tobe hooper ( fresh off mainstream success with poltergeist ) aim for the sky this time around . lifeforce be an adaptation of colin wilson the space vampire . the script by alien dan o bannon and don jakoby ) vary a bit i be tell represent the futuristic storyline be make contemporary and hailey comet be add to coincide with it actual passage by earth a few week after the film release ( so i have read ) . the story concern a shuttle mission ( commander by steve railsback ) send to investigate hailey comet a it pass by earth . all go off without a hitch but upon reach the comet it be discover that an alien ship be hide in the coma of the comet . the team investigate the massive structure and discovers desiccate bat like creature . look deeper into the ship a chamber be find that contain three humanoid ( two naked male and one rather fetch nude lady too ) in odd stasis coffin . the crew return to the ship with the humanoid and a bat creature in tow . a bit later the ship return to earth but no contact can be make by nasa and another shuttle be launch to ascertain the status of the mission . upon dock with the churchill it be discover that a massive fire have seemingly kill the crew and all data concern the flight . but the three humanoid remain . however it be learn that an escape pod have be launch but whose whereabouts be unknown . soon they make the discovery of the alien origin when the very attractive space vampire queen arises from her slumber to easily seduce the lifeforce from the men around her . if you suck face with her she make you like them and if you do not fee after two hour you will dry out and become dust . the goal of the three be to drain enough of the population essence to power and sustain them and their ship for the trip to the next planet to lay waste to them as well . thankfully the commander survive re entry in the pod ( crash land in texas no less ) and now have a psychic link to her royal hotness and the queen and be able to use it to find the hidden queen a she and the survive male attempt to bleed london dry of their soul . tobe hooper ( of the texas chain saw massacre ( 1974 ) ) do an admirable job in what have to be his large production to date . the production assemble many fine technician from all over the movie industry . production designer john graysmark ( fresh off the bounty ( 1984 ) ) use every bit of four stage at elsree studio to create the spacious interior of the ship and such . cinematographer alan hume return to science fiction after a stint on star war vi represent return of the jedi ( 1983 ) and three consecutive james bond episode . hume use every bit of the widescreen frame with the great effect . oscar winner john dykstra innovator of the groundbreaking effect of the original star war ( 1977 ) manage to push the envelope once again a create some highly creative and spectacular effect use laser . heck even maestro henry mancini drop in to give the film a very memorable title theme that give this sci fi or horror hybrid a touch of an adventurous feel . in the acting department it pretty much fall onto the shoulder of steve railsback and newcomer mathilda may ( vampire queen ) . railsback always bring an edge to the character he play and can play nut like nobody business . that come in hand a his mind deteriorate when the queen grip tightens on his soul . gorgeous french actress may doesn not have a heck of a lot of line ( be there more than ten . ) but her frequently nude presence never get old and you get ta give her kudos to have the jingle bell to pull it of . pretty much all the queen be there to do be fee and to do so she need to seduce you with her sexual presence . job accomplish and where do i sign up to be victim . i really enjoy how they tweak the old vampire clichés and still manage to make it seem fresh but still easily recognizable . almost everything be account for here represent bat ( their true form resemble a large bat ) and coffin { the stasis field resemble these ) and transformation ( they scan your mind and can be anything ) and massive sexual appeal ( miss may . duh ) not to mention they even include the old standby stake through the heart ( this time a bit of a lead dagger to the energy center slightly below the heart ) . the only thing they do not touch on be religion but i think that the vampire use the cathedral at the end a home base might just be a bit of a wink and a nod . in short ( yeah right 800 word later ) lifeforce be an excellent science fiction and horror combination that pay homage to the vampire theme while add some neat different wrinkle . the effect and scale of the production be enough to keep summer movie type engage ( at least at the time ) and horror and sci fi fan engage . 4 of 5 .