Beyond The Time Barrier (1960) - Edger G. Ulmer

United States Air Force pilot Major William Allison has been selected to test a new rocket powered craft believed to be able to reach supersonic speeds.  On his test run, Major Allison accidentally travels through a wormhole transporting him 64 years into the future.  The airbase he took off from is now completely deserted with the world as he knows it going through massive changes.  He ends up crossing the path of a ruling class of people, led by the Supreme, who are suspicious of Major Allison, suspecting he is a spy.  Alone and confused, the Major finds himself stuck between this ruling class who live in the "Citadel' and a tribe of mutants, people who have been severely mutated by the plague caused by extraterrestrial radiation.  As Major Allison begins to put the pieces together he realizes the only way to save humanity is to return to his own time, which ultimately comes at a price.  Edgar Ulmer's Beyond the Time Barrier is a low-budget b-movie with unique and interesting ideas centered around the time-travel concept.  Ulmer is known for his ultra-low budget feature work and Time Barrier is another good example of his ability to create a cinematic experience out of scraps.  Using a good amount of stock footage and creative production design, the film manages to transport the viewer into this world.  An abundance of geometric shapes are used, with some well timed compositions that let Ulmer create this futuristic world which feels completely different than present time.  Sure, Beyond the Time Barrier has a lot of cheese, but what film from the time doesn't?  Time Barrier does touch on some interesting ideas, like the decay of civilized humanity, capturing the factions that form when faced with terrible adversity, painting a rather truthful portrait of the fragility of our organized and free society.  The love story that evolves between the Major and the Supreme's daughter feels forced and unnecessary, though I did like that the film doesn't paint these people of the Citadel as monsters, just men and woman trying to survive.  Edgar Ulmer's Beyond the Time Barrier isn't a profound piece of sci-fi nor a dated piece of cheese, but another solid example of a filmmaker creating a lot with very little.
6.75/10

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