Catherine O'Hara cracks me up. She has a vacuity and a sincerity to her. It came through in the first two "Home Alone" movies as well as in "A Might Wind." In this episode she plays the beleaguered housewife of a postal worker. She lives in a trailer in some desolate spot in the country. She spends her days watching soap operas and carrying on a kind of conversation with the characters. While looking for Christmas decorations she finds what appears to be a 22 caliber pistol. She peer down the barrel, exhorting, "I hope this isn't loaded." At that moment, she falls off the box on which she is standing and shoots herself in the head. She survives and treats it no differently than if she had bumped her head. There is a hole there and her being alive is quite astounding. She also begins to hear voices. She carries on a relationship with a commercial picture on a picture frame. He informs him that her husband is having an affair with a woman he works with. Meanwhile, the injury to her brain seems to have boosted her intelligence (she was a dim bulb). She starts to read and begins to show skill in electric work. She modifies her vacuum cleaner to clean the house on its own. The picture frame guy gives her advice about her sexuality and her lack of commitment. He also continues to mention the woman at work. By the way, just to show how insignificant she is thought of, her husband tells her to have her head looked at by a veterinarian because he only charges nine dollars. When I heard that a Stephen King story was the basis for this episode, it didn't surprise me at all. A very odd addition to the Outer Limits canon.
The Outer Limits (TV Series)
The Revelations of 'Becka Paulson (1997)
User Reviews
Review this title11 Reviews
Saw this at age 7
theFIRSTfuckinGAGE1 December 2018
The other reviewer is high as a kite.
anthonystoner-5994830 April 2021
It's not a "ripoff" of the movie tommyknockers. Steven King wrote the short story, then he later changed some details and worked it into a chapter OF THE NOVEL, THE TOMMYKNOCKERS. Much, MUCH later, the novel was made into a TV miniseries, where you saw Traci Lords portraying Ms. Voss, among other things. After this, by about 2-3 years, the ORIGINAL SHORT STORY was made into a film, on its own basis. Steven King signed off on both of those productions, of course. Know your sources before you comment tripe like that.
There is no one like Catherine O'Hara!
RadioactiveGirl21 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I must admit, I don't remember a lot of Outer Limits episodes. In my opinion, they are usually second rate to Twilight Zone (when it was in first run zenith). But this episode of Outer Limits I remember as well as any of the great Twilight Zones (insert your favorite episode here). Catherine O'Hara gives a wonderfully understated performance as a woman who accidentally shoots herself in the head. Now the bullet is evidently of small caliber (I would guess a .22) because she doesn't die. The bullet enters right above her eyebrow, leaves a distinct hole, and a trace of blood. In fact, Catherine's character isn't entirely certain of what has happened to her and covers the wound with a tiny Band-Aid (such as a man might use when he cuts himself shaving). She goes about her day as a long-suffering, neglected housewife. Later she becomes curious about her wound, when the picture insert that has come with an 8 x 10 picture frame starts talking to her. The picture man is a very dapper looking Steven Webber replete in tuxedo and "catalog model" cheesy pose. At one point, Catherine's character inserts a #2 pencil a good 4 inches into her skull through the hole left by the bullet. (This scene is particularly memorable). The picture man's conversations with Catherine become increasing sinister and disturbing. It is a fantastic episode. If there is anyway you can get your hands on a copy of it, do it! Catherine gives a wonderfully subtle and textured performance (doesn't she always?!). Every time I watch Catherine O'Hara, I'm reminded of what an amazing (and under appreciated) talent she truly is! (also, if you haven't already, check her out in Really Weird Tales. Haunting performance. Heartbreaking and full of humor and pathos!)
Depressing story only made worthwhile by O'Hara and Weber
bribabylk17 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
*** SPOILER FOLLOWS***
This is a story about a lonely housewife, neglected, betrayed, and occasionally insulted by her husband, who suffers an unfortunate accident, enjoys a brief "Flowers For Algernon" period of enhanced intelligence which could potentially fill her life with purpose and the joy of achievement, but instead causes her to descend into psychosis. In the end she commits suicide. Downer.
This is a story about a lonely housewife, neglected, betrayed, and occasionally insulted by her husband, who suffers an unfortunate accident, enjoys a brief "Flowers For Algernon" period of enhanced intelligence which could potentially fill her life with purpose and the joy of achievement, but instead causes her to descend into psychosis. In the end she commits suicide. Downer.
Bullethole Blooper
untkay31 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Has anyone noticed that when she looks in the mirror to inspect her wound, the entry hole has changed to the wrong side of her forehead? She shot herself over her left eyebrow, and the wound is over the right eyebrow in the mirror. Maybe they mistakenly thought the mirror image would be backwards.
Her portrayal is a bit spooky, as she has the convincing ability to emulate a ditsy housewife, and at the same time is able to generate that "far away look" in her eyes which makes her appear to be a bit psycho.
As usual O'Hara is magnificent! I went to her Wikipedia page and was not surprised by her many accomplishments. She is my age and I first became enamored with her on SCTV. That was in the 70's when cable TV (believe it or not) was only available in select areas across the USA. She is credited with over 30 dead on impersonations. She can sing too!
She also directed an OL episode called"Glyphic".
Her portrayal is a bit spooky, as she has the convincing ability to emulate a ditsy housewife, and at the same time is able to generate that "far away look" in her eyes which makes her appear to be a bit psycho.
As usual O'Hara is magnificent! I went to her Wikipedia page and was not surprised by her many accomplishments. She is my age and I first became enamored with her on SCTV. That was in the 70's when cable TV (believe it or not) was only available in select areas across the USA. She is credited with over 30 dead on impersonations. She can sing too!
She also directed an OL episode called"Glyphic".
Genius
TheInvisigoth23 August 2020
Tied for WORST episode of the ENTIRE SERIES!
rsadtler3 October 2019
Some episodes are riveting. Some are just watchable. Others are barely watchable. Then there is this mess. Stupid story, annoying characters, forty eight minutes of your life that you'll never get back. The ONLY good news is, there IS one episode with as pointless a story, and a larger number of annoying characters: Episode 5.09, What will the neighbors think. Save yourself!
This is just pure joy
theonejackdry26 May 2020
I don't believe this.
viperjc11 December 2019
I knew the name Becca Paulson sounded familiar, it wasn't until the picture on the TV started talking that I realized this is nothing but a straight ripoff of act two scene three of the movie The Tommyknockers.
The "hussy" down at the post office was none other than legend Tracy Lords. And her intelligence came from alien green goo, and not a bullet in her head.
The "hussy" down at the post office was none other than legend Tracy Lords. And her intelligence came from alien green goo, and not a bullet in her head.
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