Amazing Stories review — Here’s hoping this Steven Speilberg anthology series reboot picks up steam.

If you were around in the 1980s, then you may remember Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories. The Emmy-winning anthology television series was based on a beloved monthly magazine that brought readers the best in sci-fi and speculative fiction (with the occasional supernatural or horror tale thrown in) for decades. The show lasted a couple of years and was mostly forgotten—until now. Everything old is new again and in this world of rebooted reboots, “Amazing Stories” is back and extended to a 50-minute runtime.

Touted as an Apple TV original, the series kicks off with romantic suspense and time travel in The Cellar. Borrowing quite a lot from the classic 1980 film Somewhere in Time, we follow the anguish and passion of star-crossed lovers who live a century apart but are side-by-side in their hearts.

Millennial Sam (Dylan O’Brien, Maze Runner) is in the house-flipping business with his brother, but what he’d rather be doing is swiping through his possible love-matches on Tinder. 1920s gal Evelyn (Victoria Pedretti, You) is engaged to be married to a man she doesn’t love, but as a dutiful daughter, she is resigned to the fate her parents have set forth.

When a freak storm catches Sam in the cellar of the dilapidated dwelling, he finds himself reeling back in time. When he comes to his senses, he is amazed to see the home is perfectly restored to its original glory—and occupied by the same lovely young woman whose tintype photo he found earlier that day squirreled away in a cubbyhole. Needless to say, the two fall for each other and chaos ensues.

“The Cellar” is written by Emmy-nominee Jessica Sharzer (American Horror Story), helmed by multiple Award-winning director Chris Long (The Americans), and of course produced by the legendary Spielberg (Ready Player One). As such, I anticipated more bite and zing to the characters and story. Their stellar credits certainly warrant such expectations. Alas, The Cellar is mildly entertaining and easily forgettable (and if this entry in the series is any indication, they should have stuck to the original half-hour runtime).

I’m a fan of sci-fi anthologies, so I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of Amazing Storie” in spite of its lukewarm opener. One of the upcoming episodes features the renowned late character actor Robert Forster in his final performance, so that’s worth the price of admission alone. The series premieres on Apple TV on March 6.

If this Amazing Stories review piques your interest, catch it on AppleTV.

Amazing Stories review — Here’s hoping this Steven Speilberg anthology series reboot picks up steam.

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