I didn't expect much, but it's actually pretty good. 'Beyond the Time Barrier' tells us about a test pilot in 1960 who takes a rocket plane into space for a short flight - but when he returns to the airbase, it's deserted. A futuristic city is nearby, and he finds he is in the year 2024. He learns about the people of the future, what problems they have, and what caused the destruction of the old world as he knew it. He would like to return to his own time and prevent the catastrophe, but this is a difficult task...It's a movie made in 1960 and looks like it with dated design and effects. The story has a few weak points, especially time travel with a plane, simply flying a bit faster, is unconvincing. But there are a couple of good ideas (e.g. predicting the damage to the ozone layer instead of the usual nuclear war topic) and it's well directed, without any tedious or silly scenes to stretch the running time. Good sci-fi entertainment for its age.

I wasn't expecting too much when I popped the DVD of "Beyond The Time Barrier" into my DVD player - I thought I would be getting standard 1950s low budget sci-fi. But I was somewhat surprised. While I would not call this a GREAT movie, it is not without merit. For starters, it runs at an acceptable length, without one scene that is pointless. (Though the movie could have spent more time at the start developing the character of the hero - we learn next to nothing about him before his travelling in time.) While the movie is low budget, the limited funds are generally spent well, with some eye-catching sets and some well-chosen locations. The script has some interesting ideas here and there, and it interestingly ends the movie on a note that's not completely happy - quite unlike most other sci-fi films of this period. Fans of 1950s low budget sci fi films will probably enjoy this the most. Others will probably find it a fairly painless way to pass 75 minutes.

This movie is, in fact, available on DVD through Movies Unlimited (moviesunlimited.com). However, don't expect a DVD-quality print of this movie; it looks just like it did when you watched it on those late night sci-fi showcases in the 60s (which, to me, is part of its appeal). Not listed on the DVD case is the trailer for the movie, which is tacked on at the very end. I was glad to add be able to add this to my movie collection. I gave the movie 4 out of 10 stars based on it's "cheese factor". Sometimes the cheapest movies are the most endearing, and this one is a prime example. Silly dialog, homemade sets and costumes, and laughable special effects. This is not a movie to watch in prime time. This is a movie to plug in either late at night when nothing else is on and everyone else is fast asleep and you're feeling a little groggy yourself, or early afternoon when you're home from work with a bad cold and drowsy from all the medicine. Then you won't take it so seriously. Enjoy.

If you considering this title, you are probably towards the end of your journey to see all that the 'fifties' sci-fi genre has to offer, and rightly so.BTTB is a Z Grade affair all the way. While the story concept and sets are intriguing enough, the lame acting, lack of action, and static camera work make this one almost unwatchable. Ulmer's high point for low budget was Detour. This is nowhere near Detour.For bottom of the barrel fifties sci-fi, I would definitely recommend War of the Satellites, Satellite in the Sky, Night the World Exploded, Phantom From Space or Mutiny in Outer Space long before I would recommend Beyond the Time barrier. It's not terribly bad, just terribly unengaging....