I've noted on my other reviews that I had quit watching Outer Limits after the 4th episode of a dismal and disappointing season 2. Thus, I never saw this during its original outing. I had heard some scathing commentary from my grade school friends who still bothered to watch about monster tumbleweeds. This concept did not compel me to want to return to Outer Limits the following week. I thought it was so sad that a great series like season 1 anticipated had become so banally tepid. Thanks to DVDs and the promise I made to myself at a young age to own at least season 1, I was finally able to view this presumed train wreck. The basic premise, which is actually quite good, is that an alien species is trying to communicate with someone (anyone at all) and their transmission signal is having a very strange effect on various objects on Earth. A fantastic idea. But here it translates to tumbleweeds trying to cling to you like static clothing, frogs converge and 'stampede' as only frogs can, and rocks avalanche onto you at convenient times. Why any of this would necessarily happen at all is never explained. Of course, Eddie Albert and wife do not know that this is supposed to be an alien race merely trying to say hello and end up with a mentally exhausted local man in his little homestead in the middle of a desert for a panic filled night. Like the rest of dreary season 2, an idea that had such promise goes no where and the aliens essentially give up and Eddie and wife go back to their car and drive away. (note: check out the segment where the rocks avalanche on them. The mentally crippled old homesteader seems to time himself to get hit on purpose, is killed, but continues to breathe nevertheless.) Nearly all of my '4' rating is for the great concept alone. The missing '6' is for my ire that this was wasted away by what is essentially the 'Perry Mason' production staff.
Review of Cry of Silence
