Mathilda May was absolutely gorgeous, and her performance was hauntingly beautiful. She nailed the cold stare of an Immortal huntress, who was completely in control of the situation.
gcmarcal Mathilda May grew up in Paris and Danced at the Paris Opera Ballet. She owned the Alien role as her practice in Ballet enabled her eerily smooth and preternatural movement. She is also the personal hero of many girls who like Sci Fi and also practice Ballet.
You nailed this. I have always said this movie is hella underrated and I cite it as one of my favorite vampire flicks. I love this fucking movie. It just deserves WAY more love.
Sir Patrick actually helped May with some of her pronunciation on set, a few years later she returned the favour helping him with his French accent for TNG, he actually suggested her for the part of Picard's sister in law but that episode was rushed and she was unavailable. This is a great movie, although it's geography is slightly off with everything a little too close to the Cathedral in the end (those sets were redressed and used till recently for the soap opera 'Eastenders') oh and the Romulan Building is absent.
Being a teen in 85 I think I have judged every women's beauty against Mays- watched this movie again a few months ago and she is just timeless. Good job on these vids - subscribed
Oh, yeah! Lifeforce is one of my favourite movies ever. The weird British vibe, the vampire love/erotic/obsession thing. Really really original and cool stuff. I just wish movies like that could still be made today...
Lifeforce is a great movie and it needs to get more credit. I think it's just as good as movies like the thing and blade runner. They just don't make this kind of films anymore!
+Apocalypse Is here To me it's ahead of its time. That's why I think it doesn't get the coverage it should have. It's got some pretty original concepts plus I remember it being one of the best sci-fi films for me as a kid. It awed, surprised, terrified, uplifted, and at the same time, broke my heart (Am I wrong for feeling sad at SpaceGirl's death at the end? I mean she IS the most beautiful and sexiest destroyer of man I've ever seen). It's a unique film that's never been approached since and we owe it to Tobe Hooper and the rest of the cast and crew to keep its memory alive.
they just don't make these kinds of films anymore !! [GRAMMAR NUT HERE !!] but seriously enough in total agreement here on what a great underatted gem we have here !!
Actually, I don't know if she does really die at the end. Notice that unlike the male vampire, she doesn't turn into an big ugly bat after being stabbed. Instead, you see something like a mass of protoplasm going up in space to the ship. That makes me think they may have thought of making a sequel to it.
Holy shit I remember this was played at one of the Zombie Film Festivals in Leeds, there's usually one or two oddball choices like Burial Ground or Stalled... but Life Force blew me away. Honestly one of the most under-rated movies I've seen in years and cheers for all the background on it.
One of my favorite movies of all time. Saw it at the theater with dear ole dad and my gawd middle school me was blown away. Matilda May will always be what ten should be to me.
It was a great movie. One thing I really appreciate is that it doesn’t cop out on scale. Most movies would do this premise in a much smaller setting like a small town, military base, the desert, the jungle, or a faraway planet with a handful of people on it, just to make it cheaper to shoot and easier to write. This movie shows an entire city descending into chaos! I respect that.
"Do androids dream of electric sheep" it's actually a genius title, it sums up the whole theme of the novel in a neat and clever way, "Space vampires" on the other hand sounds a bit cheap and lazy
@Tristan Hartup That's just what my mon used to say. I remember one time when we (mostly me) saw "Seconds" in TV. It's a 1966 science fiction with Rock Hudson as a man who buys a new, beautiful body and has his brain transplanted into it. "This was written by someone who smoked pot!" she said disapprovingly. She likes musiclas and light opera. (Operetta)
Completely agree...this is one of my all time fav sci fi films. Completely original, well shot, well acted and the special effects were awesome...you just cant beat practical vs cgi. Bought the bluray and it sits proudly in my "fav movies" section on my shelf...(face it, we all have one...the area where all your best films take pride of place lol).
I saw this as a teenager when me and my pals went to see a different movie, after which we snuck in and hid in the back row of Life Force. We came out stunned when it was over, talked about it all the way home and couldn't even remember what movie we'd gone to see beforehand. I love Life Force to this day
This should have been Cannon's best film. It's got a great story, great special effects, great original score, and it's got a beautiful woman who spends the entire film naked! The first time I saw the dried up corpse rush the cage, and explode into dust it made me jump in my seat. The "Walking Desiccated" are still some of the best special effects to ever be put on film. Thanks for giving us a peak into the underpinnings of this movie.
I remember seeing this on TV years back, and thinking "damn this is a weird movie how come I haven't seen this sooner?" Then saw all the black boxes over the naughty bits, then I saw Patrick Stewart and was all "what the hell is Captain Picard doing in this?" It's a pretty crazy movie, you don't see stuff like this these days, sadly. And the alien chick was smoking. She wound up being in The Jackal years later. She's pretty good in that too.
We have to be close in age because you review all these movies that I watched growing up in the 1980s. My parents owned a video rental store and I had the opportunity to watch just about everything that came out back then so your reviews have been an absolute gem to discover.
Even as a young teen when I saw it in theaters, I felt that Hooper was trying to, and succeeding at capturing the feel of the old Hammer Quatermass films. On the big screen, Alan Hume’s cinematography shines as probably his finest work ever. Lots of fog and mist and scenes lit with just enough light to be able to see what’s going on, yet maintain the atmosphere of impending doom. I saw Henry Mancini in concert in the fall of 1985, and he was justifiably proud of his score for the film. I’ve read where one critic compared it favorably to Bernard Herrmann’s work. The visual and makeup effects were excellent and I thought the cast was great too, aside from Railsback, who I suspect wasn’t getting enough help from Hooper, but it’s still one of my all-time favorite films.
