Review of: Galaxy of Terror (1981)
- Film:
- Bruce D. Clark
Reviewed by: David M. Brown
- Rating:
- 1
On June 15, 2013Last modified:June 15, 2013
Summary:
Galaxy of Terror is another poor eighties sci-fi flick.
More DetailsAbout Galaxy of Terror (1981)
Gory sci-fi horror film directed by B.D. Clark. The spacecraft Rebus is dispatched to the planet Morganthus to discover what happened to a previous expedition. On arrival, their worst fears are realised when they find a score of shipwrecks – and a gigantic pyramid structure which houses an awesome power. It is a power which they must overcome or die…
Starring: Edward Albert, Ray Walston, Robert Englund, Erin Moran
Directed by: Bruce D. Clark
Runtime: 81 minutes
Studio: Shout! Factory
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Review: Galaxy of Terror
Bruce D. CLark’s sci-fi film was somewhat lambasted on release but has gained a cult following in the years that have followed. The film begins with two characters involved in some game. The Planet Master whose head is obscured by glowing red light decides it is time for a crew to head to the distant planet of Morganthus. A previous crew have been to the planet and haven’t fared so well. A new crew captained by Trantor (Grace Zabriskie) heads for the planet and a team sets out to explore what became of the last crew and also delves into the heat of Morganthus to a mysterious pyramid.
The crew sent out to explore Morganthus are a strange bunch. Trantor is somewhat unstable following a previous mission in which she was the only survivor, Baelon (Zalman King) is the annoying and arrogant team leader, Cabren (Edward Albert) is the tough hero of the film, Alluma (Erin Moran) is Cabren’s girl, Daemeia (Taaffe O’Connell) is the main reason this film achieved cult status, Kore (Ray Watson) is a cook and then there’s Quuhod (Sid Haig), a guy that throws crystals. As the crew explore Morganthus they begin to succumb to some pretty unpleasant demises. The planet is able to manifest itself as their worst fears and pretty much all of them perish. Most amusing was watching Quuhod despair when his crystal weapons shatter only for Cabren to give him a manly shoulder squeeze before Quuhod insists that he lives and dies by the crystals. If that’s the case why does he throw the damn things around to begin with? Honestly, Quuhod, now that’s just asking for trouble.
The acting is pretty lousy in Galaxy of Terror and there are so many embarrassingly bad moments. The cult status of the film owes a lot to the infamous scene involving Dameia and a giant maggot. You can probably draw your own conclusions from what happens when the two of them come together mid-way through the film. This is one of those films you watch for a laugh but certainly not one you turn to when searching for quality.
Galaxy of Terror is another poor eighties sci-fi flick. I’m not sure if Alien (1979) was just so good that it crushed the spirits of other sci-fi directors but the next ten years turned up some utterly lousy films in this genre. Galaxy of Terror has some comical moments,the acting and effects are awful and many people will undoubtedly find the main talking point is the scene with the giant maggot which I couldn’t decide whether it was funny, disgusting or just plain bizarre.
Verdict: 1/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
