Dark Star

Dark Star is one of the best cult Sci-Fi films of all time. The film was directed by John Carpenter and co-written with Dan O'Bannon who went on to direct The Thing and Alien respectively. Although made in 1974 with an extremely low budget the film is now a classic in the genre.

Wonderfully free of pretentious acting and directing, it's not hard to see how John Carpenter would go on to be a great director. Dark Star is mostly appreciated by Sci-Fi fans more than anyone else but it is good example of a film which shows how people in stressful situations really interact. Other early Sci-Fi films were clean and shiny whereas Dark Star shows the grimy realism of what happens when men are forced into isolation.

Originally the film was a 45 minute student short but then was extended when the rights were bought by producer Jack H. Harris.

The story is about the crew of a long range space ship (Dark Star) on their mission to blow up unstable planets pre-Earth colonisation. The crew are perceived to be slightly mentally unstable when we meet them as they are so bored by the repetitive tasks they carry out and the incredible remoteness of their situation.

Cinema release 1974

Certificate PG

Available on DVD