Galaxy of Terror
Reviews
CinemaSerf
The first ten minutes of this really do have you reaching for the fast forward button, but once it settles down and we get past the characters/plot establishment sequences, it turns into an half-decent sci-fi murder mystery. The crew of a spaceship are sent on a rescue mission. When they arrive at the site, they discover that the other crew have been brutally slaughtered and, trapped by an electro-magnetic storm, they now have to look to their own self-preservation. B.D. Clark manages - actually quite an achievement - to generate a bit of suspense aided by Barry Scrader's slightly over-the-top score, but the acting is pretty dreadful. Erin Moran (whom I'm sure was in "Happy Days") and Edward Albert really draw attention to the low-budget sets and effects; and the story is all pretty routine
Wuchak
**_Corman-produced sci-fi in the wake of “Alien”_** In the future when humanity is involved in space travel and governed by “The Master,” a rescue spacecraft is sent to a remote planet to investigate a crashed vessel. Things go from bad to worse. People tend to write off “Galaxy of Terror” (1981) as an “Alien” knockoff,” which it is, but that iconic Ridley Scott film itself ripped-off every main aspect of the first half of "Planet of the Vampires," aka "Terror in Space" (1965). So it wasn't exactly original, although it was well-done and superior. This is basically a combination of those two films with bits borrowed from "Forbidden Planet" and, of course, Star Trek (both the Original Series and the first movie). Unlike Roger Corman’s “Battle Beyond the Stars” from the year prior, there’s no Star Wars-like cuteness. This is dead-serious adult-oriented sci-fi in the manner of the aforementioned works, perhaps best known for a giant slimy maggot sequence involving statuesque blonde Taaffe O'Connell (Dameia), It’s also known as the movie that paved the way for James Cameron’s breakthrough. He was the art director and talked Corman into being the second unit director. He wrote & shot the arm-severing sequence wherein two producers happened to be in the studio. They were so impressed that they hired James to direct his first movie “Piranha II: The Spawning.” After that, he was ready for “The Terminator” and the rest is history. Aside from Taaffe in the feminine department, there’s Erin Moran as a crewmember with psychic powers. Meanwhile Grace Zabriskie is surprisingly appealing (and convincing) as fit Captain Trantor. I say “surprisingly” because I only know her from roles when she was older, such as Susan’s mother, Mrs. Ross, in several episodes of Seinfeld. Notables Ray Walston, Robert Englund and Sid Haig are also on hand. Like “Planet of the Vampires,” this starts to get dull in the mid-section with crewmembers scampering around dark sci-fi sets, usually in terror, but the grim atmosphere is palpable and the ending is fairly interesting. It influenced “Aliens” (Cameron went on to direct that famous film five years later), as well as “Event Horizon” and “Sphere.” It runs 1 hour, 21 minutes, and was shot at Corman's studio in Venice, California, his "renowned lumberyard facility," as well as Santa Monica. GRADE: B-
Movie Recommendation
A Stolen Life1946-05-01A twin takes her deceased sister's place as wife of the man they both love.More...
Scream of the Banshee2011-03-26An archeology professor unearths a dangerous artifact, unwittingly releasing a creature that is able to kill with the power of its bone-splitting scream.More...
Extremities1986-08-22A woman escapes from the man who is about to rape her, but leaves her purse behind. Afraid that her attacker might come after her, she goes to the police, but with no proof of the incident, they can do nothing. In fact, the man does use the information in her bag and comes to her apartment with the intent of rape, but she sprays him in the face with insect repellent, and then holds him captive. She is then faced with deciding whether to go to the police who might not believe her and release him, or to kill him.More...
Modern Problems1981-12-25Jealous, harried air traffic controller Max Fielder, recently dumped by his girlfriend, comes into contact with nuclear waste and is granted the power of telekinesis, which he uses to not only win her back, but to gain a little revenge.More...
The Giant Claw1957-06-01Global panic ensues when it is revealed that a mysterious UFO is actually a giant turkey-like bird that flies at supersonic speed and has no regard for life or architecture.More...
