LIFEFORCE (1985) in '80s and '90s Horror and Sci-Fi Forum

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LIFEFORCE (1985)

Author	Comment
BijouBob8mm	LIFEFORCE (1985)	Lead	[-]
Dec 13 05 2:12 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It had been years since I'd seen Tobe Hooper's LIFEFORCE, so grabbed up the DVD, intrigued by the mention of additional footage on the cover. I don't know if it was just the lapse of time, or the inclusion of the extra footage, but the film was even better than I remember it being. At times, I was vaguely reminded of Quatermass as I watched it.
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blackbiped	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#1	[-]
Dec 13 05 4:57 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I also have grown to like this movie more and more over the years. And it reminds me in some ways of FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH (or, QUATERMASS AND THE PIT). It has plenty of great horror and sci-fi elements, an epic quality that few films of this kind achieve, and a wonderful Henry Mancini score. Legend, oh legend, the third wheel legend...always in the way.
oldmanster	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#2	[-]
Dec 13 05 7:11 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'm a fan of this film; and I second/third/fourth the connection to Quatermass -- scenes of London going nuts, the glowing beams of light sucking up humanity to provide fuel for the spacegoing aliens. Great Quatermass ambiance. Funny, though, I never noticed the Mancini soundtrack. I need to check it out. ... Reed
TMLindsey	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#3	[-]
Dec 13 05 10:17 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hey Bijou, Any idea what the additional footage was? When I originally saw it, I thought the latter part of the film seemed rushed or something but overall it had good effects and a good story...and boobies ;) Definately very Quatermass-like plot and probably worth another look to see what was added. Tim L.
ryanbrennan	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#4	[-]
Dec 14 05 1:33 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If I recall correctly, the additonal footage is the international version. Most of that footage occurs early in the picture, again if memory serves. The movie is based on the novel "Space Vampires" by one of my favorite authors Colin Wilson. Although he has written some fiction like "The Mind Parasites" and a sci-fi trilogy, among others, his primary claim to fame was the non-fiction philosophical book "The Outsider" and about four subsequent installments that explored the same territory from different perspectives. Fascinating theories. He's also done books on Rasputin, poltergeists, serial killers, a criminal history of mankind and other metaphysical works. Incredibly prolific writer. LIFEFORCE has a spectacular end title theme by Mancini that has been copied a couple of times, most recently, I think, in a TV or radio commercial. In addition to the elements everyone has listed as pluses I also enjoy the "look" of the film. It very closely resembles the WWII movies of the 1960s in terms of lighting, color and composition.
jimi d2	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#5	[-]
Dec 14 05 10:09 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Chalk me up as a fan of Lifeforce! I've always been a fan of it's mix of vampire legend, Romero zombies and sci-fi adventure, and I agree that it carries a similar feel to the classic Quatermass and the Pit. Definitely worth seeing for anyone who hasn't caught up with it yet.
Bill Warren	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#6	[-]
Dec 14 05 11:46 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Quatermass similarities were not coincidental.
BijouBob8mm	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#7	[-]
Dec 15 05 1:39 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks, Bill, I had never heard that before. (But then, after its release, it was rare to read much about this to begin with.) As for the question as to exactly what the additional footage was (keep in mind the amount of time since the theatrical release and my grabbing up the DVD), but it seems like the opening had been fleshed out by some of the "new" material. Again, I'm going by misty memories, here.
taraco	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#8	[-]
Dec 15 05 2:31 PM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I LOVE this movie. I think LIFEFORCE is one the grandest and most audacious of all scifi films and I'm continually amazed that it does not get more respect, and in fact is reviled by many folks. It has everything, and it builds and builds and BUILDS until you cannot believe how big the film has become from its claustrophic ALIEN-like beginnings. Taking the QUATERMASS approach to the max, LIFEFORCE is a terrific scifi film and one of my all-time favorites! david
BijouBob8mm	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#9	[-]
Dec 15 05 4:25 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Given how little airplay it gets, it almost seems like a forgotten film. Maybe this is one of those gems that will one day be "rediscovered."
Jojo Lapin X	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#10	[-]
Dec 15 05 9:19 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I also love this film, but, I have to admit, primarily because of the opening sequence in space. For my money there could never be too many films about strange alien artifacts discovered in space, and I wonder why they do not make them any more.
