8 Excellent Cult Sci-Fi Films from 1985

      Casey Chong examines eight key cult sci-fi films from 1985…

      The year 1985 was significant for a particular sci-fi film titled Back to the Future, which grossed over $210 million domestically. Robert Zemeckis’ groundbreaking time-travel film remains a film classic even today. Nonetheless, the year also featured several other sci-fi releases, with some achieving success (like Cocoon) while others, such as Enemy Mine and Explorers, were largely overlooked by audiences at the time. Below is our selection of noteworthy sci-fi films released in 1985 aside from Back to the Future…

      Re-Animator

      Not for the faint-hearted, Stuart Gordon fully embraces Lovecraftian horror with sci-fi aspects in Re-Animator. The film showcases Jeffrey Combs in his memorable, unhinged role as Herbert West, a deranged medical student intent on achieving a scientific breakthrough in reviving the dead with his experimental serum. Gordon’s direction captures the essence of a B-movie aesthetic, delivering a sci-fi horror infused with dark comedy. It is abundantly bloody and gory while representing a technical triumph in practical effects, proceeding at a confident pace devoid of unnecessary embellishments. The cult success of Re-Animator led to two sequels, including Bride of Re-Animator and Beyond Re-Animator.

      Brazil

      Terry Gilliam’s often-misunderstood sci-fi masterpiece struggled to find an audience upon release but has since been celebrated as one of the best of its genre. Gilliam, who co-wrote the screenplay, offers a unique vision of a dystopian future plagued by bureaucratic absurdities, centered around a low-level government employee portrayed by the empathetic Jonathan Pryce, who navigates between daydreams and mundane reality. Beyond Gilliam’s striking visuals and quirky humor—characteristics of his filmmaking—there’s significant narrative depth that explores Orwellian themes of totalitarianism and oppression within Brazil's social and political landscape. Although its lengthy runtime of nearly 2 ½ hours might deter some viewers, Gilliam’s intricate direction combines imagination with subtle commentary, creating a distinctive cinematic journey worth exploring.

      Enemy Mine

      The late Wolfgang Petersen contributed some of his most defining works, from Das Boot to In the Line of Fire and Air Force One. Among these is the sadly overlooked Enemy Mine, which came out a year after the successful The NeverEnding Story. Enemy Mine faced numerous behind-the-scenes challenges, including the firing of original director Richard Loncraine, who had already shot some footage before Petersen took the helm. Rather than using Loncraine’s material, Petersen opted to start afresh. Despite his efforts, Enemy Mine struggled at the box office, though the film deserves recognition for combining themes of harmony, unity, overcoming prejudice, and universal empathy in this sci-fi thriller. Primarily a two-character story, it focuses on the conflict between human pilot Willis Davidge (Dennis Quaid) and the reptilian humanoid Drac named Jeriba Shigan (Louis Gossett Jr., almost unrecognizable due to extensive prosthetics). The dynamic between these two characters elevates Enemy Mine beyond a standard sci-fi survival story.

      The Quiet Earth

      This New Zealand film examines the hypothetical scenario of a world decimated by a global disaster. Directed by Geoff Murphy, who would later direct Hollywood projects like Young Guns II, Freejack, and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, it opens with a gripping scene: a man (Bruno Lawrence) awakens alone in a city. The first 35 minutes focus on Lawrence's character, Zac Hobson, as he tries to occupy his time, even resorting to wearing a woman’s dress for comfort. Lawrence delivers an impressive performance, effectively portraying the complexities of isolation, frustration, and self-contentment. The film later introduces two additional characters: a young woman named Joanne (Alison Routledge) and a Maori man named Api, played by Pete Smith. Adapted from Craig Harrison's 1981 novel, it also explores themes of human instincts, trust, and racial tension before culminating in a surreal and ambiguous conclusion.

      Cocoon

      Surprisingly, Robert Zemeckis was initially slated to direct Cocoon, but Fox executives hesitated after their negative reactions to the early cut of Romancing the Stone (which ended up being a success). Ron Howard, fresh from the success of Splash, took over and his thoughtful direction proved ideal for the story, written by Tom Benedek, about seniors in a retirement home who discover a swimming pool resembling a Fountain of Youth containing large rock-like cocoons. The film thoughtfully addresses aging and the rediscovery of youth while exploring universal themes of life and death through the experiences of seniors portrayed by Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, and Hume Cronyn. Casting these older actors is far from mere nostalgia, as Howard showcases their performances beautifully. Although the special effects, especially the glowing alien beings, may now seem dated, the