Dark Star
1974
The first film from John Carpenter is a hilarious romp in a not-so-glamourous spaceship into the outer reaches of space. A team of astronauts manning the beat-up spaceship Dark Star are on a mission across the universe to seek out and destroy unstable planets. The journey is wrought with mishaps and danger seems to come from .. Read more
| Starring | Brian Narelle, Dan O'Bannon, Dre Pahich, Cal Kuniholm |
|---|---|
| Director | John Carpenter |
| Genres | Comedy |
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Dark Star
The first film from John Carpenter is a hilarious romp in a not-so-glamourous spaceship into the outer reaches of space. A team of astronauts manning the beat-up spaceship Dark Star are on a mission across the universe to seek out and destroy unstable planets. The journey is wrought with mishaps and danger seems to come from the most unexpected places. There are misbehaving pet aliens, suicidal bombs that see no reason to live and want to blow themselves up, frozen crewmates dispensing advice from beyond the grave and a surly, unhelpful main computer that holds the men it serves in total contempt. Despite all these problems, the crew is still bored to the brink of madness. Co-written by Dan O'Bannon, who would go on to write the script for ALIEN, the film is brimming with jabs at the science fiction genre. John Carpenter cut his directing teeth on this film, which he also co-wrote. Made while Carpenter was a college student and produced for very little money, DARK STAR is considered to be the most successful student film ever made.
| Starring | Brian Narelle, Dan O'Bannon, Dre Pahich, Cal Kuniholm |
|---|---|
| Director | John Carpenter |
| Studio | FABULOUS FILMS LTD. |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 19 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 17 Jan 2000 Production year: 1974 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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It's lonely in Space.... read more »
- LOVEFiLM
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Most helpful member's review
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23 out of 28 people found this review helpful
This film should be watched with caution.
It isn’t well made, well acted or well funded and if you think special effects are important then don’t watch this as, visually, it is extremely dated.
On the other hand it has a witty, wry, intelligent script – especially if you can appreciate or just cope with the ‘hippy’ mannerisms and speech. It asks perhaps the ultimate drop-out 70’s question of ‘what is the point?’ by placing the crew on a meaningless, endless mission, the crew each develop their own way of coping – one is dead (but still talking), another stares endlessly at the stars.
With a wink to 2001 and it's message of the dangers of technology it certainly has it's funny moments. Nowadays it’s really only for sci-fi buffs, film students or those who spent the 70’s in Southern California. -
Most recent members' review
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6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Could Horrendous, Be Any Better?
This is the ultimate budgt sci-fi movie: I think the budget was ?4.76. If you like cheese, be prepared for a big slice. If you want great special effects, find something by George Lucas instead.
But if you enjoy watching 'films that have great one-liners, are probably best watched while you're suffering an attack of the Muchies, and just HAPPEN to be a cult classic because they're so awful'... then this one is for you.
The beach-ball alien is brilliant. (Yes, it's a beach ball. We all know it's a beach ball. But it's a well-rehearsed beach ball that really got into the part...)
Watch it? Order it twice - so that you can double-check how much grin factor you had, first time around. -
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Moon
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