Exploring Nightfall - Very, very loosely based on the Isaac Asimov short story 

They completely misunderstood the ending of the story. The people were afraid of the dark, but the REAL fear was seeing stars for the first time in their (recorded) history. Their culture believed that either there were only the suns in their own system, or maybe a few dozen at maximum. When they see all the stars in the sky they are crushed by the scale of the universe and their own insignificance.

"I was expecting monsters after the sun went down" So ... Pitch Black.

5:28-5:58 I just want to remind people that Star Wars, Star Trek, & 2001:A Space Odyssey had been out for over 10 years at this point. That was just a baffling thought process to have in the late 80's.

the early draft of Pitch Black was also called Night Fall. The movie takes place on a planet with perpetual sunlight. And when an eclipse happens, creatures spawn from the ground to devour everything they come in contact with.

Asimov is 90% sideburns, 10% man and 100% genius.

The story is a very underrated cosmic horror story. It didn't even need an eldritich abomination just the fear of the unknown was good enough

asimov: original stories, epic mutton chops, nuff said

I hate to say it, but it sounds like the director completely misunderstood the short story. The high concept is really about the human-analogues being confronted with something they've never had to prepare or compensate for, and their total inability to adapt at a societal level. Why invent lights when you're always bathed in sunlight? The horror it speaks to, is in the things we take for granted every day- suddenly being removed from us.

Babe wake up, new goodbadflicks video

I recently started the "Science Fiction Hall of Fame" collection. Like the vid says, "Nightfall" was among the early stories - I'd never actually read it before. The most astonishing thing about it was how sophisticated it seemed compared to many of the other sci-fi stories of the time. Asimov really does deserve his reputation.

I started reading Asimov as a kid in the 80s. Obsessively. I discovered the movie in the 90s. I hated it, of course, because of how much it divurged from the story I was familiar with. Today I learned it is Corman-adjacent. I may have to give it another chance.

I'm curious if Asimov was willing to write the script if they would have really hired him in the end. Roger Corman is notoriously frugal and I can't imagine Asimov would come cheap at that point in his career.

The trouble with remakes is that everyone wants to remake the good movies, but all you can ever hope for is to be almost as good. Nobody wants to remake the bad movies that might have had a good idea to them, but just didn't work.

Hey people, how about that movie "Pitch black" with Vin Diesel, its absolutely based in this line of narrative.

Great job on the episode, Cecil. When it comes to science fiction stories, there's always that budgetary restrictions for film and the metaphysical themes, which can be boring. I still love how a lot of sci-fi filmmakers from the 1970's and 80's were doing their best to bring these intriguing stories to theaters. They didn't always work, but for me, it gave me ideas about what books and authors to look for.

Honestly you are my all time favorite content creator, you've created such a passion for film in me. I'm currently working on a spiritual successor to Waxworks and can not wait to show you my work man. Love your stuff and keep killing it!

0:24 When he grew old he did so much science that an arm grew out of his ear.

Great job as always Cecil 👍🏼👌🏼✌🏼hope you, family and friends are all doing safe and well Our discord notification was way faster than the RU-vid notification for this by the way 😄

Roger Corman needs a movie made about him he's a unique figure in film history also Lawnmower Man is the furthest you can get from the source material so much so Stephen King sued to get his name removed then sued again when the VHS tapes still had his name on it he may hate Stanley Kubrick's The Shinning but he Loathes Lawnmower Man

Great job as always Cecil, love every video in your exploring series. The behind the scenes always helps with the insight of how to overcome problems in filming.

I don't remember if I told you that I love the new opening. I know its not new anymore but I still love it.

Connection between the original "The Prisoner" TV series and this film,- Alexis Kanner, who played the young, sort of hippie, dissident Villager in the series' last episode, "Fall Out". He and Patrick McGoohan later made a film in Canada together in the mid-'80's.

really enjoy this channel, keep up the great work team GoodBadFlicks

Nightfall is a great story, full of "fear of the unknown" and helplessness. Sudden, shocking change driving people to insanity.

Love your work, especially the longer form 'deep dives'.

Thank you for another well researched and narrated episode.

Rip Isaac Asimov the man who gave use the 3 rules of robotics

Really love the new beginning to the videos man! I mean, I miss the jarring intro, but the new intro is just so chill and nice!

Nice work as usual mate.

Nightfall is the best sci-fi short story of all time. Reading Asimov as a kid was my introduction to sci-fi. He had me at Foundation.

I can now never think of David Carradine without thinking about his death. But damn that man could act.

Thank you for another great video.

This is fascinating. I'd read the full novel as a kid and always thought it would make a fantastic movie. I need to check out this adaptation of the short.

This video was amazing thanks Cecil

Good morning dude, hope you’re Monday is going great. Thank you for another great video.

Always fascinating and obscure!

just in time....:) thanks for the upload Cecil !

great video as always. thanks

I just searched for this movie on the same day you posted the video. Thank you for making this.