Uninvited1988-08-24A sinister corporation loses control of a house cat infected with a genetically-engineered virus. The death-toll rises during the mutant feline's rampage, and eventually, it finds its way on board a ship of a criminal king-pin.More...
White Lion2010-02-19According to the legend of the Shangaan, white lions are the messengers of the gods, but it has been years since one has been seen in their remote African valley. When a white lion is miraculously born into that valley, a young Shangaan named Gisani, finds himself destined to protect this rare and magnificent creature at all costs. This young lion, whom will be known as Letsatsi, is cast from his pride and forced to embark upon a perilous journey of survival.More...
The Spirit1987-07-31A legally dead police detective decides to battle crime as a masked superhero.More...
Times Square1980-10-17When a 13-year-old girl befriends a defiant antisocial child of the streets, the mismatched runaways set off to the Big Apple to find their own adventure.More...
Bloodsucking Bastards2015-08-28A down on his luck cubicle worker and his slacker best friend discover their new boss is a vampire who is turning their coworkers into the un-dead.More...
F12025-06-25Racing legend Sonny Hayes is coaxed out of retirement to lead a struggling Formula 1 team—and mentor a young hotshot driver—while chasing one more chance at glory.More...
Frankenhooker1990-06-01A medical school dropout loses his fiancée in a tragic lawnmower incident and decides to bring her back to life. Unfortunately, he was only able to save her head, so he goes to the red light district in the city and lures prostitutes into a hotel room so he can collect body parts to reassemble her.More...
The Old Ways2021-04-04Cristina, a journalist of Mexican origin, travels to her ancestral home in Veracruz to investigate a story of sorcery and healing. There, she is kidnapped by a group of locals who claim she's the devil incarnated.More...
From Beyond1986-10-24The Resonator, a powerful machine that can control the sixth sense, has killed its creator and sent his associate into an insane asylum. When a beautiful psychiatrist becomes determined to continue the experiment, she unwittingly opens the door to a hostile parallel universe.More...
Demons1985-10-04A group of people are trapped in a West Berlin movie theater infested with ravenous demons who proceed to kill and possess the humans one-by-one, thereby multiplying their numbers.More...
Piranha1978-08-03When flesh-eating piranhas are accidently released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal.More...
The Devil's Candy2016-12-15A struggling painter is possessed by satanic forces after he and his young family move into their dream home in rural Texas.More...
Hard Boiled1992-04-16A cop who loses his partner in a shoot-out with gun smugglers goes on a mission to catch them. In order to get closer to the leaders of the ring he joins forces with an undercover cop who's working as a gangster hitman. They use all means of excessive force to find them.More...
The Howling1981-01-21After a bizarre and near fatal encounter with a serial killer, a newswoman is sent to a rehabilitation center whose inhabitants may not be what they seem.More...
Bride of Frankenstein1935-04-20Dr. Frankenstein and his monster both turn out to be alive, not killed as previously believed. Dr. Frankenstein wants to get out of the evil experiment business, but when a mad scientist, Dr. Pretorius, kidnaps his wife, Dr. Frankenstein agrees to help him create a new creature.More...
Similar Movies
Frankenstein Created ...
1967-03-15A deformed tormented girl drowns herself after her lover is framed for murder and guillotined. Baron Frankenstein, experimenting with the transfer of souls, places the boy's soul into her body, bringing Christina back to life. Driven by revenge, she carries out a violent retribution on those responsible for both deaths.Frankenstein: The Tru...
1974-09-19Victor Frankenstein witnesses his creation turn uncontrollable after he's duped by his associate, Dr. Polidori.Destroy All Monsters
1968-08-01At the turn of the century, all of the Earth's monsters have been rounded up and kept safely on Monsterland. Chaos erupts when a race of she-aliens known as the Kilaaks unleash the monsters across the world.Lady Frankenstein
1971-10-22When Dr. Frankenstein is killed by a monster he created, his daughter and his lab assistant continue his experiments.The Evil of Frankenst...
