Sam Egan Movies
Syfy's Knights of Bloodsteel is a fantasy adventure miniseries scripted by award-winning writer Sam Egan (the 1990s' The Outer Limits). The sword-and-sorcery epic takes place in the magical kingdom of Mirabilis, which derives its life force from a powerful metal known as bloodsteel. When the bloodsteel begins to run out, wizard Tesselink (Christopher Lloyd) recruits four unlikely knights -- human John Serragoth (David James Elliott), elf Perfidia (Natassia Malthe), goblin Ber-lak (Dru Viergever), and con-man Adric (Christopher Jacot) -- to embark upon a mythic quest to keep what's left of the precious metal from falling into the hands of an evil tyrant named Dragon Eye (Mark Gibbon). ~ All Movie Guide
- 2008
This fantasy TV series from Canada follows the bizarre adventures of Dr. Helen Magnus, a British doctor whose area of expertise lies in cryptobiology -- which is to say, monsters. Constantly seeking out the strange and secret creatures seldom seen by others, Dr. Magnus is sometimes confronted with life forms too dangerous to unleash on the public. But often times, the subjects of the doctor's study are the ones in danger, and she believes it is her moral duty to protect them from the fearful, prying eyes of humanity, setting up what she calls a "sanctuary" for the universe's misfits. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
The Showtime cable series Jeremiah was set in a bleak, post-apocalyptic future, 15 years after a mysterious virus had killed off everyone past puberty. The only survivors of the holocaust were teenagers and twentysomethings, with the eponymous Jeremiah (Luke Perry) falling into the latter category. Following fragmentary clues left by his father, Jeremiah navigated the dismal, ravaged countryside in search of the "Valhalla Sector," an idyllic locale which may or may not have held the key to a brighter future. He was joined in his quest by the glib, supremely untrustowrthy Kurdy (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), and, on occasion, by other youthful remnants of the human race, both friendly and antagonistic. Co-executive produced by horror film specialist Joe Dante and Babylon 5 maven J. Michael Straczynski, the weekly, 60-minute Jeremiah was launched with a 100-minute pilot episode on March 30, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Biogenetics expert Zach Griffiths (Peter Outerbridge) grieves over the fact that his beloved wife Nora (Sherilyn Fenn) is in a deep, irreversible coma, the result of a botched experiment. Risking arrest for performing an illegal procedure, the desperate Griffiths creates a clone of Nora. Zach's "new" wife seems to be perfection itself...except for one very tiny but very fatal flaw in her system. "Replica" originally aired on April 27, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
While traveling on the Space Shuttle Inspire, selfish and egotistical best-selling author Jake Worthy (Jere Burns) manages to survive a horrible accident in space; in fact, he is the sole survivor. When Jake begins behaving in a more agreeable and generous manner, it is assumed that he has experienced an epiphany after being spared a gruesome death. But the real reason for Jake's character conversion is an alien entity (Zachary Ansley) -- which has somehow burrowed its way into Jake's body, and is now desperately trying to escape. "The Vessel" originally aired on April 13, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
On the brink of perishing in a car accident, graduate student Lorelle (Kristin Lehman) is suddenly snatched from the jaws of death by futuristic time traveler Gavin (Chris Martin). For Gavin, hopping through time and space is merely a game, but Lorelle does not see things the same way. Inveigling Gavin into sending her back to 1969, she attempts to save her own father from being killed in an antiwar demonstration -- an act of humanity that may well wreak havoc on all future events. Included are excerpts from the earlier Outer Limits episodes "Tribunal" and "Gettysburg." "Time to Time" originally aired on August 11, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Blind since childhood, 28-year-old English professor Patrick Tarloff (Mackenzie Astin) undergoes an experimental eye operation. Miracle of miracles, he is again able to see. In fact, he can see beyond what is actually before him -- including the haunting image of a woman named Kyra (Claire Rankin), an invisible alien who has been trapped on earth. Will Tarloff lead the authorities to Kyra, as he is supposed to, or will he come to her rescue and release her from earthly bondage? "The Beholder" originally aired on February 25, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The year is 2076: Dr Theresa Givens (Amanda Plummer), a time traveler from the 20th century, has been sentenced to death for violating the anti-technology laws which govern this post-apocalyptic