Late to the party but loved the review. I saw this in theaters when I was 14. Oh. and you were referring to Space Girl's poise. She used to be a ballerina.
Bat-shit crazy. That's what went through my mind the first time I watched this. However, watching it again (many, many times, I might add) it gets more enjoyable. It has the relentless darkness, and peculiar 'chilliness' that a lot of British sci-fi has. There are touches of 'Doomwatch', 'Sapphire & Steel', 'Dark Season', and above all, 'Quatermass' (especially the very 'Quatermass And The Pit' end scenes in a destroyed London). It is superbly creepy - Colin Wilson's book, 'The Space Vampires', upon which the movie is based, is very different, but still grim enough to please any horror fan. My younger brother, not really a science fiction horror fan, did make a pertinent observation on seeing Mathilda May for the first time: "You would." he said. It's as true now as it was then, and a point that no paid movie critic expressed so eloquently. Lovely Patrick Stewart story in your video, which I did not know. Great stuff. As to the end of the film - I think that the aliens, who are just conduits to transfer energy to their ship, completed their parasitic mission, as the ship is shown closing the energy 'Collector' at the end of it's 'hull', and pulling out of the tail of Halley's Comet, and moving away into deep space. In the original book, Steve Railsback's character, Colonel Carlsen, is actually one of the Vampires, left behind, previously. That's how he has such a strong link with Spacegirl.
Andrew, When I watched the movie I thought to myself, WTF? really, like this is some kind of hallucinogenic drug trip put on screen. It's so sexually filled that I thought I was watching Cronenberg. The Space Girl is just a sex pot. She looks incredible and probably the biggest sex symbol since Barbarella. It has incredible brilliant moments, and almost laughable dialogue at times...so it has a huge budget and so much thrown at you that is a very heavy movie to take. I think it's a bit of sensory overload. I know it's not for the average viewer, but this movie should be studied as an artifact of the 80's. It's so absurd yet so crazy, yet so brilliant. Yep, it's so weird it can only be cool and it can only be 80's :) Great Job!
I was about 12 when I first saw it, and it definitaly had an impact on me. This was back way before the internet, so a movie with a naked woman as attractive as Mathilda May was surely must see viewing.
The Horror Appraisal Whoever was in charge of casting earned their pay cheque the day they cast Mathilda May. She must have kick-started puberty for quite a few young horror fans :D
Late to the party but loved the review.
I saw this in theaters when I was 14.
Oh. and you were referring to Space Girl's poise. She used to be a ballerina.
Bat-shit crazy. That's what went through my mind the first time I watched this. However, watching it again (many, many times, I might add) it gets more enjoyable. It has the relentless darkness, and peculiar 'chilliness' that a lot of British sci-fi has. There are touches of 'Doomwatch', 'Sapphire & Steel', 'Dark Season', and above all, 'Quatermass' (especially the very 'Quatermass And The Pit' end scenes in a destroyed London). It is superbly creepy - Colin Wilson's book, 'The Space Vampires', upon which the movie is based, is very different, but still grim enough to please any horror fan. My younger brother, not really a science fiction horror fan, did make a pertinent observation on seeing Mathilda May for the first time:
"You would." he said. It's as true now as it was then, and a point that no paid movie critic expressed so eloquently.
Lovely Patrick Stewart story in your video, which I did not know. Great stuff.
As to the end of the film - I think that the aliens, who are just conduits to transfer energy to their ship, completed their parasitic mission, as the ship is shown closing the energy 'Collector' at the end of it's 'hull', and pulling out of the tail of Halley's Comet, and moving away into deep space. In the original book, Steve Railsback's character, Colonel Carlsen, is actually one of the Vampires, left behind, previously. That's how he has such a strong link with Spacegirl.
Rented this from the local video shop. You are spot on. Bonkers and brilliant.
Andrew, When I watched the movie I thought to myself, WTF? really, like this is some kind of hallucinogenic drug trip put on screen. It's so sexually filled that I thought I was watching Cronenberg. The Space Girl is just a sex pot. She looks incredible and probably the biggest sex symbol since Barbarella. It has incredible brilliant moments, and almost laughable dialogue at times...so it has a huge budget and so much thrown at you that is a very heavy movie to take. I think it's a bit of sensory overload. I know it's not for the average viewer, but this movie should be studied as an artifact of the 80's. It's so absurd yet so crazy, yet so brilliant. Yep, it's so weird it can only be cool and it can only be 80's :) Great Job!
Dude this movie is just amazing. We loved reviewing this one - and it's one of those you don't forget!
I was about 12 when I first saw it, and it definitaly had an impact on me. This was back way before the internet, so a movie with a naked woman as attractive as Mathilda May was surely must see viewing.
+J Wunder It's a powerful formative experience for sure!
And Mathilda may...:..
The Horror Appraisal Whoever was in charge of casting earned their pay cheque the day they cast Mathilda May. She must have kick-started puberty for quite a few young horror fans :D
Haha absolutely. We commented on that when we reviewed it. She's perfect in the role!
The Horror Appraisal Yep, I've watched youse guys's video, and I think you hit the perfect tone in your review.
Love watching your videos as always. You explain things a different way than many others