Lifeforce (1985)

Tobe Hooper's Lifeforce is the most dementedly unique horror SciFi mashup you'll get. Based on a novel that's literally titled 'The Space Vampires', the film is exactly that and more. It's so out of it's mind that at a certain point you have to surrender and bask in it, and grab the sides of the cart as it veers between all kinds of increasingly bonkers plot points. When a strange, rice kernel shaped object shows up in earth's atmosphere, a team of exploratory astronauts led by intrepid Steve Railsback goes on up to investigate. What they find up there eclipses any weirdness aboard the Nostromo, Millennium Falcon or Event Horizon. Intergalactic vampires lie in creepy cryo suspension, just waiting for unlucky hosts to come along. Soon they're exposed to earth and it's a gory mad dash all over London to stope them from turning every earthling into zombies. Yes, that's actually the plot, and despite how it sounds on paper, they really make it work. That's mostly thanks to the screen shattering, ridiculously good special effects, especially in the opening aboard the alien's strange, baroque vessel which is one of the most otherworldly and atmospheric sequences in any horror film ever. Once the action shifts back to earth it's a pure shit show and near comedy of errors, with Railsback's frenzied cosmonaut teaming up with a peppy British intelligence agent (Peter Firth), and even Patrick Stewart comes out to play as some vague scientific bro. There's boundless imagination at work here, carried by sheer movie magic to contribute lasting, impressive images and create an entirely unique horror experience. Plus, how could a flick about space vampires not be amazing (we will not speak of Dracula 3000). A sci-Fi horror classic, an under-sung jewel of visual flights of fancy and practical effects laden nightmares.

By 1985, Hooper's career was in limbo. Sure, he'd tasted box office success with 1982's Poltergeist, but he'd also be dogged with rumors — or truths — that he'd not really directed the film. Toss in a bad experience on 1981's Venom, a film that he was replaced on ten days into shooting (Klaus Kinski claimed that the cast and crew ganged up on Hooper in an effort to have him replaced), as well as being replaced as the director of The Dark and a rumored nervous breakdown.A three picture deal with Cannon Films and the promise of no interference would be the panacea that would soothe Hooper's pain. Or so he thought.The first film in the three picture deal was Lifeforce. Based on Colin Wilson's 1976 novel The Space Vampires and scripted by Dan O'Bannon (Alien, Return of the Living Dead) and Don Jakoby, the film was originally going to use the original title. After spending $25 million to make it, Cannon decided that they wanted a blockbuster instead of their normal exploitation films, hence the change to Lifeforce.Once Hooper had his money and freedom, he was beyond excited, seeing the film as his chance to remake Quatermass and the Pit. In fact, he said, "I thought I'd go back to my roots and make a 70 mm Hammer film."Hopper turned in an initial film that was 128 minutes long, starting with 12 minutes of near silence in space aboard a space shuttle. This is 12 minutes longer than the final version which had several scenes cut, most of them taking place on the space shuttle Churchill. Three actors — John Woodnutt, John Forbes-Robertson and Russell Sommers — ended up completely cut from the final film, as was some of Henry Mancini's score.Even worse — the film went way over schedule and cost so much that the film was shut down when the studio ran out of money, leaving some of the most important scenes unshot.Look — it could have been worse. Michael Winner was the original choice to direct.So what's it all about? Good question.The crew of the Churchill discovers a massive spaceship — nearly 150 miles long and shaped like an artichoke (no, really) — inside Halley's Comey. Hundreds of dead bat creatures surround the ship and inside, two perfect males and one perfect female sleep in suspended animation. They take the aliens and come back to Earth, because there are no protocols or rules about that kind of thing. I mean, I can't even fly back from Japan with fruit and these dudes take aliens directly to London.Tragedy strikes — a fire consumes the ship, destroying everything and everyone except for the aliens. The aliens turn out to be vampires that can shape shift and suck out the life force of everyone they meet.In Texas, a survivor is found — Colonel Tom Carlsen (Steve Railsback, Manson from Helter Skelter!). He explains how the crew's life force was taken and why he set the shuttle on fire. He also has a psychic link to the female alien (the constantly naked Mathilda May). Patrick Stewart also shows up as Dr. Armstrong here — who has the female vampire inside him. They take her/him back to London, but the plan backfires when she/he escapes.Read more at www.bandsaboutmovies.com/2017/09/11/tobe-hooper-week- lifeforce-1985/

Halley's Comet returns to the solar system, and the team aboard the shuttle Churchill, discover an alien spacecraft in the comet. Inside the spacecraft are three cocoons with three humans. The Churchill takes the humans back to Earth. Once there the leaders of the project find the shuttle burnt out and all but one of the crew, Carlsen, dead. The humans from the spacecraft awake and all those who come into contact with them are drained of their life force, and in time most of the population of London are turned into zombie like creatures all preying on the horrified survivors......This was Cannon Pictures big chance to make their studio big. They had a seasoned director, a wonderful cast, and a considerable budget for the time.But the film squanders any idea it had by just being that little bit too long, and being convoluted to the point that you just decide to watch it for the arguably wonderful effects, and a certain Mathilda May walking around with no clothing whatsoever.Elsewhere in the film, we have Steve Railsback playing Basil Exposition, explaining the plot to rest of the characters.But it has that Cannon sheen, and any film that features Patrick Stewart being taken over by a woman, has to be worth a watch.The final third of the film is just beyond the laws of plausibility, with a very cheap looking London being overrun by wait for it.....Space Vampires.28 Days Later this is not.But it has it's charm, it's funny to see all this seasoned actors keep a straight face when spouting utter bilge from the script.If like me, your a Cannon completest, it needs to be seen. Just don't expect to get the enjoy-ability you had from their very low budget out put.

This film has a very special place in my heart. To sit back and read all the reviews from people who really love it is heart warming. To read the ones that rip it to shreds, I like them too. I just love the heated debate this film inspires even to this day. I must admit I would like to remake this story but more to the original Colin Wilson novel.To watch the film and remember the awesome time I had working at Elstree Studios with people people who had worked on the original 'Star Wars' trilogy makes me realise how lucky I was to spend several months on this playing a Walking Shrival. My first acting job. A dream come true playing in a twenty five million dollar playground.https://www.facebook.com/lifeforcewalkingshrival/