society. The rulers of the new, pre-industrial judiciary offer Theresa a reprieve, but only if she can successfully plead her case before the Supreme Court, which is evenly divided between anti-tech conservatives and progressive liberals. Dr. Givens' testimony consists primarily of excerpts from such previous Outer Limits episodes as "A Stitch in Time" (in which Amanda Plummer first created the character of Theresa Givens), "Donor," "Vaccine," "The New Breed," "Sandkings," "Fathers & Sons," "Final Exam," "Déjà Vu," "New Lease," and "Relativity Theory." Originally telecast on September 3, 2000, "Final Appeal" was planned as the last-ever episode of The Outer Limits, as indicated by its extended length (two hours), its all-star cast, and its truly shocking denouement. However, the series' option was picked up by cable TV's Sci-Fi Channel (taking over from Showtime), thus the episode was merely the conclusion of The Outer Limits' sixth season, with dozens more episodes still to come. Since its original telecast, "Final Appeal" has been rerun as two separate one-hour installments. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Released from prison after serving time for beating his wife, Matthew Logan (Christian Bocher) makes a beeline to a local gun show. It is Logan's intention to purchase a weapon with which to kill his wife Sandra (Linnea Sharples). But the gun he purchases from a sinister stranger named Donald Finley (John de Lancie) turns out to have some very peculiar powers -- not least of which is the ability to attach itself to Logan's hand, thereby transforming his entire body into a bizarre "murder machine." "The Gun" originally aired on January 28, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Andy (Joshua Leonard) and Vince (Jonathan Scarfe) are a pair of 20th century Civil War buffs and re-enactors. While visiting the battlefield at Gettysburg, the two men agree to pose for an eccentric photographer named Prentice (Alex Diakun). One blinding flash of light later, both Andy and Vince are transported back to 1863 during the actual Gettysburg conflict -- the first step in a bizarre scheme to completely alter history. Rock star Meat Loaf, here billed as Meat Loaf Aday, appears as Colonel Angus Divine. "Gettysburg" was originally telecast on July 28, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Having been discredited by a "miscalculation" during a manned space flight in the 1960s, elderly astronaut Theodore Harris (Cliff Robertson) is given a chance to redeem himself nearly 40 years later. Taking over the controls of a brand-new passenger starship, Harris pilots the vessel into unchartered space, hoping to revisit the area where he had suffered the mishap that ruined his reputation. In his efforts to restore his good name, Harris endangers the lives of the vessel's terrified passengers -- none of whom have any idea why the ship has suddenly and dramatically gone off course. "Joyride" originally aired on February 26, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Saul Rubinek stars as Aaron Zgierski, the son of elderly Holocaust survivor Leon Zgierski (Peter Boretski). Hoping to bring his father's concentration-camp tormentors to justice, Aaron has dedicated his life to tracking down elusive war criminal Karl Rademacher, who has lived unobtrusively for decades under a variety of phony names. Aaron receives unexpected assistance from time-traveler Nicholas Prentice (Alex Diakun), who though unable to wreak vengeance on Rademacher himself lest he disturb the world's time stream, has a curious knack of providing others with the wherewithal to right past wrongs. Written by Sam Egan, himself the son of an Auschwitz survivor, "Tribunal" originally aired on May 14, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Suffering from inoperable cancer, Dr. Peter Halstead (Robert Hays) undergoes an experimental surgical procedure, in which he is given a full-body transplant. Alas, the operation has some unforeseen side effects: Halstead begins experiencing the memories and emotions of Timothy Laird (Rice Honeywell), the dead person who "donated" Halstead's new body. In one of his more horrific images, Halstead sees exactly what Laird saw just before he died -- or rather, just before he was murdered. "Donor" originally aired on January 29, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
One of a handful of 1990s Outer Limits episodes based on stories from the series' original run in the 1960s, "The Inheritors" was adapted from a program that first aired as a two-parter in November 1964. Stricken in the head by a bullet-shaped meteorite particle, musician Jacob Hardy (Nicholas Lea) is rushed to the hospital, where he is pronounced dead -- only to suddenly return to life as if nothing happened. But of course, something has happened: Jacob has emerged from his ordeal with a super-advanced intellect, as have two other "victims" of the same meteorite. But for what purpose have Jacob and his fellow "geniuses" been chosen for this honor -- and by whom? This remake of "The Inheritors" was telecast on July 16, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
