Short Attention Span Review - Galaxy of Terror (1981)
Last week, I reviewed Forbidden World, a low-budget horror/sci-fi/action hybrid from cult cinema icon Roger Corman. This week, I went back to the archives for another exercise in schlock from this producer with a passion for exploitation, Galaxy of Terror. To call this zany outing a superior effort to Forbidden World would be a tremendous understatement, but that still doesn't make it a good movie. The big difference is entertainment value, with this kooky affair delivering a lot fun for a couple of distinct reasons. First, there is a lot of creativity involved, both in terms of plot and craftsmanship. Secondly, Galaxy of Terror is batshit crazy. A minute in, the picture goes off the rails. In truth, it wasn't until the very end that the movie made any sense, and it's still a bit of a mess. Fast-paced, gory as hell, and operating with a minimum of character development, this oddity's real saving grace is the cast. Genre faves like Robert Englund, Sid Haig, and Grace Zabriskie are on board, with solid performers like Eddie Albert and Ray Walston leading the way. They are menaced by an assortment of ghoulies, with the effects work that brings these oddities to life varying from shabby to . . . well, not too shabby, I guess. The production design is far more impressive, but that should come as no surprise: that's where the one and only James Cameron cut his teeth. I most certainly could have done without seeing Taaffe O'Connell getting raped by a giant maggot (you read that correctly), a scene good old Roger views as a shining accomplishment. And there were definitely about five cartwheels too many in the big finale. What can I say? Galaxy of Terror is trash, good people, but it's also a good time at the movies for the right kind of crowd--namely, my kind of crowd.
Final Grade: C-
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| Wonky, silly, and cheap, Galaxy of Terror is nonetheless an entertaining B movie with a nifty cast and an abundance of gore. |
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