LIFEFORCE

Directed by Tobe Hooper.  Written by  Dan O'Bannon and Don Jakoby.  Stars Steve Railsback, Peter Firth, Mathilda May.
1985, 116 minutes, Color, Not rated.

Ah, what a mess of a movie, and yet very watchable throughout due to the variable special effects and nudity.  The movie plays like a long-lost Quatermass story, and if it occasionally does not make sense it is more than made up for by the aforementioned nudity and special effects.  Even in the full-length 116-minute version of the film, it moves along briskly, so if you hit something that doesn't work particularly well you are moving onto the next thing soon enough.

The plot deals with ancient space vampires and is part science fiction, part mystery, and part horror film.  These elements do not always mesh together well with the horror elements feeling the most forced.  The movie has a great concept and this carries the day for quite a while into the running time, but ultimately it degenerates into little more than a zombie movie.  I used to think that I didn't like Steve Railsback in the film, as I thought he was miscast, but I've changed my mind.  All things considered, I think he did quite a good job, and that many a different actor would have completely embarrassed themselves. 

The DVD was one of the earliest released and is not 16X9 enhanced.  As a result, the image is grainy and somewhat fuzzy, though the 5.1 sound is a definite improvement over the LD.   More recently, MGMHD has shown a truly beautiful Hi-Def version of the longer European cut several times.   For that matter, they've also shown the shorter R-rated 101 minute version in Hi-Def. The full version features more explanation and doesn't plaster credits over the approach and penetration of the alien ship at the beginning, and is the preferred version.  The image is crisp and colorful and greatly enhances the viewing experience.  Truly, a quality presentation will almost always make a mediocre movie enjoyable.  Screen captures are from the HD version.