1964-05-08Once hounded from his castle by outraged villagers for creating a monstrous living being, Baron Frankenstein returns to Karlstaad. High in the mountains they stumble on the body of the creature, perfectly preserved in the ice. He is brought back to life with the help of the hypnotist Zoltan who now controls the creature. Can Frankenstein break Zoltan's hypnotic spell that incites the monster to commit these horrific murders or will Zoltan induce the creature to destroy its creator?Dracula vs. Frankenst...
1971-09-20Dracula conspires with a mad doctor to resurrect the Frankenstein Monster.The Revenge of Franke...
1958-06-13Rescued from the guillotine by his devoted dwarf Fritz, the Baron relocates to Carlsbruck, where he continues his gruesome experiments.The Horror of Franken...
1970-11-08Young Victor Frankenstein returns from medical school with a depraved taste for beautiful women and fiendish experiments.The War of the Gargan...
1966-07-31Gaira, a humanoid sea beast spawned from the discarded cells of Frankenstein's monster, attacks the shores of Tokyo. While the Japanese military prepares to take action, Gaira's Gargantua brother, Sanda, descends from the mountains to defend his kin. A battle between good and evil ensues, leaving brothers divided and a city in ruins.Frankenstein Conquers...
1965-08-08During WWII, Germans obtain the immortal heart of Frankenstein's monster and transport it to Japan to prevent it being seized by the Allies. Kept in a Hiroshima laboratory, it is seeming lost when the United States destroys the city with the atomic bomb. Years later a wild boy is discovered wandering the streets of the city alone, born of the immortal heart.Blackenstein
1973-08-03Eddie is a Vietnam veteran who loses his arms and legs when he steps on a land mine, but a brilliant surgeon is able to attach new limbs. Unfortunately an insanely jealous assistant (who has fallen in love with Eddie's fiance) switches Eddie's DNA injections, transforming him into a gigantic killer.Frankenstein Island
1981-11-27A hot air balloon crew and a dog find themselves on an island with scantily-clad part-alien women, zombies, and other monsters.Frankenstein Meets th...
1965-09-22When an atomic war on Mars destroys the planet's women, it's up to Martian Princess Marcuzan and her right-hand man Dr. Nadir to travel to earth and kidnap women for new breeding stock. Landing in Puerto Rico, they shoot down a NASA space capsule manned by an android. With his electronic brain damaged, the android terrorizes the island while the Martians raid beaches and pool partiesBattle Royale
2000-12-16In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.Dracula, Prisoner of ...
1972-10-17Dracula kills another innocent victim and Dr. Seward decides it's time to wipe him off the face of the earth. Armed with a hammer and a wooden stake, he arrives at Castle Dracula and duly dispatches the vampire Count. Next day, however, Dr. Frankenstein arrives with his assistant, Morpho, and a large crate containing the monster. Using the blood of a pub singer who has been abducted by his creation, the doctor brings Dracula back to life and uses him for his own ends. The Count and a female vampire continue to terrorise the town, so Dr Seward once again sets out for Castle Dracula. Unfortunately, he is attacked by the Frankenstein monster and left for dead. Amira, a gypsy, rescues him and summons up a werewolf to do battle with the forces of evil...I Was a Teenage Frank...
1957-11-23Professor Frankenstein creates a teenager from an accident victim, who gets angry when he learns he is going to be taken apart.The Projected Man
1966-03-01Matter-transmitter sabotage leaves a British scientist (Bryant Halliday) disfigured and full of amps.Alternate Ground
2021-11-21When a teenage boy is found after disappearing overnight, his unexplained behavior causes concern within the family, and a lack of medical answers leads to a revelation of alien abduction.Massacre on Aisle 12
2016-11-05A hardware store employee's first night on the job is disrupted by the discovery of a dead body and a duffel bag full of cash. He and his co-workers soon descend into madness as they try to figure out a solution to their predicament in this unsettling horror comedy.Seven Years of Night
2018-03-28Set against the haunting backdrop of a small lake town, this chilling thriller unravels a meticulous revenge set over a period of 7 years, all beginning with the accidental death of an innocent girl.