More funny than frightening, Lifeforce amounts to love at first bite. I’d give a thousand dollars to see out-takes from this picture. I bet Steve Railsback and Peter Firth were on the edge of laughter the whole time. However, the performances are cut so sharply by editor John Grover, the illusion remains intact.

Space vampires take human shape. During a routine mission, astronaut Tom Carlsen (Railsback) bonds with naked brunette Mathilda May. Yet the latter’s thirst for human souls plunges London into darkness.

Frankly, the special effects could be more convincing. However, the true pleasures of Lifeforce reside elsewhere. The central love story put the hook in me big time. Just see how Railsback overreacts to people possessed by the monster. Regarding lady evil, she has less to say, although every word counts.

One exception in terms of effects must be the alien ship. Masterfully crafted, the engine appears to be charged by the energy of living souls.

Overall, director Tobe Hooper and writers Dan O’Bannon and Don Jakoby have come up with a winner here. (Capsule review)

(Released by TriStar Pictures and rated "R" by MPAA.)