Bill Duke (Mac-Predator (1987)) directed "The Junction", a unique tale of "time displacement" where a coal mining search into an old junction leads miner, John Parker (Willliam Allen Young), into an avalanche he survives. Trapped in a shaft, John encounters a fellow miner, Roy Dobson (Chris Mulkey), who was injured after a collapse from another avalanche with rubble having fallen on his legs. Roy, however, is a miner from 1912! The flashlight on John's helmet and a watch on his wrist—not to mention, a "colored" man working the mines—surprise Roy to no end. With stale coal air at a minimum, both Roy and John discuss each other's relationships with their wives, actually developing a nice camaraderie (there never is a sense of racial tension, as much as, the situation that has befallen them creating nervous fear) as they wait for the miners *from both 1986 and 1912* to come to their rescue. The ending is pat and conveniently turns out well for both men (it appears the miners from 1912 will rescue John, which would have brought him into a time he didn't belong, but rubble ruined that) as a letter from 1912, delivered to John's wife, written by Roy, could very well lead to his rescue. The alternate time rift stories are a TZ staple, and this one has two men from such different worlds comparing currency and getting to know each other. I guess if there was a gripe, it is that we don't see the two men getting a great deal of time together before both return to where they came from; however, the letter to John's wife is a neat development that leads to a change in direction thanks to Roy's persistent desire to help the man who assisted him in injury. 6/10
"The Card" was rather surreal (imagine if a credit card junkie, irresponsible and clumsy, would lose her pets and kids if she failed to pay and was delinquent!) but it pulls no punches! Susan Blakely, very pretty and totally sells the harried suburban mom with little interest in keeping up with late fees for credit cards. When she first arrives at a "last resort" credit card company (president being Virginia Kiser who has an air of cutthroat and sneaky about her), without even reading the contract, Susan signs. Soon, because her behavior is so predictable, is delinquent on a seven day payment (low cost payment, at that) and begins to suffer the loss of a cat and dog. The sinister addition to losing them is that her kids and husband (played by perennial scene stealing character actor, William Atherton, who defers his usual pricks for a reasonable and patient fellow, more than tolerant of his wife's spending habits) don't even remember them. Missed payments and a delinquent account: goodbye kids! When her hubby fails to remember them having kids, Susan is at her wits end (and it is well communicated through Susan's anguish and horror). What happens when you lose it all? Will Susan cutting up the card help her cause? Word of warning: read your credit card contract! 6/10
"The Card" was rather surreal (imagine if a credit card junkie, irresponsible and clumsy, would lose her pets and kids if she failed to pay and was delinquent!) but it pulls no punches! Susan Blakely, very pretty and totally sells the harried suburban mom with little interest in keeping up with late fees for credit cards. When she first arrives at a "last resort" credit card company (president being Virginia Kiser who has an air of cutthroat and sneaky about her), without even reading the contract, Susan signs. Soon, because her behavior is so predictable, is delinquent on a seven day payment (low cost payment, at that) and begins to suffer the loss of a cat and dog. The sinister addition to losing them is that her kids and husband (played by perennial scene stealing character actor, William Atherton, who defers his usual pricks for a reasonable and patient fellow, more than tolerant of his wife's spending habits) don't even remember them. Missed payments and a delinquent account: goodbye kids! When her hubby fails to remember them having kids, Susan is at her wits end (and it is well communicated through Susan's anguish and horror). What happens when you lose it all? Will Susan cutting up the card help her cause? Word of warning: read your credit card contract! 6/10
