I'm ashamed to admit this, but I'd never even heard of
Lifeforce before it dropped through my letterbox. Quite how this 80s favourite
passed me by remains a mystery, but thanks to Arrow Video, I can now enjoy the
fully-restored deluxe Blu-ray edition in the comfort of my own home. Originally
released back in 1986, Lifeforce was directed by American horror maestro Tobe
Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), hot off the heels of Poltergeist. Known
for pushing the envelope, for his 1986 release, Hooper decided to
adapt Colin Wilson's novel The Space Vampires and in doing so, created a
horror/sci-fi with a massive cult following. Who else feels a little silly now?
That will be just me then.
The opening act borrows heavily from Ridley Scott's sci-fi
masterpiece - both films were written by Dan O'Bannon - but with Hooper at the
helm it shares more in common with cult classic, Barbarella. It's a little bit
camp but remains intriguing, suitably creepy, and very much a product of the
80s. When a space shuttle crew finds a mysterious spacecraft containing three
human-looking creatures in a state of suspended animation, they bring them back
to Earth for further investigation. A stiff upper lip is provided by a great
British cast, including Peter Firth (The Hunt for Red October), Frank Finlay
(The Pianist) and Patrick Stewart (X-Men).
Of course, they all pale in comparison to femme-fatale
Mathilda May, the fearless French ballerina who leaves nothing to the
imagination as our favourite space vampire. Or as Col. Tom Carlsen puts it,
"She was the most overwhelmingly feminine presence I've ever
encountered". You won't find any arguments here. She's hot and mostly
naked. We won't dwell on the fact, of course, we'll let the cameraman do that
for us. It's not long before scientists discover they're going to war with a race
of space vampires that feed off people's life-force rather than their blood. We're
all vampires, you see, because we all draw energy from other life forms. Maybe
we should cut the girl some slack? So when they escape and run amok in London, the
consequences are apocalyptic - and the shuttle crew's lone survivor (Steve
Railsback) is the only man who can stop them.
Lifeforce is a lot of fun. Also known as 'Vampires from
Outer Space', though I prefer the U.S. working title, 'Space Intruders', Tobe
Hooper has created a cheesy, fast-paced, effects laden horror movie that
deserves its cult status. The visual effects are still impressive today, especially
when the vampires drain their victims, and the special effects showdown is both
inventive and blue. Blue in colour and blue in tone, though there's nothing
here that feels remotely exploitative. It's too much fun for that. The closing
scenes are ridiculously dramatic, but they are in keeping with the rest of the
picture. One great sequence depicts an overblown sex scene set to the sound
design of Jurassic Park. No kidding. Having said that, Mathilda May is naked
again. It's a very touching moment.
The cast and crew are clearly having a great time, though
I'd be surprised if Patrick Stewart remembers this as his greatest performance.
Stewart plays the part of Dr. Armstrong, but he doesn't stick around for long.
He does, however, scream a lot. Bald as a coot too, even in 1985. Did the man
ever have hair? The rest of the cast fair better. Peter Faith is on fine form
as Col. Colin Caine, and Frank Finlay gives him a good run for his money, with
a brilliant Christopher Lee impersonation as Dr. Hans Fallada. Steve Railsback
takes a little getting used to, but then, he is asked to play his part largely
comatose. Tom Carlsen is bewitched by Mathilda's space girl, drawn in by her
stunning beauty and vampiric ways. Did I also mention that she's largely naked?
Man, I love this film.
The super-deluxe package, which is available both as a
standard Blu-ray and as a limited edition Blu-ray SteelBook, is full of special
features and bonus material, including a high definition presentation of both
the International and Theatrical Versions, and an audio commentary with
director Tobe Hooper. Documentaries include, Cannon Fodder: The Making of
Lifeforce - An epic UK-exclusive look at the genesis, production and release of
Lifeforce; Space Vampires in London: An interview with Tobe Hooper; and Dangerous
Beauty: An interview with Mathilda May. Add to the mix an assortment of
theatrical trailers, and a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the
film by science fiction expert Bill Warren, it soon becomes clear that this
is the definitive package.
Lifeforce lurches from vampire mythology to full scale
zombie apocalypse in a chaotic finale that throws everything at the TV screen. Peter
Firth keeps the mayhem from straying off course, and Hooper ensures that most of
it sticks. Mathilda May reappears in the final act, losing her see-through gown
in the process, and Lifeforce cements its place in B-movie horror heaven. Bonkers
but occasionally brilliant, Lifeforce demands a place in your collection. AW
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