If there’s one thing I love about the horror genre it’s that it has the ability to get away with practically anything. Most studio big-wigs don’t understand the appeal of horror movies; they just know they can be incredibly profitable, so they tend to place their trust in someone who does know about them. In 1984, that someone was Tobe Hooper.
On a winning streak that included the acclaimed TV mini-series Salem’s Lot and the box office smash Poltergeist; it seemed Hooper could do no wrong in the early 80’s. So when it was announced that he would be working with Alien screenwriter Dan O’Bannon to adapt, cult writer, Colin Wilson’s novel Space Vampires to the big screen expectations were high. This was going to be a big budget spectacular, a work of Sci-fi/Horror genius, Hooper’s masterpiece. There was however one set-back, the film turned out to be a steaming pile of shit.
If you take a closer look at the ingredients it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Wilson is, quite rightly, a respected writer of philosophy and non-fiction, but his ficton have never been quite so well received. Hooper may have directed classics like those mentioned above and the seminal Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but he had also made some complete dross (like Eaten Alive from 79). And while Dan O’Bannon did give us Alien, he also gave us Heavy Metal and Return of the Living Dead.
Plot wise it starts off promisingly enough; a space mission, sent to investigate Hayley’s Comet, discovers an alien vessel riding alongside and decides to check it out. Onboard they find a bunch of desiccated giant bats and three humans in stasis pods (including the stunning Mathilda May, whose main contribution to the film seems to be being stark naked throughout). 3 months later the shuttle returns to earth with all the crew dead from a fire, and its black box deleted. The three humans (?) in stasis are mysteriously undisturbed though. Cue vampire related mayhem.
The cast may be attractive (well she is) but they couldn’t act their way out of a channel 5 soap opera. Frank Finlay hams it up admirably as a kind of post-modern professor Van Helsing, but Peter Firth and Steve Railsback give the two lead roles all the charisma of sour milk.
Much was made, at the time, about the movie’s cutting edge special effects, and they do look pretty good for the mid 80’s. Horror fan’s, however, aren’t as shallow as people think, and with no discernable gore, a few flashy gimmicks aren’t enough to hold their attention. Admittedly there are some pretty cool looking zombie style creatures, but it simply isn’t enough.
It’s fucking rare that I ever get a chance to say this, but if it’s vampires from space you’re after, then you’re better off trying Mario Bava’s 1965 effort Planet of the Vampires. despite all of this, Lifeforce has gained something of a cult reputation over the years, perhaps proving that while horror fans aren’t stupid, they are very, very forgiving.
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