User reviews

This is one of those plots that has been done a hundred times. Beau Bridges (along with his old man) appear in a pilot of the much revered new version of "The Outer Limits." "The Sandkings" is about a pile of sand, taken back to Earth after a Mars mission. It contains living organisms, and Bridges's character is on his way to a Nobel Prize if he can continue his research. Unfortunately for him, he gets so obsessed with his effort that he becomes a danger to the people he works with. He chooses to ignore security and gets himself fired. When he betrays his friend/supervisor and steals some of the sand, he sets everything in motion. At first it is scientific. He goes overboard as he watches the little critters evolve and one might say he had a right to consider his research. Eventually, the Sandkings, which he has dubbed them, grow their own cultures; they become civilizations. They are builders and creators within the confines of a glass case Bridges has built for them. Soon, he loses his scientific objectivity and begins to play god with the little creatures. He deprives them of food and this forces them to wage war against their own kind. They build a monument with Bridges' face, Rushmore like, in sand. Of course, there are obstacles. One is the inability to hide what is going on from his family, his wife and little boy. Also, the scientists at the lab come to realize that a fair amount of sand is missing and he is the only possible suspect. There is a sort of maudlin subplot, where Bridges' own father, Lloyd Bridges (remember "Sea Hunt," and "Airplane"), takes on the fictional role. The younger Bridges resents his father for favoritism toward a brother who became a casualty of war. All this plays into the plot and, of course, when the Sandkings go through thirty-some generations, they begin to get fed up with their god. It is pretty entertaining, starting the series on a positive note, but at times it is really heavy handed. There is a scene where Bridges takes a stained glass window (his wife works in glass), and places it on the high wall of his barn/laboratory. He stands in front of it as the light shows through, arms spread in the ultimate Christian pose. But that's OK. It was really a fun series, running some seven years.

The scientist Dr. Simon Kress (Beau Bridges) has been researching the development of a species using eggs found in a sample of Martian soil. When one bug escapes from the laboratory breaking the security of the facility, the project is shut-down by the government due to its hazard. Dr. Simon expected to win the Nobel Prize and steals 275 g of the sample ground, bringing it to the barn of his property and developing new species. He hides the truth from his wife Cathy (Helen Shaver) and shares the secret with his smart son Josh (Dylan Bridges). Along the days, Simon realizes how intelligent the creatures are and feels like a god since they seem to worship him. However, when Simon is bitten by a subject, he changes his irresponsible behavior to insanity, jeopardizing his family, his friend and mankind.

"Sandking" is the pilot of "The Outer Limits" show and presents a story very similar to "The Fly": an ambitious scientist that makes a mistake with his experiment, being affected and becoming insane with the transformation. The story is disclosed in a low pace, with reasonable special effects for a television show, but the character of Dr. Simon Kress looks like a "crazy scientist" since the very beginning with his irrational behavior when one subject escapes. The final message criticizing scientists that wish to behave like gods is silly and shallow, since the development of science is important and necessary within the limits of ethic, otherwise humanity would still be in the Dark Age. The deranged Dr. Simon Kress is not a good example of a responsible man-of-science. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Quinta Dimensão - Reis da Areia - Partes 1 e 2" ("Fifth Dimension - Sandkings - Parts 1 & 2")

When his research project is closed down, Simon Kress rescues a few of its living subjects and transplants them to a recreation of their native Martian environment in his barn. They grow and learn, but then Kress makes an error with disastrous implications.

BBC2 debuted this episode of the new The Outer Limits I think on Sunday the 1st of May 1995. I was familiar with original series from the 1960's, but the new version of this particular episode really impressed me with a hidden or subversive message with the warning to scientists trying to play or replace the power of god through scientific advancement.

The pilot episode of "The Outer Limits" TV series is an adaptation of G.R.R. Martin's novel from 1979. The series does not have unique story-line, but it is an anthology of short SF / Fantasy / Horror films, and the "Sandkings", with its duration of one and a half hours, has all the qualities of a feature film.

The eggs are found in a sample of a Martian soil and Beau Bridges plays the scientist who manages to restore the race of alien insects and, in an attempt to prove that these beings possess reason, he gradually loses his own. Production is at a satisfactory level for a series of that time, the acting is ok, and the story is interesting and quite tense. It was massively bashed by viewers who read Martin's story, but it kept my attention all the time and definitely lured me to continue with this series.

"Increasingly, modern science pursues powers traditionally reserved for the almighty, but those who encroach upon the province of the gods realize too late that the price for entrance is destruction."

