The Mercury Men (2011) User Reviews

Really good, but makes you wish there was more

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 21 August 2012]

I was very surprised by this series. Not that I had initial reservations but I did wonder if it would work with each episode having such short running times. No fear of that. It works wonderfully, so much so that I do wish there was/is more and perhaps with the episodes a little longer. The series looks good, the black and white makes certain objects, variable in significance, seem more powerful than they are. Each episode is shot beautifully and even the effects are good, if perhaps not amazing. The Mercury Men is very well written as well, light-hearted but also very thoughtful with some fun references to classic sci-fi from the 50s, while the stories are suspenseful and exciting if simple. The characters do have some degrees of dimension, stronger in some episodes than others, and the acting is good.

All in all, a really good series, worth checking out.

9/10 Bethany Cox

A Black & White revisit to Pulp Adventure

[Rabh17 · 27 July 2011]

I saw a 6 minute webisode slice on Syfy and was so captivated by the simplicity of it that I went to iTunes and downloaded the entire show so I could see it full-sized on a big screen. I was not disappointed!

Alien men threaten the Planet and only one stoop-shouldered office nebbish stands in the way of Earth's annihilation. Only he will be able to save the League's sole agent onworld and help turn off the 'Gravity Engine'.

Think of the old EERIE Comic book stories and mesh it with the radioactive black & white grey tones of the Old 'Outer Limits'-- The Scary One, not the sanitized new age one. The Universe is not a safe, wonderful place. Unknown Danger awaits outside beyond the limits of the world.

The characters are cardboard in the current cinematic sense, but in the Pulp fiction world, they are fully fleshed. It's about who will swallow their fear, step up to the plate and save the world.

Don't be turned off by the Black & White. The beauty of Black & White is that simple props become powerful. Glass & Metal stop being plain, and become sleek and bright. Black becomes deep and mysterious, while White becomes eye-searing. And Aliens. . .well, they look Alien! Give this a try after a long work week. It's nice light, but thoughtful entertainment for an early Friday Night.

In the spirit of classic serials and 50's sci-fi

[blackhawk66 · 10/10 · 21 April 2012]

I just recently discovered this web series. I've watched it through along with most of the behind-the-scenes videos that can be found online. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The director/writer says that their intention was to make a story that felt like the serials of the 1930s and the sci-fi movies of the 1950s and 1960s. I think they succeeded admirably. The story is suspenseful where it should be, scary and exciting, and even gives the characters a bit of dimension; all of it squeezed into six to ten minute episodes. I very much liked that it was in black and white. It was perfect for this story. The VFX are not elaborate but still quite striking. The production, props, costumes, etc. are excellent for a low budget, independent film. I had not seen the actors before but they were very professional and fit their parts.

I highly recommend "The Mercury Men." My only complaint is that there is not more. Although this story is complete there is also a cliff hanger that sets us up for another. I'm ready to see that right now.