Corpus Earthling

Paul Cameron (Robert Culp) finds himself between a rock and a hard place. With the presence of a metal plate in his head due to a war injury.

Cameron a surgeon goes to see his wife Laurie who works for a geologist named Dr Temple. He has been studying two new rocks in his laboratory.

Cameron somehow manages to hear these two alien rocks talking about taking over the world. Realising that he has heard them, the alien rocks compel Cameron to try and kill himself but his wife Laura comes to the rescue.

Eventually the alien beings inside the rock enter human bodies. The plan is to kill Cameron as he is on vacation in Mexico. Thinking he is suffering from hallucinations and needed a break.

The plot is a variation of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The kind of face hugger alien blobs might have been an influence on Ridley Scott.

The story is something that has already become a staple of The Outer Limits. The body horror effects does make it unsettling.

After a laboratory mishap leaves him with a concussion, rock scientist Robert Culp (as Paul Cameron) begins hearing the voices of two rocks, positioned on a shelf in the lab. They wobble for the camera, but go unnoticed by Mr. Culp, assistant wife Salome Jens (as Laurie) and geologist colleague Barry Atwater (as Jonas Temple). Culp thinks they may be diabolical life-forms from another planet, seeking to parasitically take over the bodies of humans, or a paranoiac reaction to his concussion and the upper metal plate in his head (holding him "together" after a brain injury). This is a typically excellent "Outer Limits" episode, featuring great direction by Gerd Oswald and wonderful photography by Conrad Hall, who give lovers of the female figure an arousing look at Ms. Jens in her slip.

******** Corpus Earthling (11/18/63) Gerd Oswald ~ Robert Culp, Salome Jens, Barry Atwater, Ken Renard

It's become apparent. It seems they made sure to cast Robert Culp in the best Outer Limits epsidoes. He was in "Demon With A Glass Hand" and "Architects Of Fear", two episodes that are in almost everyone's top 5 Outer Limits episodes. But this one should not be overlooked. "Corpus Earthling" is dramatic and it's real scary. Old fashioned true pure horror with real creatures and an ordinary man who becomes a monster. Suspenseful creepy music. For a dream vacation spot the couple travel too, it certainly looked dark and gloomy. But that's where all the ultimate climax action takes place. Don't miss Corpus Earthling. It's solid. Rated an 8/10.

Scientist Doctor Paul Cameron suffers a mishap in his laboratory, the result leaves him with the ability of being able to hear the conversations if two rocks, which happen to be alien beings with plans to take over The World.

I got about five minutes in, and honestly wondered if I could get through it, but I was told to stick with it, and gladly I did, it actually turned out to be a cracking episode. The plot may seem somewhat ludicrous, but trust me, this one works very well

It's hugely at atmospheric, it looks great. There are actually some very fine horror moments here to enjoy, that initial scene where the creature takes ahold of its victim is pretty bleak.

I'm not sure why, but it reminds me of Dr Who story, The Hand of Fear, with Tom Baker, that would transmit over a decade later, a very similar storyline.

Very solid acting, Robert Culp in particular plays the part of Paul with such sincerity.

Very good.

8/10.

A bunch of talking rocks. I just can't get past it. Unfortunately, the creatures look a bit like lumps of tar flavored Jello. They are apparently set on taking over the world, one person at a time. They can transform themselves into silly looking spider like creatures. They have the ability to control minds which would lead one to believe that they could be more efficient. Robert Culp is the one that can make out their verbal offerings and starts to go bananas, running off with his wife to Tijuana. Unfortunately, they are able to follow him there. He must deal with paranoia and the deaths of a friend. The good part of this has to do with the atmosphere developed, particularly in the latter portion of the show. One thing that I couldn't put aside is that there is a sort of narration remindful of "The Attack of the Crab Monsters." For those of you who remember that classic film.