time Out,” the first segment in the movie, was the subject of much controversy in Hollywood at the time, and for good reason: the production led to the deaths of three people during filming…and it was all caught on camera.

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Episode Sources:

“Deaths on Location: How the ‘Twilight Zone’ and ‘Midnight Rider’ Tragedies May Influence ‘Rust’ Prosecution” by Pat Saperstein, June 21, 2023, Variety

“Father of 6-Year-Old Testifies in Film Deaths Trial” by AP, October 1, 1986, The New York Times

“‘Twilight Zone: The Movie’ and the Deadly Accident That Plagued It by Jason Bailey, June 25, 2023, The New York Times

“Safety of Actors Cited by Witness” by Special to the New York Times, December 4, 1986, The New York Times

“Director Standing Trial for Deaths on Film Set” by Judith Cummings, July 23, 1986, The New York Times

“All 5 Acquited in 3 Deaths on Film Set” by Judith Cummings, May 30, 1987, The New York Times

“Around the Nation; ‘Twilight Zone’ Studio and 3 Others Pay Fines” by AP, June 28, 1983, The New York Times

“‘Twilight Zone’ Trial Ends in Acquittals” by Lloyd Grove, May 30, 1987, The Washington Post

“Settlements Reported in Two Families’ Civil Suits Over ‘Twilight Zone’ Deaths” by Paul Feldman, Jun 3, 1987, Los Angeles Times

“John Landis (I),” IMDb.com