Lifeforce (1985)

A space shuttle sent to investigate Halley's Comet is found to be destroyed by fire and all (save one) of its crew dead. However, the bodies of three aliens (in human form) are found perfectly preserved and they are brought back to Earth to be studied. Eventually, a space pod returns to Earth containing a U.S. Air Force Colonel (Steve Railsback, THE STUNT MAN), the sole human survivor of the manned expedition. In the meantime, the aliens are discovered to have the ability to shape shift and literally suck the life out of humans. While a box office disappointment when first released, the film has since become something of a cult favorite and it's easy to see why. While the story line is often muddled and the dialogue pedestrian, its execution is quite spectacular. Based on SPACE VAMPIRES by Colin Wilson (who disliked the film), the director Tobe Hooper (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE) has given us a colorful combination of sci-fi/horror that predates the current fascination with all things zombie. The influence of Ridley Scott's ALIEN on Hooper's film is not lost. Apparently, there's a 15 minute difference between the U.S. and international cuts. There's a knockout of a score by Henry Mancini. With Peter Firth (EQUUS), Frank Finlay, Patrick Stewart and Mathilda May.