So called critics even in the now (2019) still bash on this film. It's one of my favorite go to films when there is nothing out there worth watching, which has become a lot more often with the cgi/woke s**t-shows out today... Love this flick... Great Review!
An old friend of mine was one of the walking shrivelled. He was one of those guys who could eat a mountain of food but somehow remained thin as a rail. The film makers were hiring every stick thin person they could find for the crowd scenes towards the end of the film and, as he worked for a radio station at the time, he heard about the opportunity through the grapevine. I can't remember how much he got paid but it wasn't much. Not that he cared, he just loved being able to run around in heavy make up wearing just a pair of torn trousers.
Loved this movie to bits, never understood why it wasn't a stellar hit. Thanks for giving us the background! Now to hunt down its blu-ray release, grab few beers, kick out wife and children and have a very, very nice evening.
I LOVED this book and the Movie!!! Very underrated for it's time, glad the book, when reprinted after the movie was given the name Life Force also. Wish they had given the Vampires their original form in the movie also it would have given everyone a shocking surprise!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU... Seen this one TWICE at the movie theater (in France, the movie was allowed for 13 and up) - i just did not believe what i had seen the first time (and Mathilda...). One more recent vision told me that it surprisingly stood the test of time (eeer, mostly). Underrated movie.
Damn Yeah! I've loved this film since the VHS days and the blu-ray version is simply wonderful on all counts. Thanks for expressing this love so well. I've also found it to be an unknown or unfairly maligned film for too long. Keep up the excellent work.
This movie is awesome and ahead of it's time, one of my all time favourite science fiction horror movies. A true crime it bombed in the cinema but thankfully over time it has gained the respect it deserves, another great movie from the awesome Tobe Hooper.
There is no way the makers of "Species" had not seen "Lifeforce" but I frankly prefer "Lifeforce" by far - it's not always you see a film that gives vampire folklore the Erich von Däniken ancient astronaut treatment!
I recently binged on almost all of your videos (at least all of the Reviews and Exploring series) and am amazed at how fantastic a reviewer and editor you are. Your commentary is thorough and intelligent and you consistently make such a good case for some movies I might have never considered or had thought differently about. Awesome work, man--you're one of my go-to's every time I'm on RUclips.
What the comparison in names with Blade Runner source material. Do androids dream of electric sheep is literally the perfect title for a book of that topic.
Short story? It's a genius novel, much deeper and philosophical than adaptation. Anyone who is interested in sci-fi should read it. Perhaps initially it was a short story, that I don't know.
2:12 Mrs May's agent wasn't lying and this movie did help her to launch her career and made an established actress in her native France. All things considered and of all the actors that participated on this movie, she made the best of it.
I am so happy I saw this in Germany when it first came out I was able to see the entire production as it was intended. God bless Mathilda May she made this movie hers.
Great vid, and Love the channel. Lifeforce has been a favorite film since I first saw it over 30 years ago, and it never drops out of my Top 20 of all time. The animatronics still stand up as some of the best practical FX on screen. (And the Hammer Horror influence doesn't hurt it either.)
I LOVE this film. I gave it a full length review in my PAST PERFECT special fanzine HORROR and even did a homage to SAS Colonel Kane in my (sadly unpublished) novel Eternity Falls by creating a character who was a slightly darker version of the Lifeforce original. I only got to see the uncut version for the first time a few years ago and it is definitely superior to the cinema release. I had no idea the first vampire was Mick Jagger's brother; the second was a familiar face to many youngsters from the 80s as he "played" Sgt Streetwise in one of the photo story strips in the revamped (oops) Eagle.
+Ivan Ramirez Oh yeah, I saw that pop up on my reccs too. I grew up with this movie, and I know it's not perfect but...... it's not that bad either. Yes, it takes a big left turn from the book, but hey, it's a movie. I can dig it.
Cory Kamermans Yep, I think it appeared last week. It stuck in my mind because it was so... random. "Really??? She is reviewing a 31 year old movie now??? WHY?" That's what went through my head. =)
You forgot to mention that the author of the novel, Colin Wilson, called Lifeforce "the worst adaptation of any novel ever made". Like DAMN that is bad. However, I'm just finishing watching it right now and it is fantastic. Great stuff.
The visuals, creativity and Mathilda May are astonishing in Lifeforce. Yet, unfortunately, many of the other faccets suffer. The pacing feels off, the script has to much boring exposition, there are several hokey moments that don't jive with the serious tone of the rest of the film, and many of the acting performances feels uninspired and substandard (but that could just be the script they have to work with).
The chic in this film and Kelly LeBrok were my first crushes. I was 5 years old at the team. Years later I would marry a white woman who is a composite of both actresses as their roles. I appreciate her high I.Q. and her wild side. I also often think shes an alien ❤😂
I'm glad to see this film getting more recognition. I always thought of it as a gender-reversed version of Dracula, with Steve Railsback in the Mina role. ( I do think that if the "Space Girl" hadn't had to be naked the whole film, it might have gotten more mainstream attention. Her nudity kind of crowds out all other aspects of the film and makes it hard to censor for television.)
Actually, I first saw this film on TV on the now-CW affiliate station in the NYC area. Before the CW and the WB, WPIX had a good amount of the Cannon film.library. The edited version of Lifeforce was oddly smooth going.
