From the original master of twists, M. Night Shyamalan, comes a new mini-series set to spark considerable chatter at the water cooler. Especially following today’s release of the first official trailer. The similarity between Wayward Pines and Twin Peaks is so uncanny, that this preview almost plays like a remake of David Lynch’s hit 80s classic.
An eerie opening score (very Angelo Badalamenti-esque), Pacific Northwest setting (check), a federal agent tasked with a mission in a small town (Kyle Machlachan’s FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper hunting down Laura Palmer’s killer), eccentric characters (Nurse Pam is madder than a sack of syphilis), attention to detail (cherry pie is switched out here for rum and raisin), corpses popping up (alright, this one’s a bit more like Mulholland Drive), smart-talkin’ waitresses… I could go on. There’s a clear love of Peaks – and hey, maybe that could be good thing?
Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks isn’t the only pop culture fruit ripe for the taking. Where it can, Wayward Pines appears to poach a host of supernatural, mystery and horror tropes to form a show that appears… pretty damn enticing. At first glance, it might appear to be a shameless rip-off. However, note the trailer’s final scene, which pops in a dash of The Village, a smidgen of Cabin In The Woods and a liberal sprinkling of WTF? Check it out for yourself below and you be the judge.
Based on the novel by Blake Crouch, Wayward Pines stars Matt Dillon, Carlo Gugino, Melissa Leo, Terrence Howard, Shannyn Sossamon, Juliette Lewis and Toby Jones. Here’s a snippet of the official synopsis from Fox:
Imagine the perfect American town… beautiful homes, manicured lawns, children playing safely in the streets. Now imagine never being able to leave. You have no communication with the outside world. You think you’re going insane. You must be in Wayward Pines. Secret Service Agent ETHAN BURKE (Academy Award nominee Matt Dillon, “Crash,” “City of Ghosts”) drives to the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, ID, searching for two missing federal agents. One of the best Secret Service agents in the Seattle office, he’s the man who knew missing agent KATE HEWSON (Carla Gugino, “Watchmen,” “Entourage”) better than anyone. They were more than partners; their relationship nearly destroyed Ethan’s marriage.
Wayward Pines is scheduled to debut in 2015 on Fox. Will you be watching?
Published: May 12, 2014 08:15 pm