Deep Space is a 1988 American science fiction film directed by Fred Schepisi and starring James Spader, Angela Bassett, Peter Coyote and James Earl Jones. The film was released on June 10, 1988.
The film follows the crew of the fictional USS Discovery One, who are on a mission to investigate a strange energy field in deep space. The film’s plot is loosely based on Arthur C. Clarke’s novel 2010: Odyssey Two.
Deep Space is a well-crafted science fiction film that features excellent performances by its cast, particularly James Spader and Angela Bassett. The film’s visual effects are also impressive, and the film’s overall atmosphere is one of suspense and intrigue.
What to say about Deep Space? It’s a b-movie from the late 80’s and it has a monster in it that resembles Giger’s Alien just a wee bit too much for my liking and it has some rough round the edges Detectives who like to get the job done anyway they can.
The movie doesn’t really need to be expanded upon much more than that quite frankly, that says it all. It’s a cheap fright flick which has a strange charm about it, mainly due to the characters enjoyment at sticking their thumb up to authority. This isn’t a movie that likes to take itself too seriously and that’s probably a good thing.
The special effects have aged a lot, it really did’nt look so bad back in the day but the monster looks very plastic to me now, like a guy in a rubber suit with virtually zero articulation.
The actors seem to do well with what is a very thin script. The main lead in the movie Det. McLemore is portrayed by Charles Napier who brings his usual strong ruggedness to the character and it’s all the better for it. His partner Jerry is played by Ron Glass and the two work together very well. There’s a couple of good looking women in Deep Space but sadly there is no fan service.
Deep Space alludes to having a lot of gore but sadly you don’t get to see most of it, most of it takes place off camera but what we do get to see is OK i guess. I wouldn’t say Deep Space is very frightening either, it’s fairly predictable stuff but regardless as a b-movie i’ve seen much much worse.
Consequently, Deep Space isn’t a movie i’d suggest rushing out to the retail store and buying as fast as you can. Heck even if you wanted to, to date this movie has no DVD/Blu-ray release, it’s only available on VHS so you’d need to dust off the old recorder first. Having said that if you can catch it on TV and your bored then there’s worse movies you could watch.
While Deep Space is not a perfect film, it is a very entertaining and thought-provoking science fiction film that is well worth watching.
Synopsis
In the year 2036, the crew of the space shuttle Deep Space is on a mission to collect data from a black hole. However, when they enter the black hole, they find themselves in another universe. The crew must find a way back to their own universe before the black hole destroys their ship.
The crew of the Deep Space is comprised of captain John Carter (played by Tim Matheson), first officer Anne Rogers (played by Lisa Eilbacher), and second officer Steve Armstrong (played by James Spader). The three officers are assisted by a team of scientists, including Dr. Julia Bennett (played by Catherine Mary Stewart), Dr. Eric MacReady (played by Robert Picardo), and Dr. Ted Fields (played by Marshall Bell).
As the crew begins their journey into the black hole, they are immediately met with strange and dangerous phenomena. They must use all of their skills and knowledge to navigate their way through the black hole and back to their own universe.
Deep Space is a thrilling science fiction movie that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. With its impressive special effects and suspenseful plot, Deep Space is a must-see movie for all fans of the genre.
Movie Details
Director: Fred Olen Ray
Writer: Fred Olen Ray
Actors: Reb Brown, Jayne Heitmeyer, Tim Thomerson
Release Year: 1988