+theproplady It seemed every Cannon film had to have nudity. There's a fun story on the blu-ray where the hair stylist told about how Tobe Hooper would keep coming in each day to remind the stylist to cut Mahilda May's pubic hair to a certain length. Annoyed he kept supervising and reminding her the stylist played a practical joke where she dumped loads of May's artificial hair on the floor around May's ankles and then called Hooper in to see how much she'd had to trim. Hooper laughed through his cigarette a lot as he left.
The original opening made the film feel like it was supposed to be some swashbuckling adventure film, which it isn't all. It's an apocalyptic sci-fi horror film, which the theatrical opening captures perfectly. Imagine if The Thing or Alien opened with what looks and sounds like the opening to Superman. It wouldn't fit the tone of the movie at all.
Yeah, I too kind of like the American version of that opening better. Seems more true to form for the genre spectacle. The UK version with Mancini’s rousing score is as someone else aptly put it: too “swashbuckling”.
Lifeforce.....its a good movie,but at the same time its too connected to my 13 years old mind ID (vampire, space travel and girls that spend their time naked for no reason) to really admit it
The men are naked as well. Even Capt. Picard has a kiss with a man. Mathilda May was so beautiful. I totally get what you mean, concerning the ID. Although I was younger when I first saw this, it still shaped my idea of beauty. Supergirl did a similar thing, and I found myself attracted to Helen Slater types, for girlfriends, while Mathilda types, for lustful, no strings sexual experiences. Besides all that, I've loved this movie since seeing it in 1987, when I was nine or ten. It was a staple on The Movie Channel, HBO, Showtime, etc. and I would always watch a few minutes whenever it's on.
Excellent video, and excellent comparisons between the weak US cut and the full batshit crazy UK cut. With a film like this, you don't want subtle and creepy; you want full on roaring epic, with no monster moment left unused. The main theme is superb, and overall film is easily one of my favorites.
I watched this movie with friends. Loved the baddies, loved the premise, and loved the effects. Sadly, I also found the heroes to be mostly unlikeable, which really didn't help a movie with a fun, creepy and goofy premise like this. Imagine this movie, but with someone like Bruce Campbell or Dennis Quaid in the leading roles. It would have been glorious.
One of my favorites. I think this would have done much better if released at another time of the year. lifeforce just did not get the proper marketing.
I love the u.s. opening, it has a sense of dread to it. I actually prefer it to the u.k. version. I don't know who does cannon's title opticals though, they're fonts always look cheesy.
Lifeforce is one my 'guilty-pleasure' films that I like to watch every now and again. While it wasn't the best sci-fi horror film, it does hold it's own. I would loved to see the director's cut of the film.
Lifeforce is definitely a film that comes to mind when I think of “a good bad movie.” It had a badass title..a bitchin’ blockbuster concept..the best production values and efx wizardry that money could buy..a proven director, and yet even with the schlocky B-movie source material, it’s generally not even highly regarded by the cult classic crowds. The film is badly acted; the producers arrogantly assumed Railsback could Han Solo his way through the material while spending all the money on sets and special effects. The production ran amok in trying to execute too many ideas. And it’s remembered more as a box office dud than anything else as result.
I kind of like this movie. When I try to explain it to other people. I will tell them it's space vampires. I had no idea it was based on a book called "Space Vampires."
You sir are my very first sub and like on youtube. Ever! I really want to support your work and wanted to mention that you are one of the best movie reviewers, movie trivia guys, and source of movies (to make my friends question my sanity) on this whole website. Thank you and I hope you become a huge channel.
+GoodBadFlicks you are the shit. So many people don't get this film, but I love it. Have the blu ray of and I am so happy to have the longer cut. Once again, another excellent review from someone who knows and loves good Science Fiction and Horror films. Please review "The Mist." I'm pretty sure you would like it and I would love to see your take on it. Keep up the good work!!
I don't always agree with your opinions or choices, but you really nailed this coverage of Lifeforce. From the inside information, to the choice of clips, you did a fantastic job. And this time I actually agree with your opinion :-) Keep up the good work.
I remember first watching this on an old vhs tape a mate had way back in '86 or '87. It was the US cut that was on it and while I rather enjoyed it then, it was years later on dvd that I finally caught the UK uncut version and I was blown away!! The score was epic, it was sexier, more violent and in my book, made more sense than the truncated US version. I now own this on Blu-ray and it's grown to become one of my all time faves. What more could you ask for in a movie, spaceships, vampires, zombies, guts, sex, gore and a gorgeous French bird who wanders around naked (who, going by the blu ray extras, is still as gorgeous now as she was back then!!)
Wait a second... The Director's cut opening theme sounds very much like the "Attacked by Assassins" track on the Baldur's Gate soundtrack! That really caught me off guard, it must be an homage.
I've read the book this film is based off of and actually prefer the film version. The book is much more Lovecraft meets Doctor Who and the ending is really anticlimactic. Lifeforce's ending is much more satisfying. Otherwise, the story is much the same. I also love the switch they made regarding the discovery of the alien ship in a comet, instead of the asteroid belt. It makes so much more sense mythologically. I think if Mathilda May was clothed this film would have a lot more respect. The white flowing robes she wears in a few of the scenes add so much drama to the scene its a shame they went for exploitation rather than costume design.
some of those Cannon films are excellent along with this movie another great Cannon film is "Runaway Train" starring Jon Voight about a escaped con on a runaway train in the Alaskan frontier some people have said Runaway Train could've won best picture at the Oscars if it wasn't a Cannon film.
the scene where Captain Picard vomits up an entire girl is worth watching the movie alone. Also this is the spiritual remake of 5 Million Years to Earth/Quatermass and the Pit. Which is also a good movie. You really don't see the connection until the end when the whole city goes mad.