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Dudley Manlove	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#11	[-]
Dec 16 05 12:47 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Can i add i love it for the hottest spacealien/possessed chick ever!!!!!!!!
blackbiped	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#12	[-]
Dec 16 05 1:32 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Can i add i love it for the hottest spacealien/possessed chick ever!!!!!!!! Oh, yeah...I think I vaguely remember that part... Legend, oh legend, the third wheel legend...always in the way.
ryanbrennan	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#13	[-]
Dec 16 05 12:29 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* The Quatermass similarities were not coincidental. I'd enjoy hearing more on this topic.
Bob Wild Horror	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#14	[-]
Dec 16 05 9:14 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	As Bill previously commented, the similarities seem anything but accidental. I've always considered LIFEFORCE an homage to PIT (not just the climax, which is an obvious lift, but the discovery that ancient lore/legend is actually scientific "fact"). It's one of the major reasons I've enjoyed this film so much. Many critics - and there were many, weren't there? - didn't appear to understand the references. In my estimation, a similar tact was taken by John Carpenter's PRINCE OF DARKNESS.
ryanbrennan	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#15	[-]
Dec 18 05 3:00 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* In my estimation, a similar tact was taken by John Carpenter's PRINCE OF DARKNESS. Perhaps Carpenter's motives were well-intentioned, even crediting the screenplay to Martin Quatermass as, I suppose, some sort of hommage to Nigel Kneale, but I felt this film merely an indignity heaped upon the U.K. author after the travesty made of his work on HALLOWEEN III and the frustration of THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON failing to be made. *Quote:* As Bill previously commented, the similarities seem anything but accidental. I've always considered LIFEFORCE an homage to PIT (not just the climax, which is an obvious lift, but the discovery that ancient lore/legend is actually scientific "fact"). It's one of the major reasons I've enjoyed this film so much. Many critics - and there were many, weren't there? - didn't appear to understand the references. Yes, I've always seen the similarities and, like you, it's one of the reasons I like the film (and book) so much. However, Wilson thought the movie terrible, and I was hoping that maybe there was a story involving Wilson's admiration of Kneale or somesuch to make the hommage supposition certain. I wonder if they ever met?
Bill Warren	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#16	[-]
Dec 18 05 12:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	To the best of my uncertain knowledge, Wilson didn't intend any homage to Quatermass in his novel; that material was primarily the work of Tobe Hooper and Dan O'Bannon, both big fans of the Kneale stories. At one time or another, I've talked to all three about this, mostly to O'Bannon. The idea was a tip of the hat to Nigel Kneale. I know Kneale was unhappy with what happened regarding HALLOWEEN III, and doesn't like the finished film. Carpenter's involvement with unfilmed CREATURE remakes was long after Kneale was connected to the project; the intended director of the Kneale scri pt was Jack Arnold, with John Landis as producer.
Bob Wild Horror	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#17	[-]
Dec 18 05 6:40 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Now, this is interesting, indeed. What else can you tell us about the Kneale script for CREATURE? Does it still exist? Any knowledge of what he brought to it? I'd like to think he would have injected some new and interesting twists. Is this worth a new thread or does one already exist?
Bill Warren	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#18	[-]
Dec 18 05 8:37 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* What else can you tell us about the Kneale ***** for CREATURE? Does it still exist? Any knowledge of what he brought to it? I've got a copy here somewhere, but it's inaccessible. It was a solid, workmanlike job, combining CREATURE and REVENGE, but not inspired. I don't remember the details. Why would you suspect it might not exist? Hollywood throws away film and props, but they never throw away paper.
BijouBob8mm	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#19	[-]
Dec 19 05 4:55 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Hollywood throws away film and props, but they never throw away paper. Which is why reading the movie marquee is like reading an old TV Guide. (lol) Let's see, there's BEWITCHED, WILD WILD WEST, FLINTSTONES, BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, THE AVENGERS, THE HONEYMOONERS, DUKES OF HAZZARD, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, the upcoming productions of I DREAM OF JEANIE, GILLIGAN'S ISLAND, etc.. (It's just a matter of time before we see MY MOTHER THE CAR: THE MOTION PICTURE.)
Bob Wild Horror	Re: LIFEFORCE (1985)	#20	[-]
Dec 20 05 7:42 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Disappointing that Kneale didn't bring anything original to the concept. It's still something I'd love to see. It's like finding out Ray Bradbury wrote an early version of THE THING.
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