Adapting a written piece of work into a movie is not a simple task. David Lynch’s Dune has its positive qualities, but it’s not even in the same league as Denis Villeneuve’s take, let alone Frank Herbert’s original work. So many things can get lost in translation, and once the crack starts to show, it’s only a matter of time before the whole thing falls apart. And what’s easy to forget is that many stories don’t get a second chance to travel to the big screen because, for most studios, one failed attempt is enough to write something off for good.
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One short story that’s been lucky enough to get two movie adaptations is Isaac Asimov’s Nightfall. The first one came out in 1988, and since it had a microscopic budget, there was no chance it would do justice to Asimov’s work. A second attempt came in 2000, and somehow it was even worse than the first, making a mockery of a story that many claim is the greatest in science fiction history.
Nightfall Is a Twisted Race Against the Clock
The most important thing to understand about Asimov’s Nightfall is that it doesn’t care about its sci-fi elements nearly as much as it cares about its human ones. Taking place on the planet Lagash, which has six suns shining on it, everything is going well at the start of the story. The people who call Lagash home thrive in the constant daylight, building a flourishing society eager to learn more about the galaxy it inhabits. However, a group of scientists bites off more than they can chew when they discover that every 2,000 years, civilization collapses after darkness falls over the planet. It soon becomes clear that no outside force is responsible for the event; the people themselves go mad after being exposed to an eclipse.
When the eclipse reveals that thousands of stars surround Lagash, there’s no chance for survival because it’s impossible for anyone to wrap their head around the idea. Even the scientists, who work hard to prepare Lagash for its new reality, can’t keep it together. Nightfall speaks to the fear of the unknown and society’s inability to accept change. It’s an idea that still rings true today, as humanity often forgets that Earth is a tiny fish in an ever-growing pond. Many readers latch onto that aspect of Nightfall and run with it, singing its praises as a story that not only has a unique premise but forces one to question their place in the universe. Unfortunately, its much-maligned movie adaptation can’t recreate the magic in live-action.
There’s Nothing Worthwhile About the Nightfall Movie
Despite being a straight-to-video movie, 2000’s Nightfall sparked significant discussion in the years following its release. The typical complaints were that it lacked the nuance of Asimov’s original work and wasted a stacked cast (Kill Bill star David Carradine is the biggest name on the poster, and a few notable Indian actors join him, including Ashish Vidyarthi and Pradeep Rawat). The truth of the matter is that the Nightfall movie just wants to stay that it adapted a notable story and move on with its day. It doesn’t make an effort to get to the truth of Asimov’s words. However, it doesn’t need to have the last say.
With the resurgence in the sci-fi genre in recent years, there has to be room for a faithful adaptation of Nightfall. Surely, there’s a filmmaker out there who read the story years ago and believes they could bring it to life. While it might be another 25 years before that person reveals themselves, it has to happen because there’s no reason a story this good should be sitting in the Hollywood trash pile.
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Image Courtesy of Shueisha
