Galaxy of Terror (1981)

R | 90 mins | Science fiction | 16 October 1981

Director:

B. D. Clark

Producer:

Roger Corman

Cinematographer:

Jacques Haitkin

Production Designers:

James Cameron, Robert Skotak

Production Company:

New World Productions
Full page view
HISTORY

Production notes in AMPAS library files listed various alternate titles: Mind Warp, Mind Warp: An Infinity of Terror, Planet of Horrors and Quest.
       The film’s character names are off-screen credits, but a New World Pictures press release and the 21 Aug 1981 Entertainment Today noted that Edward Albert would portray the character “Cabren,” Erin Moran would appear as “Alluma,” and Ray Walston’s character was named “Kore.”
       The 16 Mar 1981 DV reported that producer Roger Corman’s film Quest, budgeted at $5 million, was Corman’s most expensive film to date. The 6 May 1981 Var stated that the film had been titled Quest and Planet of Horrors, but the name was changed to Mind Warp: An Infinity of Terror.
       An item in the 27 May 1981 Var announced that New World Pictures planned a summer 1981 release of Mind Warp: An Infinity of Terror, and the 24 Aug 1981 HR reported Corman’s claim that horror films, such as his Mind Warp: An Infinity of Terror, interested distributors because this genre was easy to sell to theaters throughout the U.S.
       The 30 Jul 1981 HR asserted that the film had received positive feedback on rating cards at its Jul 1981 preview at the United Artists theater in Westwood, CA. Corman reportedly planned two additional sneak previews before the film’s release on 28 Aug 1981.
       According to the 21 Oct 1981 Var review, the film was released in Jul 1981 as ...

More Less

Production notes in AMPAS library files listed various alternate titles: Mind Warp, Mind Warp: An Infinity of Terror, Planet of Horrors and Quest.
       The film’s character names are off-screen credits, but a New World Pictures press release and the 21 Aug 1981 Entertainment Today noted that Edward Albert would portray the character “Cabren,” Erin Moran would appear as “Alluma,” and Ray Walston’s character was named “Kore.”
       The 16 Mar 1981 DV reported that producer Roger Corman’s film Quest, budgeted at $5 million, was Corman’s most expensive film to date. The 6 May 1981 Var stated that the film had been titled Quest and Planet of Horrors, but the name was changed to Mind Warp: An Infinity of Terror.
       An item in the 27 May 1981 Var announced that New World Pictures planned a summer 1981 release of Mind Warp: An Infinity of Terror, and the 24 Aug 1981 HR reported Corman’s claim that horror films, such as his Mind Warp: An Infinity of Terror, interested distributors because this genre was easy to sell to theaters throughout the U.S.
       The 30 Jul 1981 HR asserted that the film had received positive feedback on rating cards at its Jul 1981 preview at the United Artists theater in Westwood, CA. Corman reportedly planned two additional sneak previews before the film’s release on 28 Aug 1981.
       According to the 21 Oct 1981 Var review, the film was released in Jul 1981 as Mindwarp: An Infinity of Terror, then released as Planet of Horrors. The film was not successful and was retitled Galaxy of Terror for the remainder of its bookings. Although a New World Pictures press release noted that Planet of Horrors would open in Southern CA theaters on 28 Aug 1981, an item in the 22 Sep 1981 HR reported that Galaxy of Terror would open in Southern CA and AZ theaters on 16 Oct 1981.

Less

SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Daily Variety
16 Mar 1981
---
Entertainment Today
21 Aug 1981
---
Hollywood Reporter
30 Jul 1981
---
Hollywood Reporter
24 Aug 1981
---
Hollywood Reporter
22 Sep 1981
---
Hollywood Reporter
3 Nov 1981
p. 2
Los Angeles Times
19 Oct 1981
p. 5
Variety
6 May 1981
---
Variety
27 May 1981
---
Variety
21 Oct 1981
p. 16
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Prod mgr
1st asst dir
2d asst dir
2d unit dir
2d unit prod mgr
2d unit asst dir
PRODUCERS
Co-prod
WRITERS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dir of photog
Lighting consultant
Gaffer
Ayne Coffey
1st asst cam
Key grip
Best boy elec
Best boy grip
Elec
Grip
Grip
Still photog
2d unit dir of photog
ART DIRECTORS
Prod des
Prod des
Art dir
Art dir
FILM EDITORS
Asst ed
Asst ed
SET DECORATORS
Set dec
Prop master
Asst props
Const supv
Lead carpenter
Pam Warner
2d unit props
COSTUMES
Ward master
MUSIC
SOUND
Audio consultant
Supv sd ed
Dial ed
Synthesizer
VISUAL EFFECTS
Spec eff elec
Elec engineering
Spec eff lighting
Al Apone
Mechanical eff
Mechanical eff
Mechanical eff
Mechanical eff
Visual eff supv
Eff coord
Supv dir of photog
Dir of photog
Cam op
Cam op
Cam asst
Cam asst
Addl photog
Addl photog
Addl photog
Graphic anim des
Graphic anim photog
Asst anim
Stop motion anim/Model shop supv
Model shop engineer
Model builder
Miniatures sculptor
Visual eff ed/opt supv
Asst eff ed
MAKEUP
Makeup
Hairstylist
Spec makeup eff supv
1st asst makeup eff
Prosthetics fabrication
Prosthetics fabrication
Prosthetics fabrication
Prosthetics fabrication
Prosthetics fabrication
Prosthetics fabrication
2d unit prosthetics
PRODUCTION MISC
Exec in charge of prod
Charles Skouras, III
Asst prod mgr
Scr supv
Post prod supv
Prod coord
Prod accountant
Casting
DETAILS
Alternate Titles:
Mind Warp
Mindwarp: An Infinity of Terror
Planet of Horrors
Planet of Terrors
Quest
Release Date:
16 October 1981
Premiere Information:
Los Angeles opening: 16 Oct 1981
Production Date:

Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
New World Pictures, Inc., and United Artists Corporation
18 June 1982
PA149688
Physical Properties:
Sound
Color
Duration(in mins):
90
MPAA Rating:
R
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

On a spaceship, a terrified man finds his comrade’s dead body, before being tossed about by unseen forces. Elsewhere, on a remote planet, Mitri, oracle of the “game,” speaks with the Master, a man whose head is encased in blue energy, and they receive a transmission that contact with the spaceship Remus has been lost near the planet Organthus. Mitri warns that the Master’s plan is risky, but he determines to go to Organthus, and orders her to organize a spaceship crew. Later, on the spaceship Quest, Commander Ilvar introduces himself to Captain Trantor, who powers up the ship before the crew is prepared for take-off. As Trantor recklessly deletes the preset hyper-jump coordinates in order to travel faster, the rest of the crew realize she is the sole survivor of a strange massacre on the spaceship Hesperus. The Quest survives the hyper-jump and arrives at Organthus, but, as it nears the planet, the Quest’s systems go haywire. Trantor calls for the assistance of tech chief, Dameia, and although the system continues to malfunction, they land on Organthus. As Ilvar’s team prepares to leave the ship, the crew’s second in command, Baelon, asserts his leadership over his colleague Cabren, a psychic named Alluma, a rookie, Cos, and the crystal darts specialist, Quuhod. On the planet, the team boards the Remus, and searches ...