That three movie deal with Cannon did´nt end that well, by the time Texas Chainsaw 2 was released Tobe Hooper said on interviews he had to deal with a shrinking shooting schedule and an incompetent second unit director. He also said the studio wanted all three movies to be as short as possible, no matter how.
I'm pretty sure that the traveling matte shots were done with blue... not green screen. The switch from blue to green came mostly because modern camera sensors have higher green detail than other color channels. as opposed to film that had less pronounced grain in the blue layer...
Back in the day, if you were a collector of Laserdiscs, the director's cut was ALWAYS available. But, unfortunately those who were watching on videocassette, you received the US cut of the film.
As this was a sci-fi horror film, I have to say that the US opening theme was a bit more appropriate for the film. The UK version sounded too upbeat, and didn't have a creepy feel to it. It reminds me of some of the unused James Horner tracks from the Aliens soundtrack. To my understanding, those tracks weren't used for the same reason.
I also thought it was interesting that at no point do the authorities try to deny or rationalize that they're dealing with space vampires. They just go "well these aliens act similarly to how vampires do in folklore, so I guess they're vampires!"
I liked that. They realize what it must be and they don't try to deny it. Whereas 90% of zombie movies, they see the dead walking and go "I don't know what these thing are! Don't go jumping to conclusions and calling them zombies! Must be some rational explanation!"
I saw this in the theater when I was an innocent young high school boy of 17 years of age..........THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT!!!.......................... SCHWING!!!!!!!
One of the earliest reviews I encountered on this channel. Just popped back to say you for reminding me what a great movie it is, and for the excellent "making of" info.
I believe the director's cut was available in the US long before the existence of blurays and DVDs. It was released with the Henry Mancini opening title sequence on Laserdisc, and that version certainly didn't seem to lack for graphic violence or nudity. Were Laserdisc editions so rare that this one simply escaped your notice? I remember seeing it back in the 90s.
A Boy and His Dog is the best bad flick ever made. A $20,000 low-budget POS from 1974 that actually portrayed a convincing look at a post-apocalyptic Arizona in 2024.
Saw this movie on ITV many years ago, it blew my mind that it was being shown late, no advertising, no build up, just this amazing crazy apocalyptic space vampire zombie epic, when I mention it to people they look very blankly back.
I think the film might actually have sold more tickets had it been titled "The Space Vampires", that at least tells you exactly what it is about whereas "Lifeforce" is a bit vague
I've been watching this guys videos for about a week... He really knows his stuff and his content on movies I really enjoy, and some movies I've never heard of or seen. Hell, he used to post unique intros to all his videos based on the movies. I can tell he really enjoys film, knows what he's talking about, and likes talking about them. He definitely earned a sub from me. I'm gathering a list of films I've never seen that I want to watch. Kinda cool he mostly covers non AAA movies and there are some hidden gems. These are definitely Good Bad Flicks. After hearing what it took to make some of these films, makes me appreciate them more than just an average movie watcher. Keep up the good work
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Mathilda May was absolutely gorgeous, and her performance was hauntingly beautiful. She nailed the cold stare of an Immortal huntress, who was completely in control of the situation.
Lifeforce is one of my favourite films ever! Mathilda May was a bonus to watch!
gcmarcal Mathilda May grew up in Paris and Danced at the Paris Opera Ballet.
She owned the Alien role as her practice in Ballet enabled her eerily smooth
and preternatural movement. She is also the personal hero of many girls who like Sci Fi and also practice Ballet.
You nailed this. I have always said this movie is hella underrated and I cite it as one of my favorite vampire flicks. I love this fucking movie. It just deserves WAY more love.
Thanks!
Sir Patrick actually helped May with some of her pronunciation on set, a few years later she returned the favour helping him with his French accent for TNG, he actually suggested her for the part of Picard's sister in law but that episode was rushed and she was unavailable.
This is a great movie, although it's geography is slightly off with everything a little too close to the Cathedral in the end (those sets were redressed and used till recently for the soap opera 'Eastenders') oh and the Romulan Building is absent.
Being a teen in 85 I think I have judged every women's beauty against Mays- watched this movie again a few months ago and she is just timeless. Good job on these vids - subscribed
Thanks!
Just watched Lifeforce on the strength of this post... and it was AWESOME! Thanks mate.
Oh, yeah! Lifeforce is one of my favourite movies ever. The weird British vibe, the vampire love/erotic/obsession thing. Really really original and cool stuff. I just wish movies like that could still be made today...
Lifeforce is a great movie and it needs to get more credit. I think it's just as good as movies like the thing and blade runner. They just don't make this kind of films anymore!
Totally agree
Well said dude I remember it scared the hell out of me on my first watch man, awesome film
+Apocalypse Is here To me it's ahead of its time. That's why I think it doesn't get the coverage it should have. It's got some pretty original concepts plus I remember it being one of the best sci-fi films for me as a kid. It awed, surprised, terrified, uplifted, and at the same time, broke my heart (Am I wrong for feeling sad at SpaceGirl's death at the end? I mean she IS the most beautiful and sexiest destroyer of man I've ever seen).
It's a unique film that's never been approached since and we owe it to Tobe Hooper and the rest of the cast and crew to keep its memory alive.
they just don't make these kinds of films anymore !! [GRAMMAR NUT HERE !!] but seriously enough in total agreement here on what a great underatted gem we have here !!
