Jerome Bixby is a writer best known for his work on the better episodes of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone.
He lived from January 11, 1932 to April 28, 1998, but no one ever really quits writing—even in death.
One of his screenplays was revived and is now on screen; it’s called The Man From Earth, a rare intellectual gem in the sci-fi genre about a caveman who has lived for 14,000 years.
This is no average Neanderthal though; he has moved from one place to another every 10 years. Presently, he’s a retiring professor who is having a small going away party at his house.
All of the film takes place in this one location, so it feels like you’re watching a play. As the film moves on, we are treated with intelligent wordplay that boggles the mind on the topics of religion, philosophy, history, and even business.
In a way it’s like a Christopher Nolan film, where entertainment doesn’t need a waiver to your intelligence.
All performances are excellent in subtle ways that may not appeal to everyone, and if you’re a young teenager—or have the mind of one—you might as well be watching a History Channel documentary. Still, it’s a film with a script written on a deathbed and deserves to be respected in that sense.
With summer just around the corner, we prepare for the bombardment of big-budget blockbusters with superheros, explosions, special effects, and all sorts of cheap thrills. Before we drown ourselves in simple-minded eye candy, do yourself a favor and watch The Man From Earth on Netflix Streaming.
