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Lifeforce (1985)
Director: Tobe Hooper
In an ongoing inspection of Tobe Hooper's visual style, and the recurring question as to whether or not such a thing exists, I have to use Lifeforce as an example of at least his compositional skills as director, hiring John Dykstra, and using the anamorphic format to squeeze the blue flares out in this trippy space vampire adult erotic horror film.
Hooper was big news after Poltergeist, even though he was shunned from the editing of the film. His box office success, thanks in no small amount to Steven Spielberg's hands-on meddling of the picture, ignited his chances to land good work, and where he landed was right into Isreali money, funded by none other than Golan and Globus, the two cousins behind Cannon Films, who gave Hooper a three picture deal. Lifeforce was their biggest budget film ever, and Hooper wasted no time writing the checks to doll his epic sci fi extravaganza up to the max.
I'm not going to cover any story points here. I'll just say that the film has a nice, slow, otherworldly pace to it. The music is orchestral and suspenseful. The female form is displayed in all of its glory, fully nude and looking damn fine at that. The violence is inventive and disturbing. The locations are at times breathtaking, and the camera work is regal.
Tobe Hooper has The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as his successful stepping stone. Lifeforce would be his ultimate studio picture. His picture. Not Spielberg's. His.
Have you ever wanted to see a film that lived up to its poster art? This is one of those films.
Director: Tobe Hooper
In an ongoing inspection of Tobe Hooper's visual style, and the recurring question as to whether or not such a thing exists, I have to use Lifeforce as an example of at least his compositional skills as director, hiring John Dykstra, and using the anamorphic format to squeeze the blue flares out in this trippy space vampire adult erotic horror film.
Hooper was big news after Poltergeist, even though he was shunned from the editing of the film. His box office success, thanks in no small amount to Steven Spielberg's hands-on meddling of the picture, ignited his chances to land good work, and where he landed was right into Isreali money, funded by none other than Golan and Globus, the two cousins behind Cannon Films, who gave Hooper a three picture deal. Lifeforce was their biggest budget film ever, and Hooper wasted no time writing the checks to doll his epic sci fi extravaganza up to the max.
I'm not going to cover any story points here. I'll just say that the film has a nice, slow, otherworldly pace to it. The music is orchestral and suspenseful. The female form is displayed in all of its glory, fully nude and looking damn fine at that. The violence is inventive and disturbing. The locations are at times breathtaking, and the camera work is regal.
Tobe Hooper has The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as his successful stepping stone. Lifeforce would be his ultimate studio picture. His picture. Not Spielberg's. His.
Have you ever wanted to see a film that lived up to its poster art? This is one of those films.