One wonders if the creators of this Outer Limits episode ever saw the 1933 fantasy film It's Great to Be Alive, since both share essentially the same fantastic plot line. Cryogenically frozen for 40 years, Major Jason Mercer (David Keith) awakens to discover that the earth is now populated exclusively by women; all the men have been killed in an apocalyptic war. Before long, Jason is at the center of a heated debate: Should the female scientists attempt to revitalize the male race -- or should they leave well enough alone, lest the world face total annihilation? "Lithia" first aired on July 3, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Another in a handful of remade episodes from the original Outer Limits series of the 1960s, Nightmare was based on a program which originally aired on December 2, 1963. The elite multicultural crew of the military space cruiser Tango Bravo is captured by Ebonite aliens. One by one, the crew members are forced to endure a hellish interrogation, conducted by an unseen voice. Curiously, the Ebonites seem to know the unique psychological weaknesses of each crewperson -- but no one knows where the interrogation will lead, nor what will ultimately happen to the captives. Dedicated to the late Outer Limits creator Leslie Stevens, the "new" version of "Nightmare" was first shown on August 14, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
The primitve planet Madrona is plunged into meterological chaos when the Touchstone, a weather-controlling device, is stolen. Roham (Matthew Walker), high priest of Madrona, accuses the SG-1 team of the theft. In truth, however, the Touchstone was pilfered by higher-ups in the earth's government, who to pull off the heist have secretly reactivated the long-dormant second Stargate. In order to set things right, General Hammond (Don S. Davis) risks his military career--and, possibly, his life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Arye Gross stars as Bernard Selden, a man who has been plagued with debilitating fears and phobias ever since childhood. Submitting to an experimental treatment, Selden allows his innermost phobias to be transformed into an awesome "psychic weapon." But unless he can somehow return to the exact day that he began to be frightened of everything and everyone, Selden will be utterly destroyed by the sum of all his fears. "Fear Itself" was originally broadcast on April 10, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
With the earth's atmosphere facing destruction, NASA scientist Miles Davidow (C. Thomas Howell) manages to find a method of survival by merging his own DNA with a mysterious life form on the planet Venus. At first, the Venusian influence bestows remarkable recuperative powers on Davidow's body. Eventually, however, the terrible side effects of the "treatment" threatens the life of every person whom Davidow truly cares about. "The Joining" first aired on April 17, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
In the future, environmental organizations have succeeded in banning the hunting of animals. To satisfy their urge to kill, sportsmen like George Nichols (Ron White) must now hunt down obsolete androids. Even though the hunters can only use bows and arrows, this "sport" is still rather one-sided, since androids have been programmed not to turn on their pursuers. There is, however, at least one android at large who doesn't know the "rules." "The Hunt" was originally broadcast on January 30, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Years of trial-and-error experimentation by doctors James Houghton (Stephen Lang) and Charles McCamber (Michael Ontkean) has culminated in a new-miraculous invention. The "Scanning Molecular Reorganizer" actually enables Houghton and McCamber to bring the dead back to life. There are, however, a few glitches in the device -- as Houghton discovers to his horror when it is used on him. Directed by former child actor Jason Priestley, "New Lease" was originally telecast on March 21, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
On the brink of death, terminally ill scientist Jacob Valerian (John Gilbert) transfers all his memories and experiences into the brain of Karl Durand (Howie Mandel), a mentally challenged adult. This sudden influx of knowledge and wisdom has a startling effect on the previously simple and childlike Karl. In fact, "startling" may be too mild a word; perhaps "horrifying" would be more appropriate, especially when Karl begins to use Valerian's technology to capture the minds of others -- leaving their dead bodies behind. "Second Thoughts" first aired on January 19, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
