Review of Lifeforce (1985) by ?Kissa-Hime? — 01 Mar 2011

I'm a sucker for this film, and not just because stunning Mathilda May seemed to have a major problem with wardrobe (like not having any). I love that it starts as one thing, becomes another, and finally turns into something completely different.

From small scale, quiet, mysterious investigations into deaths on a space research mission, into Gothic vampire inspired weirdness, into apocalyptic zombie action. The cast is fantastic, though I have never been a fan of Steve Railsback.

It mixes classic horror with science fiction very well, and carries more than a little taste of Lovecraft, who if memory serves, the author of the book this film was based on was purposefully imitating/referencing.

I think this movie is often unfairly maligned, and that it hearkens back to classic British horror-sci-fi like the Quatermass films.