Episode 80: Fire in the Sky (1993)
We've hit the big 8-0! To celebrate our octogenarian status in episode years, we're diving into alien abduction territory with DB Sweeney's post-ice skating career in Fire in the Sky. Based on the "true story" of Travis Walton's alleged five-day extraterrestrial vacation in 1975 Arizona.
What You're Getting Into: A logging crew witnesses their buddy Travis get zapped by a UFO and spend the rest of the movie trying to convince everyone they didn't just murder him and dump the body. Featuring James Garner as a detective who's seen it all, Robert Patrick (T-1000) with a magnificent 70s beard, and practical effects that look more Muppet than menacing.
Peak Dumpster Moments:
The Real Investigation: We dig into the actual Travis Walton story through interviews spanning decades, from 1980s couch confessions to Geraldo confrontations to Joe Rogan deep dives. Spoiler alert: the consistency is suspicious and the polygraph results are... complicated.
Philosophical Spiral Alert: What starts as alien skepticism somehow evolves into a full discussion of simulation theory, parallel universes, and whether we're all just NPCs in someone else's cosmic video game. Because apparently that's what happens when you put two people in a room to discuss extraterrestrial life.
The Verdict: A surprisingly decent watch that captures the 1970s lumberjack aesthetic perfectly, even if the aliens look like they wandered off the set of a community theater production. DB Sweeney continues his streak of being unexpectedly charming despite spending most of the movie either missing or catatonic.
Coming Up: Back to Cousins Beach for more teenage angst and questionable decision-making, because apparently we enjoy suffering.