More Less

On a spaceship, a terrified man finds his comrade’s dead body, before being tossed about by unseen forces. Elsewhere, on a remote planet, Mitri, oracle of the “game,” speaks with the Master, a man whose head is encased in blue energy, and they receive a transmission that contact with the spaceship Remus has been lost near the planet Organthus. Mitri warns that the Master’s plan is risky, but he determines to go to Organthus, and orders her to organize a spaceship crew. Later, on the spaceship Quest, Commander Ilvar introduces himself to Captain Trantor, who powers up the ship before the crew is prepared for take-off. As Trantor recklessly deletes the preset hyper-jump coordinates in order to travel faster, the rest of the crew realize she is the sole survivor of a strange massacre on the spaceship Hesperus. The Quest survives the hyper-jump and arrives at Organthus, but, as it nears the planet, the Quest’s systems go haywire. Trantor calls for the assistance of tech chief, Dameia, and although the system continues to malfunction, they land on Organthus. As Ilvar’s team prepares to leave the ship, the crew’s second in command, Baelon, asserts his leadership over his colleague Cabren, a psychic named Alluma, a rookie, Cos, and the crystal darts specialist, Quuhod. On the planet, the team boards the Remus, and searches the ship. Cos is alone when an insect-type creature scares him, sending him running until he finds Baelon and Alluma. Elsewhere, Cabren and Quuhod discover the body of a Remus crew member. As the team brings the corpse to the Quest, Cos is slow to follow and is killed by a large insect. On the Quest, while Dameia and Ranger, the assistant technical officer, perform autopsies on Cos and the Remus crew member, Alluma reveals that she sensed a presence around Cos, but when he died, it vanished. Their scanners indicate that the Quest’s malfunctions are caused by an energy source emanating from a single point, and they decide to investigate. Trantor, Ranger, and the cook, Kore, remain onboard while the others search, soon discovering a pyramid structure. Ilvar splits the crew into two teams: he, Cabren, and Dameia investigate the perimeter while Baelon leads Alluma and Quuhod up the pyramid. As they climb, Ilvar laments his age. However, when they reach a hole, he insists on belaying down to investigate. The hole is riddled with openings and a worm-like creature that attacks and kills Ilvar. When Cabren feels the rope slacken, he lowers himself to investigate and finds the commander’s bloody, empty rigging. As Baelon’s group climbs the pyramid, a doorway opens slightly and Quuhod tosses a crystal dart to wedge it open. Cabren and Dameia join them, sharing the news of Ilvar’s death by a creature from a worm hole, and Dameia admits she hates worms. When the team enters the pyramid, Quuohod’s crystal dart shatters in the doorway, leaving them trapped inside. Baelon hands Quuhod a gun and orders him to guard the entrance. Quuhod discards the gun, insisting that he lives and dies by his crystal darts. Inside the pyramid, Alluma senses a presence but Baelon disparages her and orders the group to follow. Dameia, however, turns back to check on Quuhod. Meanwhile, at the entrance, the doorway reopens as the crystal dart reassembles and attacks Quuhod. A piece breaks off inside his arm and starts climbing up his body. Quuhod chops his arm off, but the severed limb reaches for another crystal dart and throws it at Quuhod, killing him. On the Quest, a nervous Ranger informs Kore that he cannot find Trantor, and they search the ship. On planet Organthus, Dameia discovers Quuhod’s body, now covered with worms. Repulsed, she fires her weapon, incinerating Quuhod and the worms. However, one worm survives, grows to gigantic proportions, and rapes Dameia. Meanwhile, on the Quest, Kore hits Ranger from behind, knocking him unconscious. He discovers Trantor, acting crazy, in the weapons room. Kore admits he is a weapons systems operator she knew in the past. Trantor screams that he is a spy, grabs a weapon, and leaves the room. Moments later, Ranger finds Kore and wonders who hit him, but Kore says he did not see anyone. Ranger uses the computer and discovers Trantor’s whereabouts as she shoots an airlock open and dies. On the planet, the team finds Dameia’s nude, slime-covered body and Baelon shoots, incinerating her. The team regroups on the Quest, and Alluma wants to leave the planet, but Cabren realizes the energy source might prevent their escape and Baelon insists on returning to the pyramid. Ranger does not trust Kore and suggests Cabren be wary of him, too. Inside the pyramid, Alluma is reluctant to enter the worm tunnels, fearing they will be too tight. Cabren kisses her, and enters the hole first, sliding to another level. Alluma follows and, although she feels trapped partway through, she makes it to the bottom, as do the others. In the center of the pyramid, a light activates above them in a V shape, revealing strange architecture surrounding a catwalk at a perilous height. As they traverse the catwalk, Baelon is attacked by a green-eyed creature, killed, and tossed into the abyss. Ranger unexpectedly argues with Cabren, insisting he will not follow Cabren’s orders as he did in Academy days. Ranger raises his gun to shoot Cabren, but Alluma stops her friend with a calming hand on his shoulder. They continue, but lights glow around them and they find themselves walking separately. Ranger is attacked by another version of himself and shoots at his double, which bleeds but has no organs. The vision disappears when Ranger realizes the figure does not exist. Elsewhere, Alluma attempts to reach Cabren but they are separated by a clear wall. She follows Cabren’s directions to meet him, but finds herself in a small tunnel. Cabren struggles to rescue her but the tunnel contracts. Tentacles reach from its walls, crushing Alluma’s body, and her head explodes. Ranger and Cabren realize that their individual fears are brought to life by this pyramid. Kore appears at the top of the tower and Cabren, gun drawn, climbs to confront him. Kore sits in the center of the pyramid, his head encased in energy. Cabren is furious that Kore knew about the pyramid’s power and did not warn the Quest’s crew. He shoots, but Kore’s forcefield repels the bullets. Cabren promises to kill him, but Kore declares that Cabren controlled his fear enough to win the game and must now control his emotions. Kore reveals the pyramid is an ancient toy for the children of a vanished race to learn to control their fears. Years ago, Kore played the game and became Master. Cabren asks why his teammates had to die and Kore insists they could have lived if they had chosen to. The room suddenly turns red and several creatures attack Cabren. He fights them off and, as the room turns blue, his dead friends appear and attack. Cabren fights, but is knocked unconscious. He awakens to find Alluma, alive and well, but she strangles him, forcing Cabren to shoot her. Cabren unexpectedly has the ability to emanate energy toward Kore, injuring his nemesis. The game is finished and the Master’s power transfers to Cabren, who wants to reject it. Kore insists that Cabren is the Master and to deny the power would plunge them into chaos. Cabren kills Kore and, as energy encircles Cabren’s head, the pyramid lights up, then goes dark.

Less

Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

TOP SEARCHES

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

According to HR news items, "The Gentleman from Montana" (an unpublished story by Lewis R. Foster, alternately called "The Gentleman from Wyoming" by both contemporary and modern ... >>

Psycho

Actor Vaughn Taylor's surname is misspelled "Tayler" in the onscreen credits. Several Jun and Jul 1959 HR news items erroneously refer to the film as Psyche. ... >>

The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.