WHEN YOU FIGHT THE PAST, THE PAST FIGHTS BACK.

Maine English teacher Jake Epping (James Franco) is introduced to a time-traveling portal by his friend (Chris Cooper) at a local diner, and decides that he will use it to prevent the murder of John F. Kennedy. The engrossing Stephen King thriller gets a worthy but not quite equally engaging TV adaptation that starts out great and comes to an intense, moving close. But far too often does this miniseries get bogged down in its subplots, and the horrors of the future unveiled in the last episode don’t have the impact they should. Still, well cast, handsomely produced and done with a sense of humor as well as a sweeping, romantic touch.

2016-U.S. Made for TV. 435 min. Color. Developed by Bridget Carpenter. Novel: Stephen King. Theme: J.J. Abrams. Cast: James Franco (Jake Epping/James Amberson), Chris Cooper (Al Templeton), Sarah Gadon (Sadie Dunhill), Lucy Fry, George MacKay, Daniel Webster… Josh Duhamel.

Trivia: Originally shown in eight episodes. Among the directors are Franco and Kevin Macdonald. Co-executive produced by Abrams. Jonathan Demme was allegedly first considered as director for a film adaptation of the novel.

AVERAGE

IMDb