Although space is usually the final choice for horror films and franchises when they run out of new ideas, it usually results in a creative new twist each time. This video will show you a few such space horror films that you will enjoy, but they are all guilty pleasures filled with cheese and mindless action. This is the type of content that our channel’s subscribers enjoy! Let’s get started!
Jason X (2001)
The plot follows Jason, who is cryogenically frozen and remains inactive for 445 years until he is discovered and reawakened by a group of students in 2455. Come on, do you really expect us to believe Jason is still alive?
We’re not going to question it because this movie was primarily shot in the 1990s, when everything was possible! MOVING ALONG – Earth has become an uninhabitable planet, so everyone now lives on Earth II.
He begins stalking and killing them one by one aboard their spaceship. I guess old habits die hard, even in space! Along the way, he is upgraded to Uber Jason. It is now up to Rowan, a scientist who was frozen with him, and the surviving students, to stop Jason!
In this tenth instalment of the Friday the 13th franchise, director Jim Isaac takes a huge risk. The opening sequence of the film, which takes viewers through the flaming pits of Jason’s insides, is a playful allusion to the previous film Jason Goes to Hell. It’s a goofy film with a lot of Jason rampage action.
Even if it is a little clichéd, don’t forget that this is the final film in which Kane Hodder portrays Jason Voorhees. With the same old machete-wielding Jason in a fresh form and the same vicious glint in his eyes, Jim Isaac keeps the plot fascinating even though he returns after four centuries. Both Lexa Doig and Lisa Ryder were sexy additions to the film that helped audience flow through the mundane cliché plot points.
Now, if you are a Friday The 13th fan, you should be aware that, Jason films abandoned the real horror element a long time ago and became in favour of just providing mindless escapism with inventive bloody death scenes. So, despite its ludicrous plot and repetitive vibe, there is a fresh new outlook that is definitely worth your time – IF AND ONLY IF – YOU ARE INTO B-MOVIES.
Dracula 3000 (2004)
Captain Van Helsing and his crew, which includes the blond assistant Aurora, the crippled navigator Arthur “The Professor,” the strong but dumb Humvee, the intern Mina Murry, and 187, the drug addict, discover the Demeter spacecraft in the year 3000. It’s filled with a bunch of coffins for whatever reason. They come across a recording of Captain Varna, who claims he was imprisoned in his cabin, while exploring.
At the same time, his crew started behaving weirdly after getting a cargo of coffins at Transylvania station. Now, 187, being the drug addict he is, began searching the coffins for dope that is when he cuts his hand, and the blood awakens Count Orlock. He is revealed to be none other than… wait for it… Count Dracula. When Aurora tells everyone who Count Dracula is, they try to find a way to destroy the vampire.
A drug addict and a blond assistant? There has to be a joke somewhere in there. In any case, Ivan Milborrow and Darrell Roodt have put together an interesting cast to represent characters based on Bram Stoker’s classic novel. It reminds me of his scenario, in which Count Dracula arrives in England on an abandoned ship; after all, who’s fault was that?
Apart from that, it’s essentially its own version of the iconic vampire, blended with F. W. Murnau’s silent film character from the 1920s, which was also based on Stoker’s story. The film thoroughly enjoys its sci-fi theme, bringing back the 2000s fashion into the plot with its leather pants. The dialogues and special effects are so cheesy – it’s kinda cute.
Casper van Dien, Erika Eleniak, and Alexandra Kamp are names worth mentioning because even if the so-called horror of this film does not appeal to you, the B-Movie-ish cast certainly will. Moreover, Dracula 3000 has a nice ring to it. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a fan of Bram Stoker or Dracula; give this movie a watch with friends and a couple of drinks on a Saturday evening. You won’t regret it.
Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996)
A power-hungry leprechaun kidnaps a Dominian princess named Zarina on a remote world. He intends to ascend to the throne. This does not sit well with a clumsy brigade of space marines led by a mad doctor named Dr. Mittenhand, who is half machine thanks to one of his experiments.
