This is an interesting film and perhaps to some it is quite a mess. It is a mess that I enjoy though. Seeming it was made for $25 million and made under $12 million at the box office it may not exactly be for the average movie-goer.
I had seen the shorter version maybe 3 or 4 times, but just yesterday I saw the extended version and I would suggest searching out that version. While the 101 minute version tends to go almost at a breakneck speed some interesting story elements and character building are left out.
I will try and give a short synopsis on the plot. So here goes. The ship Churchill lead by Col. Tom Carlsen (Steve Railsback) is investigating Haley's Comet (which in 1985 was about to swing past Earth). They find that there is ab object 150 miles...yes miles...long and about 2 miles high within the cloud of Haley's Comet. They go to investigate and enter the object. Inside they see dead bat-like beings that were its crew. Also they find three nude humans (including the beautiful French Mathilda May who generally goes through the entire film wearing no clothes) that are enslaved with these glass cases. They bring the three humans and one of the dead bat-like beings back to their ship. Can you say uh-oh? Fast forward and the three beings are then brought to Earth where May known in the credits as Space Girl wrecks some true havoc. She is able to suck the lifeforce out of human beings. Then that victim needs to suck the lifeforce out of someone else or they will explode. Seriously. Another thing May can do is enter someone else's body and use it for a while. Like her victims though she needs to continue to get the lifeforce out of other people.
I have read the book by Colin Wilson and I must say that I actually found it to be quite boring and overly talky. So screenwriters Dan O'Bannon (who also wrote ALIEN), Don Jakoby and uncredited Michael Armstrong and Olaf Pooley inject a lot of interesting things in the story. Unfortunately it seems that maybe too many interesting things are injected into the story. I mean this film goes from space adventure to zombie picture to end of the world picture. It almost doesn't have a complete hold on what it is trying to be. Directed by Tobe Hooper who does nicely place some horror elements into the story. I give him props for even trying to make this film. It is a very fun film, but do not expect 2001 or something.
The studio Cannon lost a lot of money on this film and this one of the films that made Cannon finally close its doors for good. Which is sad, because I really do enjoy this film and know there is an audience out there for it. If it does sound interesting give it a watch and see. Also starring within a more than capable cast Peter Firth (in a role that a really enjoyed him in), Frank Finlay, Patrick Stewart and Aubrey Morris.
I had seen the shorter version maybe 3 or 4 times, but just yesterday I saw the extended version and I would suggest searching out that version. While the 101 minute version tends to go almost at a breakneck speed some interesting story elements and character building are left out.
I will try and give a short synopsis on the plot. So here goes. The ship Churchill lead by Col. Tom Carlsen (Steve Railsback) is investigating Haley's Comet (which in 1985 was about to swing past Earth). They find that there is ab object 150 miles...yes miles...long and about 2 miles high within the cloud of Haley's Comet. They go to investigate and enter the object. Inside they see dead bat-like beings that were its crew. Also they find three nude humans (including the beautiful French Mathilda May who generally goes through the entire film wearing no clothes) that are enslaved with these glass cases. They bring the three humans and one of the dead bat-like beings back to their ship. Can you say uh-oh? Fast forward and the three beings are then brought to Earth where May known in the credits as Space Girl wrecks some true havoc. She is able to suck the lifeforce out of human beings. Then that victim needs to suck the lifeforce out of someone else or they will explode. Seriously. Another thing May can do is enter someone else's body and use it for a while. Like her victims though she needs to continue to get the lifeforce out of other people.
I have read the book by Colin Wilson and I must say that I actually found it to be quite boring and overly talky. So screenwriters Dan O'Bannon (who also wrote ALIEN), Don Jakoby and uncredited Michael Armstrong and Olaf Pooley inject a lot of interesting things in the story. Unfortunately it seems that maybe too many interesting things are injected into the story. I mean this film goes from space adventure to zombie picture to end of the world picture. It almost doesn't have a complete hold on what it is trying to be. Directed by Tobe Hooper who does nicely place some horror elements into the story. I give him props for even trying to make this film. It is a very fun film, but do not expect 2001 or something.
The studio Cannon lost a lot of money on this film and this one of the films that made Cannon finally close its doors for good. Which is sad, because I really do enjoy this film and know there is an audience out there for it. If it does sound interesting give it a watch and see. Also starring within a more than capable cast Peter Firth (in a role that a really enjoyed him in), Frank Finlay, Patrick Stewart and Aubrey Morris.
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