“Hell has just been relocated!” – the tagline for Galaxy of Terror is short and sweet, no where near as convoluted and odd as the film itself. The Roger Corman cult classic from director Bruce D. Clark features an extraordinary cast, including Robert Englund, Sid Haig, Ray Walston and Eric Moran, and a series of scattershot special effects drenched in Eighties drippy, gooey goodness. Thomas Mariani, Doc Rotten and Christopher G. Moore tackle another gruesome horror film from the 1980s.
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 84 — Galaxy of Terror (1981)
Looking at the cast and crew roster for Galaxy of Terror is a preview of faces and game changers in the future of horror and sci-fi films. While Roger Corman is responsible for many of the low budget horror classics of the past few decades, he is also responsible for recognizing and nurturing talent. The cast contains Robert Englund who would soon become better known as Willie in the V TV show and Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street films. Even though Sid Haig had made a mark in films such as Spider Baby and Pit Stop, Rob Zombie would later make him a modern icon of horror as Captain Spaulding in House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects. But is may be the second unit director – and also production designer – James Cameron who may be the most remarkable addition to the crew. Also, of note, a very young Bill Paxton was employed as the set decorator.
Cast and crew aside, the film has a number of out of this world, crazy set pieces from Edward Albert leaping into “Gymkata” action moves to a mutated worm attacking and molesting Taaffe O’Connell in a memorable, but morally questionable, scene. Robert Englund gives us a hint at his darker side when his character faces his evil twin. And Sid Haig endures a painful death at the hands of his own crystal weapons, “I live and I die by the crystals!” Galaxy of Terror is a unique blend of horror and sci-fi from the wacky crew at New World productions. Check out the review from Thomas, Doc and Christopher.
We want to hear from you – the coolest, most gruesome fans: leave us a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at thomasmariani@decadesofhorror.com or docrotten@decadesofhorror.com.
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Doc a lifelong fan of horror films, sci-fi flicks and monster movies first discovering Universal Monsters and Planet of the Apes as a young child in the 1970's searching out every issue of Famous Monster of Filmland (and, later, Fangoria). Favorite films include Jaws, The Car, The Birds, The Tingler, Vampire Circus and The Exorcist. Still a huge fan of horror films from the 70s, Doc continues consuming horror films to this day for the site, for the podcasts and for the fun of it all.
