Dark Star (1974)


The four man crew of the Dark Star is on a twenty year mission to destroy unstable planets in order to make way for future Earth colonization. They do so using “smart” bombs with personalities of their own which gleefully go their merry way to the unfortunate planet below. Bored beyond belief and on the verge of space psychosis, nerves are frayed and tension within the crew builds after the death of their commander through a seat malfunction. The old ship has seen better days and is riddled with malfunctions that have caused the sleeping quarters to be blown away along with their supply of toilet paper.

While John Carpenter is not known for his comedies, Dark Star is charming spoof-sci/fi. Originally created on a budget of $5000 ( yes $5000) and only 68 minutes long, Carpenter and partner Dan O’Bannon were given another $60,000 by Jack Harris (The Blob) to make the film feature length. The effects are therefore B-movie grade but actually quite good for their time.

Generally a send up of Star Trek and 2001: A Space Odyssey, the movie is a comedy of errors and opposites. When confronted with the possibility of discovering alien life, acting commander Doolittle replies, “Don’t give me any of that ‘intelligent life’ stuff. Find me something I can blow up!” Rather than the pristine, blinding whiteness of 2001, Dark Star is grungy, mostly broken and as unkempt as her crew.
In a parody of the HAL 9000 computer, smart bomb # 20 has a malfunction after an asteroid storm which continually causes it to self arm while still in the launch bay. Commander Doolittle attempts to teach it phenomenology in order to make it doubt its own existence. Ray Bradbury fans will recognize the nod to his short story Kaleidoscope rounding off an absurd comedy with an outlandish ending.

Surreal and subtly witty, Dark Star is a must have for science-fiction and John Carpenter fans alike.

Director: John Carpenter

Writers: John Carpenter
Dan O’Bannon

MPAA Rating: G - dark comedy that small children will not understand