The Langoliers is based on a short story, really a novella, by Stephen King. Not surprisingly the book is better. But this TV adaptation is pretty faithful though some crucial changes are made - some of them puzzlingly disarm any real potential for terror in the film. The premise is fairly simple, a set of passengers find themselves amazingly the only ones left after many have disappeared. They land on a airport similarly vacant of any people and so the horror begins. The main twist is the introduction of the langoliers themselves.
Unfortunately when they arrive, they are likely to inspire more laughter than anything. In any case, the real treat is seeing rather seemingly sympathetic actors like Bronson Pinchot as a businessman or Dean Stockwell deal with the mystery of the disappearing passangers. The actual conceit in the plot - which I shouldn't spoil - is actually fairly clever. But truly bad production and cheap sets undercut any potential for fleshing out King's interesting story. On top of this, one can spot in one scene a person walking in the background of
an allegedly abandonned airport! Another amateurish shot of LA (?) is supposed to be similarly desolate but anyone can spot a car moving in a supposedly empty world!!
These mistakes
and bad special effects rob the film of any of its potential thrills. Still the viewer can look forward to some interesting surprises. Bronson screaming "scaring the little GIRL?!?!" halfway through this mini-series is priceless. Not the worst King adaptation but a fun if forgettable attempt.
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