7/10

Science-as-horror entertainment for the entire family. Adults can indulge the gleeful overacting while kids get to experience fright night as they take everything at face value. Casting is marvelous, with Helen Shaver as the mad scientist's blonde wife an especially inspired choice. Years before, she had played the protagonist's love interest in the voodoo-horror flick "The Believers" in which her classically beautiful WASP face was progressively disfigured by ugly boils that turned out to be ... spiders living under the skin! With this subtext under the viewers' belt, the horrifying encounters she has with the "sandkings" carry an added resonance and punch.

Of course the TV show's plot has been greatly altered from the sci-fi short story, no doubt partly due to budget limitations. I didn't mind. Lloyd Bridges is content to play out his part's stereotype to the hilt, but Beau Bridges gives an acting masterclass by additionally injecting some truly disturbing moments into his performance (the bathroom scene, as noted by other reviewers). For a TV drama, the music score is above average.

Recommended for a rainy evening while curled up in front of the fireplace.

Probably the most interesting thing about this episode in this day and age is seeing 3 generations of the Bridges family on screen together - Lloyd, his son Beau, and HIS son Dylan - playing those same positions of grandfather, father, son. Oh, and getting to see a younger Kim Coates.

The story itself is decent enough, too - creatures found in a soil sample from Mars, by Earth scientists, are deemed too dangerous to live but the man who made the initial discovery takes matters into his own hands and hi-jinks ensue - and it's all acted capably by the aforementioned actors and Helen Shaver.

The 'moral' is pretty predictable, but really, it's the journey that we're here for and it's a decent enough journey.

The distant voice-over, the immersive title sequence with its rotating tunnel and red DNA… Welcome to the pilot of The Outer Limits ! 1995 can only feels like yesterday considering the many occasions a sci-fi fan has to remember The Sandkings. I have to admit that I haven't read George R. R. Martin's novella yet but this first episode proves that TV shows can be as hardcore and fascinating as their dusty old paper counterparts.

The very first seconds thanks to the narrator you understand that it's going to be about the eternal battle between science and religion. What is a human capable of in order to be recognized by its peers ? How far can you drift when your emotions have taken over your reason ? The extraordinary story of Doctor Simon Kress (Beau Bridges) serves to cover these fascinating questions and restrain our desire to become gods. Playing Populous is way safer in my humble opinion ! His introduction as a brilliant scientist is everything but original because the entrance in a military guarded base and identity recognition systems were already déjà vu elements back then. Things really become exciting when Simon's project, studying ground samples with eggs from Mars, takes a major turn. Then what was told in the opening is finally expressed by a pivotal sequence featuring Simon in… his pyjamas ! Using the barn and his outfit as a metaphora for a church and a monk was brilliant even if now I find it a little too literal.

From there Simon's transformation accelerates and his passion becomes an obsession. His relationships with his lovely wife, played by the gorgeous Helen Shaver, his son and his father magnifies the changes within that inevitably overflow and finally alter his physical appearance. Of course it's nothing like Jeff Goldblum's cult metamorphosis in The Fly but the bathroom sequence is definitely disturbing. In general there're also plenty of horrific elements, from the nightmare to some frightening scenes featuring the sand creatures. In fact their unpredictable and aggressive behavior reminded me of Screamers (1995). At some point there was also something yin-yangish about them so it proves the deepness of the writing and that all viewers should find something to satisfy their needs.

As for the production it's nothing stellar but the special effects are good enough. In the visual department we have some believable creatures that quickly move and the animatronics even allowed for some close-ups. Only the CG versions jarred with the rest at times even if the traditional approach wouldn't have been appropriate for some scenes. You have to understand that back then the studios were operating a transition from the old school to the new one when these days the digital has become the norm. Just check out Primeval to better understand the benefits ! As for the sounds they also have to be praised. They definitely contributed to make us believe that the Sandkings could actually exist, a bit like in Arachnophobia (1990) but with a more serious approach. In fact they're similar to the scorpions, spiders and other friends of the dark cellar but with a twist I let you appreciate. Last but not least if there was one thing to remember it's definitely the sand castles. These structures are so bizarre and well designed that they should teleport you on a planet far, far away ! Their evolution is actually linked to Simon's one so it makes their connection even more controversial and captivating.

Note : This review was first posted on Kritikenstein, my weblog.

A collaborator at a scientific institute obsessed with the extraterrestrial theme steals a sample of sand brought by a space mission from another Mars. He installs a fish tank in the barn of his country house where he places it and introduces ants into it. As the days go by, he discovers that the insects begin to behave strangely and with supernatural organization and intelligence. This first episode has certain reminiscences of the classic The Zanti Misfists from the original Outer Limits and also has the attraction of having Lloyd Bridgess and his son Beau in its cast, also playing a father and his son in fiction. Without being an outstanding story, it is an acceptable and entertaining start to the season.