Talk about cyborgs and clichés. When they get on the planet, the leprechaun is killed for interfering with mining operations. One of the marines, Kowalski, celebrates his win by urinating on the leprechaun’s body.
Unbeknownst to him, its spirit travels up his urine stream into his penis, where he manifests as gonorrhoea. Come on! This goes far beyond absurd. While the marines plan to return Zarina to her home world, Dr. Mittenhand intends to use her DNA to make himself whole again.
The leprechaun suddenly emerges from Kowalski’s penis while he is aroused during a sexual act, to everyone’s surprise. It is now up to the marines to hunt him down, but spoiler alert; he outsmarts and kills most of them in gruesome and absurd ways.
The fact that the leprechaun pops out of some guy’s penis has viewers reeling. Brian Trenchard-Smith, the director, went above and beyond with that one. Consider the special effects that would have been required. The premise was ambitious, with the leprechaun wishing to marry the alien princess while also commanding the entire planet, with the exception of the marines.
It’s a wonder how he did it, but I suppose anything that happens in a Leprechaun movie can’t be questioned. As usual, Warwick Davis stole the show with his performance while the lesser-known Rebecca Carlton, Brent Jasmer, and Jessica Collins played good supporting roles.
Everyone knows that no one watches the leprechaun movies, especially this one, for its “wonderful” storyline created with such finesse or its “outstanding” special effects. It is for the pure thrill and absurdity of the events unfolding, and believe me, it gets you every time. The plot defies all physics laws and breaks rules that either aren’t written or simply cannot be broken.
This movie’s idea wasn’t born out of a single good idea but from many, many bad ones. Its creativity lies in its lack of creativity because this level of absurdity, humour, and campiness certainly does not emerge from an ordinary mind. If you are someone like us, always in search for cheesy horror movies, and if you don’t give this movie a watch, you are missing out.
Critters 4 (1992)
Just as bounty hunter Charlie is about to fire his rifle to kill the last two creature eggs, he receives a transmission informing him that eradicating the race from the galaxy is unlawful. He summons a transporter, which he uses to deliver the eggs, but it also transports him into space, where he perishes.
He is discovered by a private wreckage collector team led by the unscrupulous and lecherous Captain Rick Buttram fifty-three deep-frozen years later. On behalf of the mighty company Terracor, they bring him to an empty space station. Not believing that Charlie was the only one on the pod, Rick lets the freshly hatched baby critters out, who immediately attack and kill him. Charlie again has to continue his quest to prevent the critters from making everyone their prey.
Don Keith Opper reprises his role as Charlie McFadden from the earlier Critters films, directed by Rupert Harvey. Aside from the cast’s performance, this film doesn’t have anything going for it. Terrence Mann, Angela Bassett, and Brad Dourif, in addition to Opper, did a fantastic job.
While the storyline becomes a little similar with each picture, it’s good to see producers come up with new ways to keep spectators engaged. This was the first Critters film that didn’t take place on the planet Earth. If watched with an open mind and meager expectations, viewers will enjoy it for the entertaining horror comedy that it is. It is perfect for watching with adventurous horror-loving kids, especially since it has a strikingly low body count.
The Alien and Star Wars rip-off sets didn’t fool anyone. The film’s original tone was meant to be creepy in a funny way, and the serious style that it started with resulted in its demise. Nevertheless, it perfectly wraps up the critters’ tale and does justice to what everyone thought was the last movie in the franchise until the 2019 reboot came along.
Hellraiser – Bloodlines (1996)
Pinhead, the evil cenobite, has found himself on board a space station in outer space in the year 2127. It is managed by Dr. Merchant, a scientist whose aim is to permanently lock the gates to hell. His ancestor created the terrible puzzle box that opens the gates to hell in the 18th century.
Throughout the generations, the bloodline’s family has tried to stop it, but now Dr. Merchant has built a reverse box. This will finally succeed in closing the gates to hell instead of opening them.