Holy shit July Corman was hit AF In that pic.

Another great video.

I miss good bad flicks. Enjoyed this video too, of course. Wishing you all the best.

TBH the premise of Nightfall would've made a great South Park episode.

You should do a video on the island of dr moreau 1996 + the documentary the storys behind that are beyond insane 😳

Thank you for the content.

Holy crap, I need to find this. I had no idea it even existed. Thanks!

Your comments at the end about remakes really hit home. I remember thinking I would love to see Assault on Precinct 13 re-done by John Woo and then the actual remake sucked which was so disappointing. Then there was a French remake (not 100% sure of the name, maybe "The Nest"?) that was absolutely incredible. I watched it without knowing the backstory and while watching experienced a wonderful slow burn revelation that was like "this reminds me of the original Precinct 13... then 25 minutes later... actually this scene does too, is this an homage?... then at the end... damn this whole movie was an unnamed remake and it's awesome!" It was like when I saw Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis - I was a huge Yojimbo/Fistful of Dollars fan, so I enjoyed that movie a ton more than my friends who went with me because I knew what they for going for and felt like they delivered.

Mooom, Daaad come quick! Cecil is posting again!

I love how the poster for the movie including a review lauding the short story...not the movie. Prime Corman trickery.

THANK YOU!!! I somehow had never heard of this one. It sounds interesting & I want to see it. But above all, THANK YOU for saying that about Invasion of the Body Snatchers! It seems like every 12 years we get a new version, each duller than the last, and to be honest, I never thought the first was all that good, being thinly veiled 1950's Communist paranoia.

How can anyone dislike this channel?

You’re the greatest movie reviewer of all time Cecil!!!

I absolutely love this channel. As all the so-bad-its-good movies slowly run out I hope the switch to the same in TV is the next step. Film will always be film but there's some fertile ground in made for TV movies and miniseries.

Agreed. This is a remake that I would love to see! 👍

man if you cut the audio and put it out as podcast id listen to these

"Film isn't a very good medium for sci-fi." *looks back at countless movies and TV series like Star Trek and Star Wars with a legacy going back over half a century and still going strong today* Yeah, nah, I'm calling bullshit.

I believe I saw one of the versions of this movie, but I can't remember which one. I don't remember much of the story either, but I do remember noticing how different the two were.

Christopher Lee's birthday is a month away which is just enough time to review Jocks.

I am Surprised by no mention of Pitch Black at the end lol.

Asimov's story is a masterclass in writing; he sets up everything perfectly so that when the punchline comes you're totally ready for it - even though he still pulls the rug out from under you by making you see things from an alien perspective. How a film maker could read it and not see the visual potential is beyond me.

"I thought monsters would come out after the sun went down." Oh you mean Pitch black.

The Last Question is probably my favourite Asimov story... No, it is my favourite.

This is the story of, _"My ignorance is as good as your knowledge."_

oh wow. I have long thought filming at Arcosanti would be awesome, and lo and behold it was done back in the 80s, how cool. ill need to watch this film now.

God, Nightfall really is such a damn good story. It's insane someone as young as 21 wrote something like that.

I saw Nightfall when it was originally released in theaters. Didn't like it. Roughly seven years later, I took six weeks to travel by rail and then road. Early in that trip, I stayed at Arcosanti, and attended their workshop for a week. (Seminar Week where they introduce you to the place). It is NOT a commune and was not founded right after WWII, but in 1970. Staying there was pretty cool - I felt like I was living temporarily in a 1970s science fiction film set. Some of the staffers told us about films that were shot there, particularly Nightfall. However, I didn't even make the association until they mentioned it. Arcosanti is still there, very much in operation. Definitely worth a visit!

I like the ending of the film. It makes sense that people who formed a cult, or religion, were able to overcome the threat of Nightfall while everyone else went mad. A lot of cults simply commit mass suicide (as observed), but if there's a strong sense of family sticking together through thick and thin, which is what some with a religious faith focus on, then they will be the survivors. It could have even been interesting to have both the rational and religious survive for different reasons, which is also what is most likely to occur: one stating the obvious science, the other saying it was a god that kept them alive.

Damn rain coming in out of nowhere!

I remember watching this as a young guy when it first came out and being bored to tears. The cast seemed like retirees from an old folks home. I was even a fan of Sci-Fi.

Just last week I listened to an X Minus One radio adaptation of Nightfall. It was excellent and was able to "visualize" what was happening perfectly, especially since it was done back when Radio was all we had. If you get the chance, try and find it to listen to.

I really need to start reading some Asimov.

Never read the short story, but loved the novel of it with coauthor Silverberg.

Any attempt to remake "Body Snatchers" will be a waste of time and money: the perfect version was already made in the late 70s.

