8 Fantastic Cult Sci-Fi Films from 1985

      Casey Chong reviews eight notable cult sci-fi films from 1985...

      The year 1985 marked a significant milestone for the iconic sci-fi film Back to the Future, which grossed over $210 million in the U.S. alone. Robert Zemeckis’ seminal time-travel film continues to be a cinematic classic. However, this year also featured a number of other sci-fi movies, some of which found success (like Cocoon), while others, including Enemy Mine and Explorers, were largely overlooked by audiences at the time. Here is our selection of essential sci-fi films released in 1985, aside from Back to the Future...

      **Re-Animator**

      Not for the faint-hearted, Stuart Gordon goes all in with Lovecraftian horror and sci-fi elements in Re-Animator. The film stars Jeffrey Combs in his unforgettable, unhinged role as Herbert West, a deranged medical student fixated on achieving a groundbreaking scientific feat: resurrecting the dead using his experimental serum. Gordon’s adept direction embraces the anything-goes B-movie vibe, infusing sci-fi horror with dark comedy. It's excessively bloody and gory, showcasing impressive practical effects without unnecessary embellishments, thanks to its confident pacing. The cult success of Re-Animator led to two sequels: Bride of Re-Animator and Beyond Re-Animator.

      **Brazil**

      Terry Gilliam’s often-misunderstood sci-fi gem failed to garner large audiences upon its initial release but has since been recognized as one of the finest in the genre. Gilliam, who co-wrote the screenplay, presents a unique vision of a dystopian future rife with bureaucratic absurdities, centered around a lowly government employee, played by Jonathan Pryce, who navigates daydreams and the harshness of reality. Beyond Gilliam's captivating visuals and quirky humor, a profound narrative depth draws on Orwellian themes of totalitarianism and oppression within Brazilian society. While its lengthy runtime of nearly 2 ½ hours may deter some viewers, Gilliam’s skillful balance of imaginative storytelling and subtle social commentary creates a cinematic experience that merits attention.

      **Enemy Mine**

      The late Wolfgang Petersen contributed to some iconic works, including Das Boot and In the Line of Fire, but Enemy Mine remains sadly underrated, released a year after the success of The NeverEnding Story. The film faced difficulties during production, with original director Richard Loncraine being dismissed after shooting some footage. Petersen opted to start fresh rather than use any of Loncraine's work. Ultimately, Enemy Mine struggled at the box office despite Petersen’s efforts, adapted from Edward Khmara’s screenplay based on Barry B. Longyear’s novella, skillfully blending themes of unity, overcoming prejudice, and shared empathy in this sci-fi thriller. Primarily a two-character narrative, it examines the conflict between human pilot Willis Davidge (Dennis Quaid) and reptilian humanoid Jeriba Shigan (Louis Gossett Jr., barely recognizable under prosthetics), and the chemistry between the two actors elevates the film beyond a simple survival story.

      **The Quiet Earth**

      This New Zealand film explores the hypothetical aftermath of a global disaster that has nearly eliminated the human population. Directed by Geoff Murphy, known for future Hollywood projects like Young Guns II, Freejack, and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, the film opens grippingly with a man (Bruno Lawrence) awakening alone in a deserted city. The first 35 minutes focus on Lawrence's solitary character, Zac Hobson, who fills his time in various ways, including trying on dresses. His powerful solo performance captures the complexities of isolation, frustration, and fleeting joy. The film later introduces two characters: a young woman, Joanne (Alison Routledge), and a Maori man, Api (Pete Smith). Adapted from Craig Harrison's 1981 novel, the movie adds layers of human instinct, trust, and racial tension between Zac and Api, culminating in a surreal and ambiguous ending.

      **Cocoon**

      Interestingly, Robert Zemeckis was initially slated to direct Cocoon; however, after Fox executives hesitated due to negative feedback on early cuts of Romancing the Stone (which ultimately became a hit), Ron Howard stepped in. Howard’s thoughtful direction fits well with Tom Benedek’s screenplay about a group of seniors in a retirement home who discover a swimming pool that possesses rejuvenating powers, featuring large rock-like cocoons. The film thoughtfully explores themes of aging and renewed youth, along with universal themes of life and death, through the experiences of seniors portrayed by Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, and Hume Cronyn. Casting this older generation of actors avoids mere nostalgia, as Howard enhances their performances. Although the special effects for the luminous alien beings may appear dated today, the film’s underlying charm remains powerful. Cocoon was one of the year's major successes and was followed three years later by a sequel, Coc