Product Details

• Actors: Vic Perrin, Bob Johnson, Ben Wright, Robert Culp, Robert Duvall
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 51 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301977122
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #567,914 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Zeno: Intergalactic corruptor of youth!, February 16, 2000

By 

"james_m_b" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Outer Limits, The Special One: Vol. 28 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

When young Kenny Benjamin, enrolled in a government-sponsored program for "gifted" children, is visited by Mr. Zeno (Richard Ney), his voluntary services as a special tutor are gratefully accepted by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin. Regretfully, Mr. Zeno is not a government educator, but part of an invasion force preparing the Earth for conquest by creating superior beings out of gifted youths, like Kenny, to spearhead the operation. This episode mimics the mom and pop type sitcoms of the early 60's with typical scenes and dialog. Within this context the events that occur are more than commonplace creating the unusual nature of this episode. Richard Ney portrays a truly memorable character, Mr. Zeno from the planet Xenon, with his dry wit and sombre countenance. Mrs. Benjamin is played by Marion Ross who later starred as Mrs. Cunnigham in "Happy Days". The special effects are interesting but not terribly exciting with the exception of the opening which is one of the most frightful scenes in the show.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not So Special, Indeed, September 6, 2002

By 

McGillicutty "DVD Fan" (The Sooner Nation) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Outer Limits, The Special One: Vol. 28 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Reflecting on the other reviews, this one is a bit long and boring (at times). Especially during the middle section where we know what is happening and we are waiting for "Dad" to take care of Mr. Zeno. However, there are some remarkable bits here. For example, the opening scene is classic Outer Limits and is certainly one of the best. The special effects, particularly the way Mr. Zeno is transported and the "confetti" effect at the climax of the episode are top notch. Kudos also to the overplayed, but very effective "rising cresendo" music. Also, the boy gives a very effective speech, embracing human values and smartly rejecting Mr. Zeno.

McDonald Carey is adequate as the father, but one thing that bothered me was the fact that he's at least twenty years older than his wife, Marion Ross. Who, by the way, is given very little to do and is certainly the third wheel in this family. One obvious "blooper" is evident when Mr. Carey is about to jump from his son's window. The shot looking down to the street indicates that he's several stories up, but you can clearly see the branches of a tree through the window. Unless redwoods grow on New York street corners, I don't see how such a tree could be that tall.

All in all, an average episode with some nice acting and a great premise.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars educational enrichment, June 19, 2002

By 

"wixtrom" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Outer Limits, The Special One: Vol. 28 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Bad things first: This episode is quite dull. At some points i was actually just waiting for it to end. The performance of the boys father - a very central figure - is wooden and dull. Also the end climax is a quite predictable, and stretched to the extreme.
Although this is a bit of a filler episode, director Gerd Oswald has done his very best. I never knew a picture of a couple watching tv in a flat can look so eerie. The scenes with mr. Zeno and the boy experimenting in the boy's room are exciting. The special effects are marvelous: any classic scifi-fan will get a kick out of Mr Zeno's materialization, nerves first. Also Richie's mom from Happy Days is here.
As one reviewer pointed out earlier, this one screams for a remake. However, only classics like "I, Robot" and "The Inheritors" have been remade, doomed to be foreshadowed by the originals. Why not remake episodes like this and, say, "Premonition", potentially great stories with their flaws clearly visible and easily fixed?