Lifeforce
An astronaut and a military commander confront seductive space vampires whose stolen life force threatens to consume Earth.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- campy
- bizarre
- ominous
- late night horror marathon
- cult movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly view Lifeforce as a brazenly strange, visually ambitious, uneven science fiction horror film whose bizarre genre mixture is both its central appeal and its main weakness.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The alien life forms drain human life force, create zombies, and trigger a large-scale catastrophe on Earth.
The film foregrounds large-scale space hardware, alien bodies, zombies, and apocalyptic destruction through lavish 1980s genre production.
The Space Girl and her companions are presented as alien humanoids whose life-force draining resembles vampirism.
The alien contagion spreads from a space mission into London and culminates in an urban catastrophe.
Films like Lifeforce, and why
The Thing
Shared science fiction horror, extraterrestrial threat, military response, and apocalyptic spectacle.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Shared cosmic horror, practical effects, invasion anxiety, and genre blending.
Near Dark
Shared vampire mythology, erotic horror, supernatural contagion, and heightened 1980s style.
The Quatermass Xperiment
Shared British science fiction horror, alien menace, apocalyptic stakes, and Quatermass-inspired atmosphere.
Movie Details
- Director
- Tobe Hooper
- Release Date
- 1985-06-21
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (776)
Cast
- Steve Railsback
- Peter Firth
- Frank Finlay
- Mathilda May
- Patrick Stewart
- Michael Gothard
- Nicholas Ball
- Aubrey Morris
- Nancy Paul
- John Hallam
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Lifeforce about?
- An astronaut and a military commander confront seductive space vampires whose stolen life force threatens to consume Earth.
- What is Lifeforce like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lifeforce as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Lifeforce violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Lifeforce as graphic.
- What did critics think of Lifeforce?
- Critics broadly view Lifeforce as a brazenly strange, visually ambitious, uneven science fiction horror film whose bizarre genre mixture is both its central appeal and its main weakness.
- Which films are like Lifeforce?
- Films with a similar feel include The Thing, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Near Dark, and The Quatermass Xperiment.
- How long is Lifeforce?
- Lifeforce runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Lifeforce?
- In United States, Lifeforce streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
