6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A race of space vampires arrives in London and infects the populace, beginning an apocalyptic descent into chaos.
Starring: Steve Railsback, Peter Firth, Frank Finlay, Mathilda May, Patrick StewartHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 3% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The question of who really directed 1982’s “Poltergeist” remains an active mystery to this day. Tobe Hooper is the credited helmer, and some cast members have reinforced his leadership role during filming. Other production members have suggested co-writer/producer Steven Spielberg was the true creative guiding force, with Hooper more of an employee than a visionary. Perhaps the truth behind this strange collaboration will never be revealed, but “Poltergeist” was a crackerjack horror picture that employed tremendous style and furious surges of mayhem to help update a traditional haunted house tale. It was also a massive box office hit, giving Hooper a chance to become an in-demand director, with 1985’s “Lifeforce” his follow- up project, and it’s nowhere near the quality of the previous feature. Hooper takes full command of another genre endeavor, joined by co-writer Dan O’Bannon (“Alien”), and while he’s offered a large budget and creative control from Cannon Films (trying to craft their first summer blockbuster), the director just doesn’t get this extremely oddball movie off the ground. “Lifeforce” is an adaptation of a 1976 Colin Wilson novel, challenging the production to deal with the demands of literary storytelling and the potential of a sci-fi extravaganza. The project comes up short in many ways, often so excited to simply present the image of a nude female on the move, it neglects to build a rich sense of menace and intrigue when dealing with the enigmatic plans of space vampires and their attack on Earth.
Screenshots are collected from the Blu-ray release.
Shout Factory originally released "Lifeforce" on Blu-ray in 2013, highlighting the presentation of a "Director's Cut" which restored the feature to its
original vision, or somewhere near that, giving fans a chance to see the movie in a fresher way after an initial 1998 DVD release. Now "Lifeforce" makes
its move to UHD, and in a controversial move, only the 1985 Theatrical Cut is offered, listed as a "4K scan of the original camera negative." The largely
unpopular version of "Lifeforce" is handed an adequate upgrade, with the Dolby Vision viewing experience providing a richer sense of color with flashy
lighting schemes and blue life force energy fields. Reds are deeper, along with blacks, and skintones, which this film is famous for, are natural. Detail is
slightly better, doing well with creatures and assorted special effects, and skin surfaces are often exact, capturing fine hair and elements of age.
Highlights are decent, with a brighter appreciation of vampire magic and city lighting. Grain is adequately resolved. Again, the Director's Cut is not
available on UHD, presented only on Blu-ray.
The 7.1 Dolby TrueHD mix offers a forceful understanding of scoring selections, which jump at the listener with a secure, wide orchestral sound. Horns are sharp and strings are deep. Dialogue exchanges are clear, handling accents and emphasis well. Sound effects are crisp and on the move, with select panning effects, while surrounds are active with sci-fi chaos and music. Low-end enjoys some explosive moments. Of note is the opening Tri-Star Pictures banner, which has a brief audio issue, and a few lines of dialogue during the main feature carry a slight echo, which may be inherent to the original mix.
Theatrical Cut (Blu-ray)
"Lifeforce" has some strong visuals at times, with the production team creating a vivid understanding of the space vampire wrath, which includes the "drained" bodies of victims and the power of "life force," which is examined throughout the film. It's a striking picture that does well with special effects, and scoring by Henry Mancini helps the cause considerably, giving the feature a defined cinematic sound. Hooper has difficulty with casting, finding star Steve Railsback trying way too hard to communicate encroaching madness, and pacing is often stuck in neutral, with the endeavor initially highlighting the mysteries of alien life and space exploration before it largely remains with dull characters trading stiff dialogue concerning a clunky mystery. There's actress Mathilda May and her extensive nudity, which often dominates any conversation about "Lifeforce," but, in reality, she's barely in the effort, contributing a few scenes of eroticism while Hooper struggles to decide if he wants to frighten viewers or provide some hard R-rated titillation. Whatever big screen sorcery was in play during the making of "Poltergeist" is missing here, with Hooper on his own, unprepared to engineer another skillful chiller.
2013
Alien Contamination | Limited Edition Slipcase to 1000
1980
1966
70th Anniversary
1953
Director's Cut
1986
Five Million Years to Earth
1967
1951
Standard Edition
1953
Special Edition | The Creeping Unknown
1955
2K Restoration
1958
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1977
10th Anniversary Special Edition
2008
Collector's Edition
1987
1988
2001
1986
Collector's Edition
1984
2002
2001
2016