Lifeforce (1985) aka Space Vampires

4 / 5 Jul '11
Tagline: The Cinematic Sci-Fi event of the Eighties
Directed by: Tobe Hooper
Written by: Colin Wilson, Dan O'Bannon
Actors include: Steve Railsback, Mathilda May, Peter Firth
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Length: 116 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Okay so let me start by saying: Space vampires who sap energy and change their victims into zombie like creatures. Phew, now if you can swallow that you can enjoy this flick! With Tobe Hooper at the helm and Dan O'Bannon as the screenwriter, you can pretty much guess you are in for an entertaining flick. It springs into action with a space shuttle sent to investigate Halley's Comet only of course they find some strange spaceship. There are strange bat like creatures that appear to be nearly turned to dust as well as three nudies (if you like boobs, then you should get a little something extra from this one) in capsules. They decide to take the specimens back to their ship for investigation thinking everyone is dead...note I said "thinking". Before long, it's super pandemonium in a good 'ole fashion kill fest as zombie like people run rampant and electricity bolts are everywhere. Anyhow the effects on this are quite notable, sure it's a bit cheesy in places but it never veers too far off course. It has violence, sex, a decent enough story considering what the plot entails (it is based upon a book by Colin Wilson called "Space Vampires"). Give it a whirl if you like colorful sci-fi/horror from the '80s, but if you are looking for something seriously scary this won't be ideal.

Availability:  On DVD

The Resurrected (1992) aka Shatterbrain

4 / 5 Mar '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Dan O'Bannon
Written by: Brent V. Friedman, H.P. Lovecraft
Actors Include: John Terry, Jane Sibbett, Chris Sarandon
Genre: Horror
Length: 108 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Although this does have a fascinating story (well it's based upon a story by H.P. Lovecraft so of course it's great) it has a very slow start but be patient because it really does work out to be great. See it looks very straight-to-video (and likely was), Claire played by actress Jane Sibbett (Carol from Friends) isn't the greatest, and there is too much narration in the beginning too. The effects are gross and mostly impressive, and although it is a bit too long they do cram a lot of story in there. Claire is a Wife coming to a Private Detective about her Husband's strange doings, he isn't himself anymore and he keeps receiving shipments of long boxes. There is also a horrible smell coming from her Husband's lab and some gruesome eaten corpses keep turning up too. Can they solve the mystery of what's going on before they are all killed...or before something even worse happens? It's a shame this isn't very available really it did make it to DVD but it seemed like it went out of print nearly immediately. This pretty much proves that Dan O'Bannon hasn't made a bad picture (that I've seen) yet, one to hunt for, just don't give up on it at first because I was mighty tempted.

Availability:  On DVD

Dark Star (1974)

3.5 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: What would you be like after 20 years aboard DARK STAR the spaced-out spaceship. The ultimate cosmic comedy!
Directed by: John Carpenter
Written by: John Carpenter, Dan O'Bannon
Actors include: Brian Narelle, Cal Kuniholm, Dre Pahich
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Length: 83 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Cheap cheap cheap cheap cheap...no I'm not a chicken, just shocked by how amateurish this film looks. At the same time, that is the reason the film is so hilarious! It started out as a short film project for John Carpenter that was added onto to make a full-length film and on that level it's pretty awesome what he accomplished. It's about four spacemen (and their dead Captain who can be unfrozen to ask questions to) who are on a mission to destroy unstable planets to colonize them. As they come close to finishing their mission new trouble appears in the form of an alien (beach ball) that is hysterical! It bounces about and "fights" them and really the alien is the star of the show and worth all of the talking that comes before it. They also have to try to talk a bomb out of exploding by asking it ponderous questions, talk about your strange mission! Really quite a funny film but if you go into it expecting any sort of fright or thrill you are barking up the wrong tree...this is pure silliness.

Availability:  On DVD