Galaxy of Terror Reviews

Galaxy of Terror (1981): A slapdash rescue crew is dispatched to retrieve any survivors of a mishap on a distant space colony at the edge of the universe only to find that they are drawn into the clutches of the very thing that put the people in peril.

One of the multitude of "Alien" knockoffs that actually managed to garner its own cult following on both its outrageous nature and its more clever elements. It bears all the markings of a Roger Corman production like stunt casting, excessive gore, cheap physical effects, low grade production value, uneven acting, and borderline ridiculous writing BUT also happens to be notable for being one of James Cameron's early credits as a crew member before becoming a director.

As is typical of Cameron now, he bulldozed himself to higher status in the production with his innovation and heavily influenced the film. The ultimate result is still encumbered by the weak direction, acting, and writing BUT bears the occasional moment of ingenuity and campy allure.

Helping the affair along are the appearances of genre favorites like Robert Englund and Sid Haig in prominent roles as well as an assortment of crazy and strange effects set pieces that resonate if not for their effectiveness, for their outlandishness (I'm looking at you "worm rape sequence").

What is ultimately most fascinating about "Galaxy of Terror" is that a very transparent knockoff of "Alien" ironically went on to heavily influence Cameron's own later production of an "Alien" sequel, "Aliens". From imagery, to plot beats, to characters and concepts, "Aliens" is just Cameron reworking this movie into the canon of another series.

Equally interesting is how much "Galaxy of Terror" borrowed from sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet when it came to disposing of its canon fodder cast. This choice would later visibly influence movies like "Event Horizon" and their more psychological approach to terror in space that still managed to root around the visceral.

Make no mistake, "Galaxy of Terror" is not a strong film. It is riddled with a variety of issues that render it best suited for cinephiles that have a hankering for b-movies and schlock. That being said it is a b-movie with much more promise than disappointment. One wonders what could of been had it been in more capable hands. If cult film is your thing then you'll understand why I give Galaxy of Terror a 5/10.