DEEP SPACE (1988)

DEEP SPACE (1988)

Tagline: They created a monster over lunch. Now it's back for dinner...

(Horror, Sci-Fi, The Final Frontier) [R]

McLemore, I do it by the book. That’s why I’m captain and you’re suspended.

In this one, a spaceship called Santar 1, lands with a homicidal flesh-eating bio-weapon creature on board. Because what else are a bunch of military scientists supposed to do in the 80s? I mean, come on, what kid wasn’t aspiring to do just that very thing? Ian Mclemore and his partner Jerry Merris go to investigate removing several small pods. That was just one of the worst ideas ever, but we can mostly blame Ian because Jerry really wasn’t down with the idea. Will anyone on Earth survive this scientific menace from DEEP SPACE? 

First off, this movie is like a budget cross between aliens and an episode of “CHiPs”. There are a couple fun one-liners in this and the overall dialogue is strong. To be honest I am kind of shocked how many reviews focused way more on the fact that this alien looks a LOT like the alien from ALIEN, and just ignored how well-written this thing is. It’s actually outstanding. Apparently, it was written in 1984, but the director didn’t think anyone would want to make the movie. As good as the dialog is though, the actual storyline is pretty out there. 

I loved that McLemote takes no crap from the Feds. His attitude starts to taper off as the movie goes along, but he definitely has that Detective Ray Cameron (from NIGHT OF THE CREEPS) vibe to him. 

Acting wise this thing is loaded with stars. Ann Turkel (HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP) plays a cop named Carla Sandbourn who quickly befriends Ian. I thought Ann was pretty solid in the role. Charles Napier (MANIAC COP 2) plays Ian Mclemore. He is no Tom Atkins, but I thought he was pretty great in this. Ron Glass (from the TV show “Firefly”) plays Jerry Merris. I liked him in this, but felt they failed to really allow him to shine in the role. Julie Newmar (EVIL’S OF THE NIGHT) has kind of a throwaway role here as Lady Elaine. She basically gets about 5 minutes of screen time playing a psychic that seems to have really obscure visions in her “super” conscience mind. She knows things like “someone is going to die tonight” and “if your steaks are burning”. Thanks for the specificity, Lady. Elisabeth Brooks (THE HOWLING) plays Mrs. Ridley. She really doesn’t get much screen time either so it’s hard to really give a thumbs up or down on her performance. She just wants her son Jason to fix the damn car and get his butt home. 

This thing does have some pacing issues and there are some storylines that really seem to not go anywhere. We don’t really get any character development with anyone, so outside of Ian and Jerry, it’s hard to really relate to the rest of the cast. The score is pretty bland and we also get a pretty weak soundtrack, especially for a film done this late in the 80’s. 

Overall in the batch of 1980’s horror films inspired by ALIEN, I think that this is one of the better ones and it happens on Earth so it doesn’t feel quite as claustrophobic as most of the films in this wheelhouse. One other exception off the top of my head is NIGHTBEAST. 

DEEP SPACE gets a 4 out of 7. It’s far from perfect, but I thought it was entertaining enough. 

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