Lifeforce – Die tödliche Bedrohung (1985)

Lifeforce – Die tödliche Bedrohung: Directed by Tobe Hooper. With Steve Railsback, Peter Firth, Frank Finlay, Mathilda May. A race of space vampires arrives in London and infects the populace, beginning an apocalyptic descent into chaos.

“Based on the novel u0026quot;Space Vampiresu0026quot;, by Colin Wilson, Tobe Hooperu0026#39;s Lifeforce is an intriguing blend of sci-i, horror, and action, with particularly masterful nspecial fx. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs far as vampire films go, itu0026#39;s really quite original, in that it attempts to explain the origin of the vampire legends on Earth, as intervention from an extraterrestrial race of beings that traverse the universe- riding the wave of haleyu0026#39;s comet- and leaving destruction in their wake (Von Daniken would be proud).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEverything begins when a mission is sent to study and observe Haleyu0026#39;s Comet up close- using the new minerva engine, which allows them to travel with gravity for the first time (which is convenient for production purposes)- during which they discover this mysterious alien craft. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eKnowing this is a once-in-a-lifetime oppourtunity…they send a team to enter the ship via an u0026quot;arteryu0026quot;…only to discover the desiccated corpses of a nthousand bat like creatures. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUpon further investigation they find 3 humanoid figures perfectly preserved in what appear to be crystalline obelisks of some sort. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe commander immediately falls in love with the female of the species, and orders the three humanoids and one desiccated bat corpse be taken back to the ship so they can be studied. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, this unleashes something that kills everyone on the ship. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd by the time the ship gets back to Earthu0026#39;s orbit, there is nothing left…except the three humanoid creatures (who are the only things left inside the vessel that havenu0026#39;t been scorched). u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe space agency then brings the specimens back to Earth, only to discover for themselves, exactly what they are dealing with- body snatching vampires that require human lifeforce as nourishment. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUnknowingly, they have just unleashed this plague- which spreads like zombies and vampires- upon the Earth…and they cannot contain it. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eShortly after making this discovery, the escape pod- from the ship that originally scavenged the three entities from the alien craft that now nsits in orbit over London- returns carrying the sole survivor from that fateful mission. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut itu0026#39;s too late…the plague is spreading like wildfire across London, and NATO plans to nuke the area to contain the threat. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo our returned man (who is both the original cause of the plague and only hope for stopping it)- alongside his earthly counterpart- must find a nway to kill the three entities before the plague obliterates all life on Earth. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd the only way for our out of this world protagonist to redeem his sins- and save what is left to be saved- is to form the ultimate union; and become himself, like a God (providing mercy for mankind). u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStory aside, the special effects in this film are among the best Iu0026#39;ve ever seen. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe animatronic puppets used for the bodies drained of their lifeu0026#39;s essence are absolutely incredible (and something we rarely get in todayu0026#39;s cop out age of cgi). So animated and lifelike! u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe transformation sequences (a blend of real fx, cell animation and cinematic techniques) are also top notch…up there alongside the scene from American Werewolf in London…maybe even better! u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e Itu0026#39;u0026#39;s no Star Wars, or anything…but this film is a nugget from the Golden Age of Special Effects, which has since been heavily diluted, if not abandoned altogether. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThey just donu0026#39;t make films like this anymore, and thatu0026#39;s a real tragedy. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWorth watching on that note alone. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e7.5 out of 10.”