Actually, I don't know if she does really die at the end. Notice that unlike the male vampire, she doesn't turn into an big ugly bat after being stabbed. Instead, you see something like a mass of protoplasm going up in space to the ship. That makes me think they may have thought of making a sequel to it.
Holy shit I remember this was played at one of the Zombie Film Festivals in Leeds, there's usually one or two oddball choices like Burial Ground or Stalled... but Life Force blew me away.
Honestly one of the most under-rated movies I've seen in years and cheers for all the background on it.
One of my favorite movies of all time. Saw it at the theater with dear ole dad and my gawd middle school me was blown away. Matilda May will always be what ten should be to me.
It was a great movie. One thing I really appreciate is that it doesn’t cop out on scale. Most movies would do this premise in a much smaller setting like a small town, military base, the desert, the jungle, or a faraway planet with a handful of people on it, just to make it cheaper to shoot and easier to write. This movie shows an entire city descending into chaos! I respect that.
"Do androids dream of electric sheep" it's actually a genius title, it sums up the whole theme of the novel in a neat and clever way, "Space vampires" on the other hand sounds a bit cheap and lazy
Whoa, whoa, whoa, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” is a beautiful title.
"We Can Remember It for You Wholesale"
Philip K. Dick had the best titles.
To me, it sounds like a non-sensical question a stoner would ask.
@Tristan Hartup That's just what my mon used to say. I remember one time when we (mostly me) saw "Seconds" in TV. It's a 1966 science fiction with Rock Hudson as a man who buys a new, beautiful body and has his brain transplanted into it. "This was written by someone who smoked pot!" she said disapprovingly. She likes musiclas and light opera. (Operetta)
@@tristanhartup4936 No, it's a brilliant title. It is asking whether a synthetic human can ever possess what we think of as our souls.
Exactly. This guy lost me with that. Not even comparable.
Completely agree...this is one of my all time fav sci fi films. Completely original, well shot, well acted and the special effects were awesome...you just cant beat practical vs cgi. Bought the bluray and it sits proudly in my "fav movies" section on my shelf...(face it, we all have one...the area where all your best films take pride of place lol).
I saw this as a teenager when me and my pals went to see a different movie, after which we snuck in and hid in the back row of Life Force. We came out stunned when it was over, talked about it all the way home and couldn't even remember what movie we'd gone to see beforehand. I love Life Force to this day
This should have been Cannon's best film. It's got a great story, great special effects, great original score, and it's got a beautiful woman who spends the entire film naked! The first time I saw the dried up corpse rush the cage, and explode into dust it made me jump in my seat. The "Walking Desiccated" are still some of the best special effects to ever be put on film. Thanks for giving us a peak into the underpinnings of this movie.
I bloody love that film. It's just pure cheesy fun. The score is just awesome.
This was one of the first horror films I saw when I was old enough to stay up late and watch late night TV. Good memories!
My mom introduced me to this movie in the long long ago. Free HBO weekends gave me more viewings. One of my all time favorites.
I remember seeing this on TV years back, and thinking "damn this is a weird movie how come I haven't seen this sooner?" Then saw all the black boxes over the naughty bits, then I saw Patrick Stewart and was all "what the hell is Captain Picard doing in this?" It's a pretty crazy movie, you don't see stuff like this these days, sadly. And the alien chick was smoking. She wound up being in The Jackal years later. She's pretty good in that too.
We have to be close in age because you review all these movies that I watched growing up in the 1980s. My parents owned a video rental store and I had the opportunity to watch just about everything that came out back then so your reviews have been an absolute gem to discover.
Even as a young teen when I saw it in theaters, I felt that Hooper was trying to, and succeeding at capturing the feel of the old Hammer Quatermass films. On the big screen, Alan Hume’s cinematography shines as probably his finest work ever. Lots of fog and mist and scenes lit with just enough light to be able to see what’s going on, yet maintain the atmosphere of impending doom. I saw Henry Mancini in concert in the fall of 1985, and he was justifiably proud of his score for the film. I’ve read where one critic compared it favorably to Bernard Herrmann’s work. The visual and makeup effects were excellent and I thought the cast was great too, aside from Railsback, who I suspect wasn’t getting enough help from Hooper, but it’s still one of my all-time favorite films.
So called critics even in the now (2019) still bash on this film. It's one of my favorite go to films when there is nothing out there worth watching, which has become a lot more often with the cgi/woke s**t-shows out today...
Love this flick... Great Review!
An old friend of mine was one of the walking shrivelled. He was one of those guys who could eat a mountain of food but somehow remained thin as a rail. The film makers were hiring every stick thin person they could find for the crowd scenes towards the end of the film and, as he worked for a radio station at the time, he heard about the opportunity through the grapevine.
I can't remember how much he got paid but it wasn't much. Not that he cared, he just loved being able to run around in heavy make up wearing just a pair of torn trousers.
Loved this movie to bits, never understood why it wasn't a stellar hit. Thanks for giving us the background!
Now to hunt down its blu-ray release, grab few beers, kick out wife and children and have a very, very nice evening.
I LOVED this book and the Movie!!! Very underrated for it's time, glad the book, when reprinted after the movie was given the name Life Force also. Wish they had given the Vampires their original form in the movie also it would have given everyone a shocking surprise!!!
Loved this since I was a kid and viewing it in my 40s in 4K makes me just as giddy
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU... Seen this one TWICE at the movie theater (in France, the movie was allowed for 13 and up) - i just did not believe what i had seen the first time (and Mathilda...). One more recent vision told me that it surprisingly stood the test of time (eeer, mostly). Underrated movie.