Like some of your commenters here. This sounds like idea to the film PITCH BLACK. So in some ways it can be seen as NIGHTFALL’S inheritor! I Never read that short story. But I like to see it as the PREQUEL to PITCH! With the people. Having never seen darkness. Suddenly going mad and being fearful. It would be the perfect set up for the Monsters. The REAL threat to the people, that the darkness brings!

What this movie really needed was Richard B. Riddick.

These make some great bedtime stories!

in the begining it sounds like the director wanted to bring more Herbert into Asimov

The new series Foundation looks awesome can’t wait to see it.

I remember there being an extended novel version of the short story that I really enjoyed. I didn’t know there was a movie.

I own this on VHS, and when I watched it just a couple years back, I thought it was one of the worst movies I have ever seen, I was bored to tears. Maybe I should give it a second chance... Great video, nontheless, as usual.

looks fun so i ordered the dvd :)

David Birney was in four episodes of _The Love Boat_ (both 2 parters), he was hardly "known for" being in it.

I remember leaving the theater after seeing this one and was shocked to find out that I had only been there for less than 1.5 hours. I would have sworn the movie was about 4 hours long. Watching it that first time seemed to last for ever.

I vaguely remember going with my dad to see this in theatre. I think my dad was more interested in this than I was, being he was a big Asimov fan. All I remembered was eye peckings and fights with crystal swords. Never watched it again since... maybe i should give it a 2nd try...

I love Asimov's stories. never seen this one. Although I'm looking forward to the Foundation series on Apple tv... I just hope it doesn't disappoint.

I think Pitch Black has pretty much guaranteed that any attempt at Nightfall that doesn't have Vin Diesel punching giant flying cave sharks will inevitably be a box office flop. Though it does sound like it could make a pretty dope Netflix series...

Ahh perfect. We will make a movie about 24/7 daylight and film it in Arizona...what could go wrong!

The Science Fiction Writers of America once voted for a list of the 26 best short stories prior to 1965 and the Nebula Awards, and "Nightfall" made number one. (They're all in the book The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One. I recommend it.) "Nightfall" is also one of the most reprinted stories in SF anthologies and collections of Asimov. Yet, who knows why, the 26 stories had been ignored by movie and TV studios. Except for "Nightfall", which was filmed twice, in 1988 and 2000, both by the same independent studio, Concorde Pictures. Both versions of Nightfall the Movie are adaptations almost in name only. Each one is set on a perpetual-daylight world, and has a once-in-history sunset and dark night. But nothing comes of the nightfall in either case. The plot of Asimov's story is absent in both films. Those who have read "Nightfall" could agree that this story can adapt nicely to film, without any changes, a big budget or any sex scenes. It is set in a human society on an Earth-like world, in a country very similar to the USA. But Concorde used very low budgets, and location filming without having to build sets. So many changes were made in the story, either film could just as well be about any other author's story. Concorde usually made low-grade horror flicks, barbarian movies, and Young Lady Chatterly 2. The first Nightfall movie played in a few art houses then went to cable and home video. The second went straight to video. Both could be mistaken for Lady Chatterly sequels, sleazy as they are. How did Nightfall 1988 get by with a PG-13 rating? How desperately did Concorde have to try to keep the audience's attention? If only someone like Michael Bay or Jerry Bruckheimer had considered their adaptation of "Nightfall", it would have been a real crowdpleaser.

I've got to see if this is on Tubi or some channel

12:44 I’m guessing David Twohy felt the same way. 😉

or they could make this a straight to streaming series like they did with the handmaids tale or brave new world

My god I laughed at that quote about how sci-fi wouldn't transfer well to movies 🤣🤣🤣 some of the most popular, money making movies now are sci-fi

Please do a video on The Greatest Chuck Norris Movie Of All Time "INVASION USA", let it happen this year Cecil, maybe 4th of July.

Do you think it’s possible if you can review Dutch from 1991 staring Ed O’Neil directed by Peter Faiman?

If Nightfall is to be remade, it should be animated. It would be very difficult to replicate the lighting from multiple suns on outdoor locations with real people.

I remember reading a comment from Asimov, in reply to a question about the film - it might have been in the Asimov magazine or Starlog - where he said I sold the rights in all good faith, to a group of producers who turned out to be idiots. I think a good film of a short story doesn't try to follow the story as it won't stretch to film length [although Predestination managed it, so sometime it can work] but takes the basic idea and goes its own way with it. Like total recall or the adjustment bureau. So long as the idea remains intact, it works.

Isaac' brain is probably full of stories that were trying to get out

I'd love to see you dig up what happened with A Sound of Thunder. That movie hurts me on a base level as the short story is one of my favorites.

I wonder if Pitch Black took the idea of the sun/night from this story.

I enjoyed Dr. Asimov's fiction in spite of his limited character development. I was most absorbed by his non-fiction. He was as good a popularizer and explainer of science as ever existed, and probably influenced Carl Sagan.