TV on Tape: The Outer Limits Movie Review

They called it “The Control Voice.” The racket coming from your television set became suddenly stilled, the picture reduced to a wavering line, while a matter-of-fact voice icily informed you that “We are taking control of your television set.” At that instant, the thought that you might have the ability to change the channel were instantly erased. You really had no choice – unknown hypnotic entities had indeed taken control, and for the next 60 minutes, there was nothing you could do about it.

And you wouldn't have it any other way.

Though rare today, anthology shows were once very popular on television. Although mostly dramas and comedies, there was an occasional short-lived science-fiction series such as Tales of Tomorrow. Frustrated by the network censors, writer/producer Rod Serling turned to fantasy and science fiction to sneak his ideas on the air, creating a series called The Twilight Zone as his vehicle. Excellently written and directed, episodes of The Twilight Zone were intellectually stimulating, sometimes whimsical, and often downright preachy. As host, Serling was always on hand to reassure us with his wry commentary.

For The Outer Limits, producer Leslie Stevens had something quite different in mind. While Serling invited us to enter “another dimension,” The Outer Limits reached right out and grabbed you. While The Twilight Zone had always brought you to the edge of imagination, the Control Voice (Vic Paren) leaped out from beyond that edge and commanded, “You are about to experience the awe and mystery that reaches from the inner mind to… The Outer Limits!”

And they weren't kidding. The stories had more to do with sensation than speculation. Every story had some sort of fantastic monster or weird alien visitor (affectionately termed “the Bear” by insiders), courtesy of the best make-up and f/x that television had to offer. One week an energy being from beyond the stars would invade a radio station. The next, swarms of tiny alien criminals would be set loose in your neighborhood. They weren't above starting the show with a scene in which a weird, ugly mutant creature would jump out of the shadows straight at the camera.

Not that the show could be called lowbrow. On the contrary, a lot of episodes were based on excellent stories by some of science fiction's finest talents. As long as there was some kind of monster in it. Even if the aliens or mutants were benign, they were always presented in such a way that you'd get a few thrills out of them. The Outer Limits probably caused more nightmares for little kids than any other show. Even if you were sent to bed at the start of the show, it was too late – the Control Voice already had you.

Recently, the Showtime cable channel revived the series. The new series has excellent production values, and follows the tradition of basing stories on solid stories (sometimes remaking classic episodes), still with the required “Bear,” and some of them have been quite good. But it's just not the same. With 60 cable channels available via your remote control, there's no way to reproduce the chilling effect of the Control Voice.

But in 1963, when an unknown force from The Outer Limits seized control of your television in a darkened room, who would dare get up and defy the authority of the Control Voice? They were controlling transmission. You really didn't have any choice.

1963-65/B VHS MGM, MOV
1995-present/C VHS MGM