:)
Damn Yeah! I've loved this film since the VHS days and the blu-ray version is simply wonderful on all counts. Thanks for expressing this love so well. I've also found it to be an unknown or unfairly maligned film for too long. Keep up the excellent work.
Another movie I knew nothing about but you turned me on to. Fortunate to see the UK version on a streaming website... friggin loved it.
Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
This was one of my all-time favorites of the era, and now I understand why! Great documentary.
This movie is awesome and ahead of it's time, one of my all time favourite science fiction horror movies. A true crime it bombed in the cinema but thankfully over time it has gained the respect it deserves, another great movie from the awesome Tobe Hooper.
There is no way the makers of "Species" had not seen "Lifeforce" but I frankly prefer "Lifeforce" by far - it's not always you see a film that gives vampire folklore the Erich von Däniken ancient astronaut treatment!
This is one of my favorite movies. I watch it all the time.
I recently binged on almost all of your videos (at least all of the Reviews and Exploring series) and am amazed at how fantastic a reviewer and editor you are. Your commentary is thorough and intelligent and you consistently make such a good case for some movies I might have never considered or had thought differently about. Awesome work, man--you're one of my go-to's every time I'm on RUclips.
4:11yes there was. it's called Rotoscoping. they did it by hand for Superman the movie.
I never said this about any actress but she sure did have a good body, what could you expect from a ballet dancer.
What the comparison in names with Blade Runner source material. Do androids dream of electric sheep is literally the perfect title for a book of that topic.
+series360 Agreed. Few titles better encapsulates the story within.
+series360 The comparision is about hollywood wanting catchier names.
Ironically Phillip K. Dick hated his titles. His wife once paraphrased him saying that if he were good at writing titles he'd be in advertising.
Short story? It's a genius novel, much deeper and philosophical than adaptation. Anyone who is interested in sci-fi should read it. Perhaps initially it was a short story, that I don't know.
2:12 Mrs May's agent wasn't lying and this movie did help her to launch her career and made an established actress in her native France.
All things considered and of all the actors that participated on this movie, she made the best of it.
At last one channel doing the review lifeforce deserves.
Covering this film now on The Vampire Movie Minute Podcast ... Cecil you should come on the podcast for a favorite scene of yours
I am so happy I saw this in Germany when it first came out I was able to see the entire production as it was intended. God bless Mathilda May she made this movie hers.
Great vid, and Love the channel. Lifeforce has been a favorite film since I first saw it over 30 years ago, and it never drops out of my Top 20 of all time. The animatronics still stand up as some of the best practical FX on screen. (And the Hammer Horror influence doesn't hurt it either.)
Thank you!
life-force is one of the pinnacles of scifi horror and belongs in the same rank as alien.
Yes! and it was written by Dan O'Bannon, the same guy who wrote Alien! :)
Ah Mathilda, Mathilda.
You'll always have a special place in my childhood memories.
I LOVE this film. I gave it a full length review in my PAST PERFECT special fanzine HORROR and even did a homage to SAS Colonel Kane in my (sadly unpublished) novel Eternity Falls by creating a character who was a slightly darker version of the Lifeforce original. I only got to see the uncut version for the first time a few years ago and it is definitely superior to the cinema release. I had no idea the first vampire was Mick Jagger's brother; the second was a familiar face to many youngsters from the 80s as he "played" Sgt Streetwise in one of the photo story strips in the revamped (oops) Eagle.
I'm glad you are doing this. I saw this other youtuber saying how bad this movie was. This movie is one of my fave movies of all time.
+Ivan Ramirez
Oh yeah, I saw that pop up on my reccs too. I grew up with this movie, and I know it's not perfect but...... it's not that bad either. Yes, it takes a big left turn from the book, but hey, it's a movie. I can dig it.
+azraelswrd Now I need to read the book! :D
+Ivan Ramirez if it was a video that was released last week i seen it to and it kind of pissed me and a lot of other people off.
Cory Kamermans
Yep, I think it appeared last week. It stuck in my mind because it was so... random. "Really??? She is reviewing a 31 year old movie now??? WHY?" That's what went through my head. =)
Yeah, she has a track record with doing shit like that, i think she likes to think it makes her look edgy.
You forgot to mention that the author of the novel, Colin Wilson, called Lifeforce "the worst adaptation of any novel ever made". Like DAMN that is bad. However, I'm just finishing watching it right now and it is fantastic. Great stuff.
The visuals, creativity and Mathilda May are astonishing in Lifeforce. Yet, unfortunately, many of the other faccets suffer. The pacing feels off, the script has to much boring exposition, there are several hokey moments that don't jive with the serious tone of the rest of the film, and many of the acting performances feels uninspired and substandard (but that could just be the script they have to work with).
The chic in this film and Kelly LeBrok were my first crushes. I was 5 years old at the team. Years later I would marry a white woman who is a composite of both actresses as their roles. I appreciate her high I.Q. and her wild side. I also often think shes an alien ❤😂
Gents...I saw this movie at the theater when It came out...one of the best horror sci-fi horror movies ever made...your review is dead on.
Just a fun movie with every boys crush in May. The soundtrack was awesome.
I'm glad to see this film getting more recognition. I always thought of it as a gender-reversed version of Dracula, with Steve Railsback in the Mina role. ( I do think that if the "Space Girl" hadn't had to be naked the whole film, it might have gotten more mainstream attention. Her nudity kind of crowds out all other aspects of the film and makes it hard to censor for television.)