Pinhead is creating interplanetary mayhem during the opening half-hour of this film. Kevin Yagher directs this prequel and sequel to the original Hellraiser, which tells the narrative of the Lament Configuration. Pinhead, certain French people, architecture, and outer space are all included. Basically the entire bizarre package of a weird space horror film.
Unfortunately, this picture does no good on its own; as a result, viewers are encouraged to watch the complete series, which is an exciting experience. You would think this is nonsense after seeing Leprechaun in space, but unlike that film, the space element is crucial to the plot of this one.
Unfortunately, Yagher disowned this film in the end due to the massive reshoots. But not to worry, it remains a great film with Doug Bradley, Bruce Ramsey, and the gorgeous Valentina Vargas showcasing great performances.
Viewers might roll their eyes at yet another sequel in the Hellraiser franchise, but they will be surprised at how well the film structures itself, and its dark outer space atmosphere is every sci-fi lover’s dream come true. Not to mention, this film played a huge role in setting Adam Scott’s career. He claimed that it was a huge deal since he had finally booked a real movie.
Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994)
Godzilla cells launched into space by Biollante in 1990 and Mothra in 1993 are exposed to a black hole’s severe radiation. As a result, a new creature known as Space Godzilla is born. You may enjoy science fiction, but this defies all scientific laws.
Meanwhile, the UN Godzilla Countermeasures Centre arrives at Birth Island to plant a mind control device on Godzilla when Cosmos, Mothra’s twin priestesses, appear to psychic Miki Saegusa and warn her that SpaceGodzilla is arriving. In the meantime, SpaceGodzilla is on his way to Earth to confront Godzilla, Junior Godzilla, and G-Force robot Mogera.
Okay, I’m curious as to what the creators were smoking when they chose to make this bizarre sci-fi flick. Japanese filmmakers are recognised for their ingenuity, creativity, and odd, messed-up content, but Kensho Yamashita went above and above here. Before delving too further into this film, it’s important to remember that it was made solely for the purpose of providing some lighthearted B-entertainment.
The creators were well aware that it is not winning any Oscars or academy awards, but they made it anyway. The coolest thing about this film amongst its logic-defying, laughable storyline is Godzilla is finally seen to have an opponent of the same power-levels to fight with.
I mean two ferocious dinosaur looking beasts beating the snot out of each other? Who wouldn’t love to see that? Even if not for the plot or acting, if you are someone into sci-fi and action with a campy undertone, this is a highly recommended space horror movie.
The Last Days on Mars (2013)
A Tantalus Base crew member feels he has made a momentous discovery on the final day of the first human-crewed voyage to Mars. He discovers bacterial life in the form of fossilised evidence. He disobeys orders to pack up and proceeds on an unauthorised mission to collect more samples, unwilling to let the relief crew claim the glory.
However, it turns out to be a disaster when the ground collapses, and he falls into a deep crevice and faces certain death. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body when another member of their crew disappears. Soon they begin to realize the life-form they’ve discovered is very dangerous to human beings.
This unexpectedly well-made film is reminiscent of a popular sci-fi horror cliche. That is, incidentally, the allure that makes it worthwhile to watch. The picture moves at a breakneck pace, taking no time to tell the plot. It’s a creepy mix of 28 Days Later and The Thing, with the difference that it acknowledges its influences and doesn’t try to reinvent the tale.
Instead, it strips down to its foundation and goes with a simple explanation. Now you might be thinking, “Why should I watch a movie with an 18% rating?” The answer is, this movie was made for kicks and thrills. It was not meant to be a cinematic masterpiece, but we are also not denying that it has a lot of fun elements too.
John Carpenter’s Ghost of Mars (2001)
The Red Planet, which has long been inhabited by humans, has now become the inevitable fate of an over-populated Earth. Nearly 640,000 people now live and work on Mars, using the planet’s plentiful natural resources. But one of those mining operations has uncovered a deadly mother lode: a long-dormant Martian civilization whose warriors are systematically taking over the bodies of human intruders.
