Lifepod is a 1993 television film reworking of the Alfred Hitchcock film Lifeboat. It starred Ron Silver, Robert Loggia, Kelli Williams & C. C. H. Pounder, with Silver also directing. It aired on Fox Network in June 1993. Lifepod moved the action from an ocean-bound lifeboat on Earth to a spacecraft's escape pod, with the characters the survivors of a sabotaged spacecraft.[1]
| Lifepod | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Mystery Science Fiction Thriller |
| Based on | Lifeboat by Alfred Hitchcock |
| Written by | Jay Roach Pen Densham Alfred Hitchcock (story) Harry Sylvester (story) |
| Directed by | Ron Silver |
| Starring | Ron Silver CCH Pounder Robert Loggia Jessica Tuck Ed Gale Adam Storke Stan Shaw Kelli Williams |
| Composer | Mark Mancina |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Scott Brazil Pen Densham Richard Barton Lewis John Watson |
| Producers | Tim Harbert Mark Stern Jay Roach (co-producer) Joe Montrone (associate producer) Bob Weber (associate producer) Robert A. Halmi (senior producer) |
| Cinematography | Robert Steadman |
| Editor | Alan Baumgarten |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production companies | Trilogy Entertainment Group RHI Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | Fox Network |
| Release | June 28, 1993 |
Plot edit
On Christmas Eve 2169 AD, a ship traveling through space suffers a critical malfunction.[2] Eight passengers and crew escape to a lifepod, just before the spaceship explodes, killing all others on board.
The survivors attempt to broadcast a distress signal and wait for rescue. As the days wear on, the lifepod suffers a series of setbacks and malfunctions: air and heat become limited, along with food and potable water. As supplies dwindle, the survivors debate how to conserve their supplies and whether they should prematurely end the life of a critically injured survivor who is consuming a disproportionate amount of supplies.
One morning, the survivors wake up to discover their critically injured crewmate dead. The survivors realize there is a killer hiding among them on the lifepod. Eventually the survivors realize that it's possible that one of the people in the Lifepod could have sabotaged the spacecraft, and who wouldn't balk at killing the others to keep themselves alive.[3]
Cast edit
- Robert Loggia as Director Banks
- Jessica Tuck as Claire St. John
- Stan Shaw as Parker
- Adam Storke as Kane
- Kelli Williams as Rena Jahnusia
- Ed Gale as Q-Three "Toolie"
- CCH Pounder as Mayvene
- Ron Silver as Terman
Production edit
Pen Densham's Lifepod was greenlit by Fox Network executives seeking to expand their Monday night showcase of theatrical films with made for TV movies.[4] The movie was shot on the same sound stages as Densham's cancelled TV series Space Rangers.[4]
This was the first time Silver had directed a movie. It was produced by Trilogy Entertainment and Pen Densham. The film was intended as a homage to Lifeboat, not a remake.[5]
Reception edit
In Creature Feature, the movie got 3 1/2 stars out of 5, praising the pacing and the effects.[6] Variety liked the opening sequence and found that Silver mixes action and characters well enough to emphasize their specialties, but not their individuality and that the movie was overall just OK.[7]
References edit
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (March 25, 2023). "A Brief History of Hitchcock Remakes". Filmink.
- ^ "Film: Lifepod". TV Tropes. 28 June 1993. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Lifepod: 90s Sci-Fi Mystery and Suspense". Hocus Focus Productions. June 14, 2018.
- ^ a b Altman, Mark A. (October 1993). "Lifepod". Cinefantastique. Fourth Castle Micromedia. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ "A Direct Approach : ACTOR RON SILVER HELMS a HOMAGE TO HITCHCOCK's 1944 THRILLER 'LIFEBOAT'". Los Angeles Times. 27 June 1993.
- ^ Stanley, J. (2000). Creature Features (The Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Movie Guide) (3rd ed.). Berkley Books.
- ^ Scott, Tony (28 June 1993). "Fox Night at the Movies Lifepod". Variety.
