The Mice

A distant planet contacts Earth and sends plans for a matter-transmitter (a primitive prototype for the Transporter seen on STAR TREK 3 years later). The authorities decide to test it by using a convict pulling a life sentence. But when the alien arrives, things get a LOT stranger than anyone imagined...

Like a lot of "lesser" OUTER LIMITS episodes, this one rambles a bit, and the more action-filled 2nd half is more confusing than suspenseful. But there are 2 standouts that make it memorable. One is Henry Silva's convict, who proves a far more fascinating and likable character than one might expect (indeed, I find this one of his BEST roles!). The other is the alien, which I can only describe as looking like something you'd get if you blew your nose too hard. Not sure if the thing is actually frightening, or just really disgusting to look at!

Look quick (and carefully) near the end for an early cameo role by Dabney Coleman, still more than a decade away from fame as the preacher on MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN (growing that moustache must be the best career move he ever made).

I get a kick out of it when Silva's character hands a revolver over and says, "Just watching him for you. He's a killer!"

There isn't any boundaries to The Outer Limits series, this one is a engrossing story on Sci-Fi setting, where a prominent scientist Dr. Thomas Kelly Kellander (Michael Higgins) has an advanced project with faraway planet Chromos, after previous agreements they sent a blue print to earthlings built a chamber of molecular transportation, they planned develop an interplanetary exchange with prolific minds to learn each other, however Dr Kelly Kellander didn't finds anyone interest in this odd and dangerous travel, so he has to go into a penal institution to get any volunteer, the prison warden brings to him three convicts as potential applicants, Dr. Kelly explains all possibilities to this journey, but just one agrees, the leery and shaky Chino Rivera (Henry Silva) no reward is offer, but due Chino was sentenced to life imprisonment any attainable output is welcome, firstly the Chromonite being should arrives first at chamber, then Chino will be transported afterwards, therefore the Alien actually is an awful monster, what a dreadful freak, the designer should be arrest at mental asylum and throw away the key by such inability to make something feasible, after a terrible fright they have to postpone Chino transportation, meanwhile the mute and unfriendly Chromonite guest has an unusual behavior, fine episode if we forget the freak alien!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.25

Henry Silva stars as a prisoner named Chino Rivera serving a life sentence for murder who is given a chance to participate in a unique exchange program with another planet called Chromo that has recently contacted Earth, and left instructions on how the teleportation machine will work. The Chromo comes through first, and is revealed to be a bizarre, gelatinous, crab-clawed biped that proceeds to leave the compound, murdering a scientist in its quest to recreate its food supply in the water. Just how can this thing be stopped, and what is its ultimate plan? Unique monster design to be sure, but overused in the broad daylight, and slow episode is otherwise much too dull.

A prisoner is asked to be apart of a dangerous experiment.

Not really a favourite episode, in fact for several years I hated it, but a more recent screening went over a bit better as the acting and general story draw you in from beginning to end.

After 15 episodes of quality entertainment, I am sorry to say that the next two or three Limits shows leave one hell of a lot to be desired.

In fact, after watching The Mice I would even consider jumping two or three shows and going straight to the episode: The Invisibles (this one is a total knockout). From The Invisibles onwards the series continues to be very good.

A Scientist has devised some ingenious technology, that allows people to be transported to another planet, a scheme is set up to transport prisoners to The Plant Chromo in an exchange. The Prisoners are volunteers the alternative is life in prison.

This isn't an episode I'd deem a classic, I wouldn't say it has anything particularly memorable, other than the obvious, a few years ago there was an advertising campaign for a blocked nose/sinuses relief product, it put me in mind of that.

Not a classic, but definitely still full of merits, I like the question of ethics, the value of a Prisoner's life, did he have any choice but to accept the mission, it was definitely an interesting concept.

The first half has an element of suspense, that opening sequence definitely added a degree of curiosity, I found the second half just bizarre, some of it perhaps didn't make a lot of sense. It is very well paced, I really did like the characters.

There are two terrific performances here, Henry Silva and Diana Sands were both terrific I thought, and despite the less than convincing looking subject from Chromo, they both managed to make their characters so sincere, they both bolstered the story hugely.

7/10.