Pluribus Borrowed A Creepy Episode 1 Moment From A Chilling Stephen King Movie

“Pluribus” is very much its own thing, demonstrating a rare authenticity in the modern era. But aspects of it are clearly influenced by other works, such as a moment in the first episode where two young brothers embody the spirit of the twins from Stephen King’s Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.”

Apple TV+ has some great shows that no one watches, but everyone should pay attention to “Pluribus.” The new sci-fi thriller series from “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan is a fascinating, intriguing creation unlike anything else currently on television. This doesn’t mean he avoids mining inspiration from other sources, of course. In fact, a prime example appears during the series’ pilot episode, “We Is Us,” in which Carol Sturka, Rhea Seehorn’s romance author, watches society disintegrate when the human race is infected with a mysterious virus.

After widespread chaos breaks out in her hometown of Alburquerque, New Mexico, Carol returns to her home in the episode, only to discover that she has lost her keys and is locked. However, two kids from next door soon appeared and stood side by side before reminding Carol that she had left a spare key under the pot on her porch. Despite the fact that these creepy siblings, played by Tegan Sucherman and Ishak Tawfiq, reassure Carol that they’re not there to hurt her, they project a deeply unsettling aura that resembles the real-life twins from one of the most memorable moments in “The Shining.”

Explaining the series’ influences on Letterboxd, Gilligan confirmed that he took inspiration from the teacher, writing: “Quick, what classic image did the first episode of Pluribus borrow from The Shining?” I’ll give you a moment to think about that,” before going on to reveal, “Yes – we borrowed the image of those creepy neighbor kids from Kubrick’s Scariest Twin Girls.”

Although it looks brand new, Pluribus is actually the latest spiritual version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and that’s okay. The series does an excellent job of updating the sci-fi trope with its alien invasion via virus story (at least, that’s what it is). He appears continues until now). But since this is a Vince Gilligan show, there will always be some Stanley Kubrick influence. The creator has infiltrated his work before, writing in his Letterboxd post, “Kubrick is the master, so who am I to nitpick?” He added, “Bonus trivia: The ax that the Salamanca cousins ​​carry in Breaking Bad is also inspired by The Shining.”

However, with “Pluribus,” the impact goes beyond its creepy siblings. As Gilligan went on to explain, the fact that the series is based on “a writer, alcohol, and profound isolation” means that it essentially has the same premise as “The Shining,” in which Jack Nicholson author Jack Torrance deteriorates mentally while isolated in the haunted Overlook Hotel. “Man, do I love this movie,” Gilligan said of The Shining, adding: “But here’s the question: Why does Nicholson play Jack Torrance like a lunatic before he arrives at the Overlook Hotel? Even in his job interview, it’s so obvious that Jack bats so crazy that Barry Nelson would hand him a fire ax along with the keys to the building.”

Is Gilligan telling us something about “Pluribus” with this last comment? Are we witnessing the unraveling of Karol Sturka’s mind in the Apple TV show instead of actual events? Considering that “Pluribus” keeps its true meaning close to the chest, it’s a bit of a mystery at this point, but Gilligan’s comments may point to something unexpected.

“Pluribus” is streaming on Apple TV.