Lifepod
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.
| 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(s) | Mark Mancina |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Scott Brazil Pen Densham Richard Barton Lewis John Watson |
| Producer(s) | 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(s) | Alan Baumgarten |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Trilogy Entertainment Group RHI Entertainment |
| Distributor | Sonar Entertainment |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox Network |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Dolby |
| Original release | June 28, 1993 |
Plot
On Christmas Eve 2168 AD, a ship traveling through space suffers a critical malfunction.[1] Eight guests 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 whether, to conserve their supplies, 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 its possible that one of the people in the Lifepod could have sabotaged the spacecraft, and who wouldn't balk at killing them to keep himself alive. [2]
Cast
Robert Loggia ............. Director Banks
Jessica Tuck .............. Claire St. John
Stan Shaw.................. Parker
Adam Storke ............... Kane
Kelli Williams............. Rena Jahnusia
Ed Gale ................... Q-Three
CCH Pounder ............... Mayvene
Ron Silver..................Terman
Reception
In Creature Feature, the movie got 3 1/2 stars out of 5, praising the pacing and the effects.[3] 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 move was overall just OK.[4] Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an audience rating of 32%.
Production
This was the first time Silver had directed a movie. Produced by Trilogy Entertainment and Pen Densham. Designed as a homage to Lifeboat, not a remake.[5]
References
- "Film: Lifepod". TV Tropes. 28 June 1993. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- freecinemamovierev1ZA469Y5P227118735iews.blogspot.com/2018/06/lifepod-90s-sci-fi-mystery-and-suspense.html
- Stanley, J. (2000) Creature Feature: 3rd Edition
- https://variety.com/1993/tv/reviews/fox-night-at-the-movies-lifepod-1200432381/
- https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-27-tv-7500-story.html