When you hear the words “horror” and “science fiction,” you probably don’t think of this. However, spectators will quickly recognise that the title has John Carpenter written all over it. This sci-fi action horror was originally conceived as a possible Snake Plissken sequel. It was titled Escape from Mars and had a similar plot.
However, after the box office failure of Escape from L.A., the notion for a new Plissken picture was shelved. Despite the fact that Mars has a day/night cycle that is nearly identical to Earth’s, the majority of the film takes place at night. Mars is shown only once during the daytime. Even if this movie is kind of a B-flick, it has several elements that make it worth watching.
Viewers often compare it to The Thing without realizing that it contains all the same Carpenter signature features like a western atmosphere, focus on action and story rather than the characters. If the film were released in 1987, it would not have received the same bashing as it did in the early 2000s. The mixture of ghosts and Mars might sound like a bizarre take, but it is a unique trait that makes it worth watching.
Doom (2005)
The Ark, a wormhole doorway deep beneath the Nevada desert, is discovered in 2026. This portal leads to a lost Martian metropolis. Two decades later, an unknown assailant attacks the 85 people working at the Union Aerospace Corporation research facility on Mars.
Following a distress call sent by Dr. Carmack, a squad of eight marines is sent to the research facility to rescue everyone. This is a search-and-destroy mission where they are only concerned with retrieving computer data from their anthropology, archaeology, and genetic experiments.
Andrzej Bartkowiak’s sci-fi action flick is partially based on a video game series of the same name. Viewers should know by now that they will rarely be happy if they anticipate a fantastic plot and great acting from a film based on a video game. This style of film has strong action, reasonable tension, and is one that you don’t have to invest emotionally in.
Karl Urban, Rosamund Pike, and Dwayne Johnson are among the ensemble cast members. This is an excellent film to watch if solid action sequences are what you’re searching for. Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vin Diesel were initially offered the leads, but they turned it down. Most people who are familiar with the game often complain about the changes made in the films.
It is essential to keep in mind that there are bound to be some distinctions between the two due to cinematic licenses. Nevertheless, this movie is an exciting watch. Its beauty is that it can even be re-watched, which is not a privilege all films possess. Having said that, there is an extremely cool First Person shooter scene at the end, that makes viewers feel like you are playing a LIVE-ACTION Doom game.
Lifeforce (1985)
Colonel Tom Carlsen commands the space shuttle Churchill, which is tasked with observing Halley’s Comet. Carlsen dispatches a crew to explore the weird figure hitched to the comet. Three humanoid lives are discovered and presented to Churchill in caskets.
The Space Research Centre dispatches another spacecraft to find the shuttle after it loses communication with Earth. They discover that the crew has died and that the shuttle has been destroyed by fire. When they bring the humanoids back to Earth, Dr. Hans Fallada and his team discover that the space girl is a vampire and drains the life out of people, who then transform into zombies.
When the authorities find that Colonel Tom Carlsen is alive, they summon him to explain what happened on the Churchill. He narrates an incredible story about three aliens and how he teams up with Colonel Colin Caine to save humanity from the evil vampires.
Tobe Hooper has directed a fantastic film. It was the first of three films he had signed with Cannon Films. The great screenplay was written by Dan O’Bannon, and it contained the asteroid belt from the novel. Hooper opted to include the comet since it would pass by Earth a year after the film’s premiere. This film is worth seeing for a variety of reasons.
Steven Railsback’s amazing, over-the-top acting, great special effects, and stunning stilted delivery of some of the best language are just a few of the highlights. It is no surprise that the man who made this film also got a chance to work with Steven Spielberg.
Although the Cannon group could never get past their low budget B-films for their entire career, this movie was their exception, which was indeed a masterpiece. The film’s second-best feature is Henry Mancini’s breathtaking musical score after Mathilda May’s gracious nudity throughout the movie.