When the movie “Eyes Tightly Closed” released in 1999, its reception was lukewarm at best. Despite the fact that it was the farewell work of the legendary director Stanley Kubrickwho died six days after the film’s release, audiences and critics seemed somewhat confused…

The confusion was mainly due to the relationship between Dr. of Bill Harford and his wife, Alice, played respectively by the then-married couple, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

More specifically, the depiction of the – chemistry-less – couple in real life and on screen, having unbridled sex, caused viewers a repulsion. By then, Tom Cruise had long outgrown his 1980s poster boy image, and it was like watching your over-the-top-to-be-liked uncle take part in an orgy and seduce your cool but impeccably dressed aunt.

However, 26 years after the film’s release, “Eyes Tightly Closed” has become one of its cult favorites Generation Zto the point that the masks and capes worn in the film are among the most sought-after costumes for this year’s Halloween.

Many believe that this revival is due to the fact that this conspiracy-loving generation links the film to some of the biggest scandals we’ve seen in recent years. Whether in lengthy social media posts or in-depth podcasts, Gen Z (and many others) have come to the conclusion that the movie is a template and explanation for just about every conspiracy theory you’ve ever heard.

The Epstein case and conspiracy theories

The horror unfolding around him Jeffrey Epstein and the extensive network of trafficking of young girls for rich and powerful men, which is only now beginning to be known, has intensified this interest. The parallels between the film and Epstein are obvious, according to “internet detectives”, who see the film as a kind of template for his appalling behavior.

Jeffrey Epstein

In the film, actor Sidney Pollack plays Victor Zilger, and he has undeniable things in common with Epstein: his appearance and mannerisms, his mysterious and unexplained wealth, and his central role in the orgies, which involve people so powerful that “if I told you their names, you wouldn’t sleep well at night.”

Many in Gen Z believe that at the end of the film, Kubrick implies that Alice and Bill’s daughter does not actually go to another part of the toy store, but is kidnapped by some shadowy men who were at Ziegler’s Christmas party. This is clearly a conspiracy theory, which, however, has a huge appeal among young people. In fact, they went so far as to link her to the abduction of Madeline, who wasn’t even born in 1999.

The irresistible timing of the death of Stanley Kubrick, who, according to Generation Z, was murdered for “revealing too many elite secrets” in his last film, was also another link to Epstein’s death. So why is Generation Z, a generation that were young children (or not even born) when Epstein began to gain power and, indeed, when the film came out, so fascinated and interested in both the actual case and the film?

One of the reasons fairy tales were written was to teach as much as to frighten children. And the messages functioned as both stories and lessons. “Eyes Tightly Closed” has an undeniable fairy-tale quality that appeals to modern, young audiences, but fairy tales also have a lot in common with conspiracies: it’s a simple story that, when you look at it deeply, suggests a darker, hidden truth about human nature.

In uncertain times, where the distribution of power and wealth is anything but equal, conspiracies become dangerously comforting and empowering, particularly for younger generations who often feel completely marginalized in a chaotic world. People who believe them tend to feel that they are not being fooled by the powerful who want to hide uncomfortable truths from them.

However, even if all the conspiracies are completely absurd, they make the world seem less scary to some young people, who feel more powerful because of it. The film is a nice choice for Gen Z, showing that they are informed and that their eyes are open to the “truth”.