Galaxy of Terror (1981)

"If it weren't so gruesome, it would be fascinating." - Cabren

A space crew discovers a deadly alien force.
Starring: Edward Albert, Robert Englund, Erin Moran, Grace Zabriskie, and Ray Walston

Link to IMDB

Cabren

The crew of a military space vessel are sent on a rescue mission to investigate a newly discovered planet called Morganthus. Things are a bit unstable on board since most of the crew dislike each other and the captain is very reckless, and it's this lack of reliance that causes their spaceship to crash onto the planet surface. With the ship damaged, the crew is marooned until they get repairs done.

They quickly discover that the people they came to rescue have all been slaughtered, and the only thing of interest on the planet is a giant alien pyramid.
They're not alone on Morganthus either, as some sort-of creature has already eaten one of the crew, and it vanishes before they can kill it.
The crew decide to investigate the pyramid, so they suit-up and head into its gloomy depths.


This is really an ensemble piece so it's hard to pick a main character, but Cabren is one of the guys we get to know best and he's usually keeping everyone alive. The other guys and gals are soldiers, scientists and even the ship's cook; and although there's a lot of tension between them they know how to work together as a team.
As they descend deeper into the alien structure, anyone that wanders off alone is viciously killed by a different monstrous creature, and this is where the movie reveals its trick. Whatever you are most afraid of is what the alien will manifest itself as!

Discovering the pyramid

This move has all sorts of freaky monsters! Blood-sucking tentacles, fanged beasts, and in the most memorably disgusting scene, a giant space maggot that rapes a lady to death! The awesome creature effects are bolstered by a spooky atmosphere and thick tension. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat, as the body count rises and the crew struggle to find a way to survive.

Alluma: "Aren't you afraid?"

Cabren: "Too scared to be afraid."

What makes this standout among other survival-space-horror is the intriguing Twilight Zone twist to the plot, and the great production design which was led by James Cameron a few years before he had success with his own movies.

Being a Roger Corman movie, you can expect this to be on the low budget side, but he was always able to do a lot with very little and here he shows that a typical sci-fi movie can accomplish something imaginative and rise above the Alien imitators. The cast of legitimately talented actors also helps.

It's gory and dark, but also fun and remarkably trippy in places. A must see for fans of  the genre or anyone wanting some crazy ass monsters and exploding heads.


Be sure not to miss:
- Their ship comes equipped with Cadillac seat belts.
- The great Sid Haig has a small role.
- Was the center of the pyramid supposed to look like a giant butthole, or was that by accident?

Internet review:
"It's got all the things you could ever want to see in a B-film." - Tom-275

Should I watch it?
Yes.

Where can I find it?
Here on YouTube.

Galaxy of Terror gets...