UK, USA, 1985
98m (Finland), 99m (Sweden), 105m (USA – cut version), 116m (UK; USA – uncut version)
35mm film, Eastmancolor
Dolby Stereo, English
A British/American science fiction film directed by Tobe Hooper. Production began on 9 February 1984 1Variety 25 April 1984 p.36
Plot Summary
The crew of the space shuttle Churchill discover a massive spacecraft in the tail of Halley’s Comet and retrieve the three naked humanoids hey find there. They turn out to be space vampires who drain the lifeforce from their victims – all but one of them, a woman, are killed and she escapes, pursued by the authorities and by the only survivor if the Churchill crew who has become obsessed with her. Will they catch her before she decimates London?
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Tobe Hooper
© MCMLXXXV [1985] Easedram Limited
The Cannon Group presents a Golan-Globus production of a Tobe Hooper film. Made by London Cannon Films Limited
Produced by: Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus
Associate Producer: Michael J. Kagan
Screenplay by: Dan O’Bannon & Dan Jakoby
Based on the novel ‘The Space Vampires‘ by Colin Wilson
Director of Photography: Alan Hume
Editor: John Grover
Music: Henry Mancini
Sound Recordist: George Stephenson
Costume Designer: Carin Hooper
Make-up: Dickie Mills, Michael Morris, Sandra Exelby
Hairdresser: Pat Kirkman
Prosthetics & Make-up Effects: Nick Maley
Special Effects: John Grant
Special Visual Effects: John Dykstra
Special Visual Effects Produced by: Apogee
Production Designer: John Graysmark
Casting: Maude Spector, Ann Stanborough
Cast
Steve Railsback ([Commander Tom] Carlsen)
Peter Firth ([Inspector] Caine)
Frank Finlay ([Dr Hans] Fallada)
Patrick Stewart (Dr Armstrong)
Michael Gothard (Bukovsky)
Nicholas Ball (Derebridge)
Aubrey Morris (Sir Percy)
Nancy Paul (Ellen)
John Hallam (Lamson)
John Keegan (guard)
Mathilda May (space girl)
Christopher Jagger (1st vampire)
Bill Malin (2nd vampire)
Jerome Willis (pathologist)
Derek Benfield (physician)
John Woodnutt (metallurgist)
James Forbes-Robertson (minister)
Peter Porteous (Prime Minister)
Katherine Schofield (Prime Minister’s secretary)
Owen Holder (1st scientist)
Alternative Titles
Space Vampires – working title
Vampires from Outer Space – working title
Links
Extracts included in
Cannon Fodder: The Making of Lifeforce (2013)
Carlsen’s Curse with Steve Railsback (2013)
Dangerous Beauty with Mathilda May (2013)
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014)
Invaders from Mars (1986)
The Making of… Lifeforce (1985)
Space Vampires in London with Tobe Hooper (2013)
See also
Quatermass and the Pit (1967)
References
Periodicals
- Fantasynopsis no.4 pp.9-13 – credits, synopsis, review
- Films April 1984 p.14 – review
- Flesh and Blood no.10 pp.26-27 – credits, review
- Variety 25 April 1984 p.36 – credits (Film production)
Books
- The Illustrated Vampire Movie Guide by Stephen Jones p.108 – credits, review
- Island of Terror: A Book of 60 Great* British SF and Fantasy Movies from 1936-1984 *And not so Great by Keith Topping pp.568-581
