The Invisible Enemy
- Episode aired Oct 31, 1964
- 51m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
518
YOUR RATING
The first manned expedition to Mars finds itself being killed one-by-one by an alien predator.The first manned expedition to Mars finds itself being killed one-by-one by an alien predator.The first manned expedition to Mars finds itself being killed one-by-one by an alien predator.
Robert DoQui
- Lieutenant Frank Johnson
- (as Bob DoQui)
Michael T. Mikler
- Captain Fred Thomas
- (as Mike Mikler)
Vic Perrin
- Control Voice
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Jerry Sohl
- Leslie Stevens(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaByron Haskin was known for reusing different items from previous projects for newer efforts (i.e. The Martian War Machines from The War of the Worlds (1953) appearing in Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)). For this episode, which also takes place on Mars, he brings back both the Mars Gravity Probe spacesuits, as well as Adam West, for this tale.
- GoofsThe astronauts are told that the atmosphere on Mars does support (human) life and that no helmets are needed. In reality, Mars' atmosphere is 95% carbon dioxide and only 1.6% oxygen, making it incompatible with unprotected human life.
- Quotes
Captain Fred Thomas: This is Captain Fred Thomas, commanding interplanetary vehicle M1 colonization probe. To Colonel Hal Danvers, headquarters communication, planet Earth. Subject of report - arrival on the planet Mars. Landing is completely successful.
- ConnectionsReferenced in The Outer Limits: Wolf 359 (1964)
Featured review
Unnecessarily bad.
"The Outer Limits" was a neat series but even its greatest fans would admit that sometimes the monsters or aliens in the show were really cheesy. But, in spite of this, the show still was very good--even some of those with the silliest special effects. So, you can't blame the failure of "The Invisible Enemy". Sure, the monster is VERY cheesy (a creature that looks like it's part octopus, part crab and mostly plastic) but even still it could have been a good show. The problem here is definitely the writing.
The show begins with a rocket landing on Mars. Soon after, both crew members are killed and Earth has no idea what caused it. So, they send another ship with four guys--and VERY specific orders to be careful and investigate the deaths. Soon, one of these idiots is killed--and you marvel at how anyone can be THAT stupid and careless considering that they already know the place is very deadly. So what happens next? most of the rest of the crew behaves even stupider!! Defying orders and all common sense, they start making dumb choices and behaving like unprofessional half-wits! How can the audience possibly buy into the stories if the characters behave this way?! There are other serious flaws with the plot if you think about it. Where were the cameras and video cameras to try to record exactly WHAT was killing everyone?! Why not bring LOTS of weapons and safety equipment?! Why not send multiple ships? The bottom line is that aside from a nice ending, this is just a very dumb episode. And, sadly, it could have been a lot better had the script just been polished a bit.
The show begins with a rocket landing on Mars. Soon after, both crew members are killed and Earth has no idea what caused it. So, they send another ship with four guys--and VERY specific orders to be careful and investigate the deaths. Soon, one of these idiots is killed--and you marvel at how anyone can be THAT stupid and careless considering that they already know the place is very deadly. So what happens next? most of the rest of the crew behaves even stupider!! Defying orders and all common sense, they start making dumb choices and behaving like unprofessional half-wits! How can the audience possibly buy into the stories if the characters behave this way?! There are other serious flaws with the plot if you think about it. Where were the cameras and video cameras to try to record exactly WHAT was killing everyone?! Why not bring LOTS of weapons and safety equipment?! Why not send multiple ships? The bottom line is that aside from a nice ending, this is just a very dumb episode. And, sadly, it could have been a lot better had the script just been polished a bit.
helpful•1217
- planktonrules
- Jan 10, 2012
Details
- Runtime51 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3
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