This episode is inspired by the George Martin short novel Sandkings. It is actually a very different story with different themes and concepts and ideas.

Most good science fiction is a metaphor for real life in the time in which it was written. It generally explores themes and ideas going on right here and now, and usually provides insight into modern problems or issues. The Sandkings episode of The Outer Limits doesnt really touch on any of the moral, philosophical, or ethical issues of the original short story. Its basically a god-complex story about a man who starts as a scientist, seeking to increase human knowledge, then goes off the rails as a maniac possibly infected with a disease making him act irrationally. There isnt much growth in the protagonist and no one really has a character arc. Nor do they debate the topics of one person having power over a lower life form, or letting a dangerous life form get out of control, or what kind of horrible things one man would do to either advance science or stoke his ego. And theres a lot of filler/fluff material about families that just doesnt work because its not well done or interesting. The dialog is cheesy, especially compared to later episodes of the series, and its all kind of a mess. Other sci-fi movies and shows have explored these topics better, and usually with a more satisfying resolution. I won't get into spoilers but lets just say the ending is pretty typical of lazy horror or sci-fi films and fails to capture the essence of good story telling, unlike the original short story which was very poignant.

3 / 10 and not a very good start to a series that would eventually become excellent. In fact the very next story about a live-in Android helper woman is superb by comparison.

I've read this short story/novella several times and it's always been enthralling. Pacing, characters, setting, everything. Just something that George RR Martin penned decades before Game of Thrones. The TV episode of Outer Limits that is supposedly based on 'Sandkings' is really a sad treatment of a great story. To be honest I haven't seen the episode in years but I can still remember the excitement and anticipation I had waiting for the episode to first air and then the complete disappointment when I actually viewed it and thought to myself "What the heck was that?" The despair and loneliness, the utter horror, the creepiness, the style, basically everything that made the story great was missing from the TV episode. All I can say is, do yourself a favor and read the story before (or instead of) viewing the TV episode. You won't be disappointed.

Also, the story itself is not very long (maybe 35 - 40 pages?) and should be available free online. Check it out.

Good story but Beau bridges is unbelievable. He just looks nasty and sloppy even before he steals the world critters.

This is a 2 part episode and the first of the series. The entire first episode could have been condensed into an 8 minute segment that would normally fit between commercials in an entire episode. The story line is ridiculously juvenile like the writing and unfortunately the acting. I like the Bridges - especially Lloyd, but they really got handed a serious stinker to recite. If it weren't for Beau & Lloyd this episode would be the worst one of the entire series, it's that bad. They are the only saving grace of this terrible episode of a good show.

I read this novella as part of a sci-fi "short story" collection I checked out from my local library in the late 1980s, although it was almost long enough to be it's own book (close to 60 pages). At the time, I had no idea who George R.R. Martin was, or that he'd go on to create something as monumental as the "Songs of Ice and Fire" novel series that is currently in its fourth season on HBO (with some episodes being written by Martin while he also works feverishly to finish the novel series before the TV series catches up).

At the time I was halfway through my college degree and had a journalism professor who was as much or more of a movie buff than a journalism professor (he's been a local movie critic ever since). I discussed the story with him (I don't think he'd read it, but I gave him ALL the high points) and told him what a great movie I thought it would make, but he said he thought it would be too much of "a downer" to be successful in Hollywood. Of course THAT was before so many other successful movies and TV shows with "down" endings came out.

I didn't catch this "The Outer Limits" version until it was in re-runs, and I WAS NOT IMPRESSED. It completely changed the story. I'm not going to go into any details, except to say that in the original story, the central character was no research scientist and the sandkings were the result of NO research project he'd ever been a part of. Rather, he was more of an affluent business man on an unnamed alien planet (or perhaps Earth in the distant future, although from what I recall, it seemed more like an alien planet -- been about 25 years since I read it).

Who knows WHY screenwriters make the choices they do in adaptations? The professor I mentioned taught a course in "The American Short Story" which I took that covered the adaptation process from a PBS series that had done that, with a book made to accompany the series, with the original story, screenplay, and sometimes even commentary on the differences by the original author. It was QUITE enlightening, so I understand why it often NEEDS to be done. In this case, I think it just made a much LESS interesting and MUCH less powerful story.

The wife drove away in the silver car, assuming the car is with her since they showed the Auto Ferry leaving the area of the grandfather's house. The scene after shows that same car back at the house.