Actually, I first saw this film on TV on the now-CW affiliate station in the NYC area. Before the CW and the WB, WPIX had a good amount of the Cannon film.library. The edited version of Lifeforce was oddly smooth going.
+theproplady It seemed every Cannon film had to have nudity. There's a fun story on the blu-ray where the hair stylist told about how Tobe Hooper would keep coming in each day to remind the stylist to cut Mahilda May's pubic hair to a certain length. Annoyed he kept supervising and reminding her the stylist played a practical joke where she dumped loads of May's artificial hair on the floor around May's ankles and then called Hooper in to see how much she'd had to trim. Hooper laughed through his cigarette a lot as he left.
I saw this movie as a kid and thought it was so strange, but really good. Gonna have to track down the bluray and see the directors cut of it.
They destroyed the Mancini opening?
Sacrilege
The original opening made the film feel like it was supposed to be some swashbuckling adventure film, which it isn't all. It's an apocalyptic sci-fi horror film, which the theatrical opening captures perfectly. Imagine if The Thing or Alien opened with what looks and sounds like the opening to Superman. It wouldn't fit the tone of the movie at all.
Yeah but the US release intro fits the story better
I kinda like better the US opening.
@@wickedlateok1697 I agree
Yeah, I too kind of like the American version of that opening better. Seems more true to form for the genre spectacle.
The UK version with Mancini’s rousing score is as someone else aptly put it: too “swashbuckling”.
Lifeforce.....its a good movie,but at the same time its too connected to my 13 years old mind ID (vampire, space travel and girls that spend their time naked for no reason) to really admit it
But... girls that spend their time naked for no reason is a good thing, isn't it?
The men are naked as well. Even Capt. Picard has a kiss with a man.
Mathilda May was so beautiful.
I totally get what you mean, concerning the ID. Although I was younger when I first saw this, it still shaped my idea of beauty.
Supergirl did a similar thing, and I found myself attracted to Helen Slater types, for girlfriends, while Mathilda types, for lustful, no strings sexual experiences.
Besides all that, I've loved this movie since seeing it in 1987, when I was nine or ten.
It was a staple on The Movie Channel, HBO, Showtime, etc. and I would always watch a few minutes whenever it's on.
This is a great movie. That should be a classic by now
Hmm! And here I though I was the ONLY one that both remembers and like this movie :D
The UK opening sounds like Oblivion battle music.
Excellent video, and excellent comparisons between the weak US cut and the full batshit crazy UK cut. With a film like this, you don't want subtle and creepy; you want full on roaring epic, with no monster moment left unused. The main theme is superb, and overall film is easily one of my favorites.
I watched this movie with friends. Loved the baddies, loved the premise, and loved the effects. Sadly, I also found the heroes to be mostly unlikeable, which really didn't help a movie with a fun, creepy and goofy premise like this. Imagine this movie, but with someone like Bruce Campbell or Dennis Quaid in the leading roles. It would have been glorious.
One of my favorites. I think this would have done much better if released at another time of the year. lifeforce just did not get the proper marketing.
I love the u.s. opening, it has a sense of dread to it. I actually prefer it to the u.k. version. I don't know who does cannon's title opticals though, they're fonts always look cheesy.
I've only seen the director's cut, this is one of my favorite movies, just an incredible underrated movie.
Lifeforce is one my 'guilty-pleasure' films that I like to watch every now and again. While it wasn't the best sci-fi horror film, it does hold it's own. I would loved to see the director's cut of the film.
I'm seriously surprised that I never heard of this movie until just now...movie looks freak'n awesome
Lifeforce is definitely a film that comes to mind when I think of “a good bad movie.” It had a badass title..a bitchin’ blockbuster concept..the best production values and efx wizardry that money could buy..a proven director, and yet even with the schlocky B-movie source material, it’s generally not even highly regarded by the cult classic crowds.
The film is badly acted; the producers arrogantly assumed Railsback could Han Solo his way through the material while spending all the money on sets and special effects. The production ran amok in trying to execute too many ideas. And it’s remembered more as a box office dud than anything else as result.
I kind of like this movie. When I try to explain it to other people. I will tell them it's space vampires. I had no idea it was based on a book called "Space Vampires."
One of the best sci-fi films of the 80s. Thanks for the video. 👍👍
Saturn 3 🙏
Thanks for watching!
I liked both opening themes, now to the video!!
It's completely bonkers, is Lifeforce. Lifeforce is completely bonkers. Terrific stuff.
You sir are my very first sub and like on youtube. Ever! I really want to support your work and wanted to mention that you are one of the best movie reviewers, movie trivia guys, and source of movies (to make my friends question my sanity) on this whole website. Thank you and I hope you become a huge channel.
+Nathan Waggoner Thank you so much! :)
He's already huge! But he shall become bigger! Wicked good stuff as usual Cecil...
+GoodBadFlicks you are the shit. So many people don't get this film, but I love it. Have the blu ray of and I am so happy to have the longer cut. Once again, another excellent review from someone who knows and loves good Science Fiction and Horror films. Please review "The Mist." I'm pretty sure you would like it and I would love to see your take on it. Keep up the good work!!
+Nathan Waggoner Creepy.
I don't always agree with your opinions or choices, but you really nailed this coverage of Lifeforce. From the inside information, to the choice of clips, you did a fantastic job. And this time I actually agree with your opinion :-) Keep up the good work.
