Lifeforce (1985)

Director:

Tobe Hooper

Writers:

Colin Wilson (novel)
Dan O'Bannon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 June 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

In outer space they unleashed a force more evil than the world had ever imagined!.. [UK Theatrical]

Plot:

A space shuttle mission investigating Halley's Comet brings back a malevolent race of space vampires...

Plot Keywords:

Comet | Halleys Comet | Alien | Vampire | Space Shuttle

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Steve Railsback	...	Col. Tom Carlsen
Peter Firth	...	Col. Colin Caine
Frank Finlay	...	Dr. Hans Fallada
Mathilda May	...	Space Girl
Patrick Stewart	...	Dr. Armstrong
Michael Gothard	...	Dr. Bukovsky
Nicholas Ball	...	Roger Derebridge
Aubrey Morris	...	Sir Percy Heseltine
Nancy Paul	...	Ellen Donaldson
John Hallam	...	Lamson
John Keegan	...	Guard
Chris Jagger	...	First Vampire (as Christopher Jagger)
Bill Malin	...	Second Vampire
Jerome Willis	...	Pathologist
Derek Benfield	...	Physician

Also Known As:

Space Vampires (UK) (alternative title) (USA) (working title)
Space Intruders (USA) (working title)
Vampires from Outer Space (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

116 min | USA:101 min (edited version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Norway:18 (video rating) | Iceland:16 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (cut US version) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (cut US version) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (uncut version) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (cut US version) (also uncut version) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) (uncut version) | Canada:R (Manitoba) (cut US version) | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Ireland:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:(Banned) (1986-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Brent Cross Shopping Centre, Hendon, London, England, UK

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

Mathilda May is said to embarrassed by her association with this project and does not list it on her CV.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The helicopter flying over London, is an obvious remote-controlled model; gliding over a miniature of the city.

Quotes:

Dr. Hans Fallada: It was two hours ago that the guard was attacked. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we're seeing a pattern here.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth (2000) (V)

An incredible sight to behold.

"Lifeforce" is a truly bizarre adaptation of the novel "The Space Vampires" by Colin Wilson, scripted by Dan O'Bannon & Don Jakoby. A joint American-British space exploration team makes a mind-boggling discovery: an alien spacecraft resting inside Halleys' Comet, containing three entities that look like people, one of them a female beauty (the oh-so-alluring Mathilda May).

They take these discoveries back on board their own spacecraft. Big mistake.

It turns out that these creatures drain the life out of human beings, and as American colonel Carlsen (an intense, edgy, and committed Steve Railsback) and British S.A.S. colonel Caine (a solid Peter Firth) watch in horror, an infestation of vampirism overtakes London, with the fate of Earth in the balance.

This picture certainly is not lacking in imagination. It moves a little slowly at times but offers so many strange and fanciful ideas and eye-popping visuals that it's hard not to be amused. The first of director Tobe Hoopers' three-picture deal with Cannon Films (he followed it up with "Texas Chainsaw Massacre II" and the "Invaders from Mars" remake), he makes it something truly unique. Incorporating elements of sci-fi, vampire films, zombie films, and end-of-the-world sagas, it's like nothing that I've seen before.

Railsback and Firth are ably supported by such strong Brit actors as Frank Finlay, Patrick Stewart, Michael Gothard, Aubrey Morris, and John Hallam. Mathilda May is very memorable as the bewitching, enigmatic villainess; it certainly doesn't hurt that she performs a great deal of her scenes in the nude. Also worth noting is a stirring music score from none other than "Pink Panther" composer Henry Mancini.

Ridiculous it may be, but I found it to be fun as well. It's flamboyant and spirited entertainment.

8/10