Galaxy of Terror

I recently came across the Robert Englund and Sid Haig cult classic Galaxy of Terror (1981) on MAX. The story follows a spaceship crew that stumbles upon a vessel with a missing crew. As they investigate, hoping to find survivors, they instead encounter alien creatures that begin picking off the members of their own ship one by one.

The film also stars Erin Moran (Happy Days), Ray Walston (The Stand), and Edward Albert (Power Rangers), and is directed by Bruce Clark (Ski Bum and The Hammer).

It's clear that Galaxy of Terror was aiming to capitalize on the success of Alien, which had been released two years earlier. However, the special effects and action sequences here are far from the quality of Alien, and often come off as a bit cheesy. Despite being released in 1981, the film has more of a '70s sci-fi feel. Overall, it's an average to below-average entry in the sci-fi genre that might only appeal to diehard fans of Englund or Haig. I'd rate it a 5/10.

Early eighties Roger Corman sci-fi flick featuring a cast of b-grade actors on a mission to a distant planet to investigate a dying signal from a doomed space vessel. Once they arrive on the planet they soon discover that the crew is no more and that a black pyramid draws them in mysteriously. The cast's worst nightmares are manifested into reality as they are picked off one by one. But by whom exactly? If you were stumped as to who it was might I interest you in some low-property tax swamp land.

I have never been much of a Corman fan but this is one of his most ambitious and entertaining films. The fact that this is considered one of the 50 worst films of all time is not only silly but calls into question the bad movie credentials of whomever listed Galaxy of Terror. Have you even seen War of the Robots? Any movie that dispatches Erin Moran by crushing her skull and features the Hentai-like mutant worm raping to death a very buxom Taaffe O'Connell deserves cult status damn you! This is my third Zalman King film reviewed on this site, through no fault of my own mind you, and his limited range as an actor leaves little wonder why he made the move to directing light porn. Edward Albert is not very engaging as the male lead Cabren while I hope Sid Haig was paid by his screen time rather his amount of dialogue. Robert Englund, Ray "I've been old for 1000 years" Walston and Grace Zabriskie, who was great in Twin Peaks, round out the cast. If you happen upon this movie give it a watch. It's sure to entertain.

Following a failed voyage to the planet Morganthus, the spaceship Quest is dispatched from the Planet Xerxes for a rescue mission. Once there, the crew discovers the remains of the crew of the doomed voyage as well as a strange pyramid containing unspeakable horrors.

Galaxy of Terror is a 1981 sci-fi/horror film from producer Roger Corman. The film saw him attempt to cash in on the success of Alien much in the same way Battle Beyond the Stars was his answer to Star Wars. Once again using the talents of James Cameron who provided the impressively improvised effects, with Cameron hired as an art director and effects supervisor alongside Robert Skotak. The movie has carved quite a legacy for itself (one of infamy as well as curiosity) and while I can't say much for quality of its writing, from an atmospheric and technical perspective it's undeniably memorable.

Starting off, the writing of Galaxy of Terror is often very confused and muddled with the nature of elements such as Xerxes' "Master" or the borderline Darwin Award behavior of the some of the crewmembers making it pretty obvious plot is not this movie's strong suit. Rather than creating a streamlined narrative Galaxy of Horror is mostly a showcase of impressive effects work in both creature design and gore work and both the curiosity factor of seeing James Cameron's humble beginnings as well as the grotesque nature of the kills and creatures has given the film a lasting legacy (such as the forceful nonconsensual sexual escapades of a certain giant worm).

As far as Alien rip-offs go Galaxy of Terror is certainly memorable in its exploitation and nastiness value even though with its thin characters and borderline nonexistent story that's the only real selling point. Depending on what you're looking for Galaxy of Terror might satisfy those trashy cravings we all deny having in spite of our knowledge to the contrary.

I really wanted to see this film, especially because my kids liked it years ago and I never saw it. Of course, it probably was okay then but it is far too simple to enjoy it now. It is not boring because there is something happening all the time but it is not interesting and really only the sex and violence stands out today. I still love the poster.

A spacecraft travels to a distant planet to rescue the crew of another space ship that has crashed. The craft has damages in the landing and needs to be repaired. Baelon (Zalman King) commands the rescue team formed by his rival Cabren (Edward Albert), Alluma (Erin Moran), Dameia (Taaffe O'Connell), Quuhod (Sid Haig) and the rookie Cos (Jack Blessing). While looking for survivors from the former expedition, Cos is murdered and they do not find any survivor. However they cannot depart from the planet due to an electromagnetic field. Commander Ilvar (Bernard Behrens) joins the team to search for the cause of the interference in the spacecraft. Captain Trantor (Grace Zabriskie) stays in the craft with the technician Ranger (Robert Englund) and the cook Kore (Ray Walston) but soon one by one of the rescue team members is killed in weird situations, created by the materialization of their own fears.

"Galaxy of Terror" is a great sci-fi B movie with a story with good premise, although having many clichés of the genre. The menaces of the planet are nothing but the fruit of the imagination of each person, projecting their inner fear. Further, this movie has probably one of the most erotic scenes I have ever seen. Dameia, the character played by the sexy Taaffe O'Connell, has a great fear of maggots, being a kind of "worm-phobic" person. When she meets the huge maggot, she starts screaming for help, while the creature with many legs rips her clothes off and rapes her. Her naked body is covered and lubricated by slime, and her initial panic becomes into a very intense multiple orgasms. Other good attractions are the names of James Cameron (as unit director in the bottom of the credits), the later soft porn director Zalman King ('Wild Orchid') and Robert "Freddy Krueger" Englund in the cast. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Galáxia do Terror" ("Galaxy of Terror")

Note: On 18 October 2014, I saw this movie again. Note: On 18 March 2018 , I saw this film again on DVD.