Halloween Vibes with Lifeforce (1985): Space Vampires, Patrick Stewart And Undead Energy Drains

You’ve stumbled into the wrong corner of the internet — or the right one, depending on how much weird sci-fi horror you can handle. Welcome to Binge-Watchers Podcast, where I, Johnny Spoiler, waste time so you don’t have to.

This week we’re summoning Halloween vibes with Lifeforce (1985), the movie that asks:

“What if vampires came from space, drained your soul, and politely invaded London?”

Grab a cold glass of eggnog (for face-plunging, obviously) and let’s get spooky.

🧛‍♀️ Movie of the Week: Lifeforce (1985)

Directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist), Lifeforce is an outrageous mix of sci-fi, horror, and British manners. A space shuttle crew discovers an alien craft hidden inside Halley’s Comet, and surprise — it’s full of naked energy-vampires. When one escapes to Earth, London becomes ground zero for a lifeforce-sucking epidemic.

Hooper’s director’s cut ran 2 hours and 8 minutes before being trimmed down for the U.S. release. The longer European version keeps the full Henry Mancini score and plenty of uncut chaos.

Fun fact:
Mathilda May (the Space Girl herself) barely spoke English during filming and had to learn her lines phonetically. She’s on screen for just seven minutes — but those seven minutes made cinematic history.

And yes, Patrick Stewart gets possessed and makes out with the hero. You’re welcome.

🔬 Why Lifeforce Still Rules

  • The tech is real: The shuttle designs are based on actual NASA patents.

  • Global cooperation: The U.S. and U.K. team up to reach Halley’s Comet — an early Star Trek-style optimism buried in horror.

  • Iron kills vampires: Forget garlic and silver. In this movie, it’s all about “cold iron.”

  • Hammer Horror vibes: The British scientists try to rationalize space vampires while London burns. Classic.

  • Patrick Stewart in chaos mode: Long before Picard, he was channeling intergalactic evil like a pro.

It’s messy, ambitious, and strangely poetic — a fever dream where gothic horror meets space opera.

🧟 Favorite Bits from the Episode

In our Binge-Watchers Podcast breakdown, we talk about:

  • Disney+ developing Afterlife with Archie (yes, zombie Archie!)

  • Why the Monopoly movie shouldn’t exist (make McMillions instead)

  • Luke Wilson vs. Will Ferrell in Netflix’s new golf comedy

  • And how Bubba Ho-Tep and Kull the Conqueror still rule the “weird hero” subgenre

🍿 Rating: Binge Now, Binge Later, or Binge Never?

We’re calling this one a Binge Now — how often do you get a space vampire apocalypse directed by the guy who made The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?

It’s horny, horrifying, and totally hypnotic.

🎧 Listen to the Full Episode

Catch the full breakdown, bad jokes, and behind-the-scenes trivia on the Binge-Watchers Podcast:
👉 Listen on BWPODCAST.COM

GRUV 20% off aff link for blu-rays and DVDs for the Halloween season: https://tr.ee/GRUVDVDs

Bob E. LoggerComment