Lifeforce (1985)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

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/

Lifeforce is an interesting little film. It's a sci-fi horror film, and it's pretty odd. It's got its fair share of 80's cheese in it, along with some really cool special effects that are great to see. It's one of those films you watch and say "well that was pretty cool".The story is essentially about vampire aliens that come from space and invade earth, sucking out the "lifeforce" from humans. In a way its silly, but it's a lot of fun. My main issue is that there's a good 25 or 30 minutes (possibly more) in the middle of the film that kind of drag. It's a shame because the first act is really interesting, the third act of the film kinda goes all out, but a lot of the second act just kinda goes on. I think this film would have got a higher score from me with a more engaging 2nd act.As I said, this film can be pretty cheesy, and the acting is certainly part of that. A lot of the performances are hammy and odd, but it kinda gives the film a charm. There's also a performance by Mathilda May that is quite... revealing. (i.e. she is naked the whole time and is extremely attractive) This is certainly not a film for people who want to see Oscar winning performances, but they can still be quite enjoyable in their own way.Probably the best thing about this film is the visuals. There's a lot of great special effects that make the film pop. One scene in particular is a "dream" sequence that is really colorfully lit. There's also a scene where a "dead" body reanimates and it's a really cool practical effect.I can certainly see why this is kind of a cult hit of sorts. It has all of those fun elements that make a cult film, and I enjoyed it. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a little fun. It won't blow you away, but you will have a good time.

Lifeforce is a refreshing surprise for Sci Fi fans. Truly this is my favorite Sci Fi, films with actors I respect and love, plus one beautiful babe, with some nice bouncing goodies. The story is great too. Three perfectly preserved bodies, where hiding within their forms are vampires, kept in glass coffins, are found in outer space by some astronauts, headed by the great Railsback, where admittedly this was the first film I saw this great, serious, and conscientious actor in. Suddenly their naked forms come to life and they all escape. What they do, is draw energy from an unwitting being, where that infected being instantly becomes a skeletal form, and within many hours, he or she it explodes where they just becomes one big pile of crumbling dirt. In this case, with her whopping features, the babe (Mathilda May) becomes great eye candy, and certainly has an affect on Railsback, in many ways. Things get better when enter the great Firth as an Agent trying to get to the bottom of problem ends up working with Railsback, totally smitten of course by that babe on the loose, as remember we've get this plague, which you'll never guess where it spreads from London. As though may'be, you're expecting more action and gore, though one shocking moment in a helicopter will paralyze and mesmerize you, that's what I felt too with this film, but for me, it's the story and those two great leads, that somehow made up for it. I'm talking too, especially Firth, such a friggin' versatile and underestimated acting talent, deserved of much more respect and notice. The effects are great and there's some humor too, where hey, there are bits that get bogged down with the business instead of the action, but here's a different sort of sci fi, which I must say, stands unique, to all it's others, and does have some style. And too, like I said, you've got two great leads, with performances that will, definitely hold your attention. Director Tobe 'chainsaw' Hooper has definitely pulled off something special and different here, in this '85 outing.

Three vampiric aliens found in Halley's Comet are brought back to Earth, where they wreak havoc all over London. Now a team of British scientists and an American astronaut (Steve Railsback) must try to stop them, even though one (Mathilda May) is a total babe that is allergic to clothing.The special effects and sets are very good. The script is smart and the direction solid. The cast is fine, although Steve Railsback is a little wooden. Obviously the movie is most famous for Mathilda May walking around nude for almost the entire film. Which is a shame, as it's a quality sci-fi film. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't averting my eyes whenever Miss May was on screen anymore than the next guy. She's certainly gorgeous. But it's caused this movie's reputation to suffer and now it's mostly known as "that sci-fi movie where the chick walks around naked the whole time."This was the first of three films that Tobe Hooper did for Cannon. He was a big "get" for them at the time and they gave him a huge budget for this film. Unfortunately all three of Hooper's Cannon films flopped at the box office and played a part in Cannon falling apart in the late '80s. It also meant the end of Hooper's career as an A-list director. He would never make anything great or even very good again.