I remember first watching this on an old vhs tape a mate had way back in '86 or '87. It was the US cut that was on it and while I rather enjoyed it then, it was years later on dvd that I finally caught the UK uncut version and I was blown away!! The score was epic, it was sexier, more violent and in my book, made more sense than the truncated US version. I now own this on Blu-ray and it's grown to become one of my all time faves. What more could you ask for in a movie, spaceships, vampires, zombies, guts, sex, gore and a gorgeous French bird who wanders around naked (who, going by the blu ray extras, is still as gorgeous now as she was back then!!)
Wait a second... The Director's cut opening theme sounds very much like the "Attacked by Assassins" track on the Baldur's Gate soundtrack! That really caught me off guard, it must be an homage.
The guy who composed Baldur's Gate pretty much ripped off the track from Henry Mancini's.
I've read the book this film is based off of and actually prefer the film version. The book is much more Lovecraft meets Doctor Who and the ending is really anticlimactic. Lifeforce's ending is much more satisfying. Otherwise, the story is much the same. I also love the switch they made regarding the discovery of the alien ship in a comet, instead of the asteroid belt. It makes so much more sense mythologically.
I think if Mathilda May was clothed this film would have a lot more respect. The white flowing robes she wears in a few of the scenes add so much drama to the scene its a shame they went for exploitation rather than costume design.
some of those Cannon films are excellent along with this movie another great Cannon film is "Runaway Train" starring Jon Voight about a escaped con on a runaway train in the Alaskan frontier some people have said Runaway Train could've won best picture at the Oscars if it wasn't a Cannon film.
the scene where Captain Picard vomits up an entire girl is worth watching the movie alone.
Also this is the spiritual remake of 5 Million Years to Earth/Quatermass and the Pit. Which is also a good movie. You really don't see the connection until the end when the whole city goes mad.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a novel, not a short story. And a damn good one, too.
I'll have to check this out now, shoulda known if anyone could pitch it in an engaging way and make me curious enough it'd be you, Cecil.
It's not a conventionally good film, but it is unique, with some of the best puppet work I've seen.
That three movie deal with Cannon did´nt end that well, by the time Texas Chainsaw 2 was released Tobe Hooper said on interviews he had to deal with a shrinking shooting schedule and an incompetent second unit director. He also said the studio wanted all three movies to be as short as possible, no matter how.
I'm pretty sure that the traveling matte shots were done with blue... not green screen.
The switch from blue to green came mostly because modern camera sensors have higher green detail than other color channels. as opposed to film that had less pronounced grain in the blue layer...
Was also a movie by Mario Bava and inspired The thing/Alien
Back in the day, if you were a collector of Laserdiscs, the director's cut was ALWAYS available. But, unfortunately those who were watching on videocassette, you received the US cut of the film.
As this was a sci-fi horror film, I have to say that the US opening theme was a bit more appropriate for the film. The UK version sounded too upbeat, and didn't have a creepy feel to it. It reminds me of some of the unused James Horner tracks from the Aliens soundtrack. To my understanding, those tracks weren't used for the same reason.
I believe the guy who played Fallada died a few days ago, sadly.
I also thought it was interesting that at no point do the authorities try to deny or rationalize that they're dealing with space vampires. They just go "well these aliens act similarly to how vampires do in folklore, so I guess they're vampires!"
I liked that. They realize what it must be and they don't try to deny it. Whereas 90% of zombie movies, they see the dead walking and go "I don't know what these thing are! Don't go jumping to conclusions and calling them zombies! Must be some rational explanation!"
I saw this in the theater when I was an innocent young high school boy of 17 years of age..........THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT!!!..........................
SCHWING!!!!!!!
One of the earliest reviews I encountered on this channel. Just popped back to say you for reminding me what a great movie it is, and for the excellent "making of" info.
Wow--surprised it took so long to get to Lifeforce. Such a promising start and it degenerates into utter chaos and hilarity very quickly.
Funny thing that Cocoon was in the cinemas at the same time. Cause for a long time I thought that the name of the movie was Lifeforce.
Do an GoodBadFlicks episode where you explore the 1983 Canadian film Rock & Rule. That'd be amazing!
I believe the director's cut was available in the US long before the existence of blurays and DVDs. It was released with the Henry Mancini opening title sequence on Laserdisc, and that version certainly didn't seem to lack for graphic violence or nudity. Were Laserdisc editions so rare that this one simply escaped your notice? I remember seeing it back in the 90s.
A Boy and His Dog is the best bad flick ever made. A $20,000 low-budget POS from 1974 that actually portrayed a convincing look at a post-apocalyptic Arizona in 2024.
Saw this movie on ITV many years ago, it blew my mind that it was being shown late, no advertising, no build up, just this amazing crazy apocalyptic space vampire zombie epic, when I mention it to people they look very blankly back.
The opening theme for the director cut sounds like NFL films music
I think the film might actually have sold more tickets had it been titled "The Space Vampires", that at least tells you exactly what it is about whereas "Lifeforce" is a bit vague
Great movie. A good followup would be The Keep.
I've been watching this guys videos for about a week...
He really knows his stuff and his content on movies I really enjoy, and some movies I've never heard of or seen.
Hell, he used to post unique intros to all his videos based on the movies. I can tell he really enjoys film, knows what he's talking about, and likes talking about them. He definitely earned a sub from me. I'm gathering a list of films I've never seen that I want to watch. Kinda cool he mostly covers non AAA movies and there are some hidden gems.
These are definitely Good Bad Flicks. After hearing what it took to make some of these films, makes me appreciate them more than just an average movie watcher.
Keep up the good work
+Michael Young Thank you so much!