Gallery: Galaxy of Gore: 10 Must-See Horror Flicks Set in Space
01event-horizon-2
When you think about it, deep space – with its vast expanse of nothingness – actually might be scarier than any psychopathic killer in the woods or blood-drinking demon. Yet the farthest reaches of the cosmos don't necessarily spring to mind when people reflect on horror movies. That doesn't mean there aren't a few good space shockers out there. As part of Wired's collaboration with [*Fangoria*](http://www.fangoria.com/) to identify the best fright flicks to watch this holiday season, we asked the horror magazine's editor-in-chief Chris Alexander for his insight. "When one thinks horror films set in space, the first and last thought tends to rest with Ridley Scott’s landmark [1979 classic *Alien*](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078748/) and its many lesser sequels," Alexander said in an e-mail introducing his list of lesser-known astro-horror flicks. "But there are myriad galactic gore fests out there, ripe for exploration." Check out Alexander's picks for the best unsung shockers set in space, and get a trailer-ific taste of each movie, in the gallery above. __Above:__ *Event Horizon* (1997) ---------------------- __Chris Alexander:__ "Before *Resident Evil*, Paul W.S. Anderson ripped off *Alien* and *Hellraiser* for this stylish, terrifying [assault to the senses](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119081/). Sam Neill goes mad, Laurence Fishburne runs for his life. Perhaps the only haunted spaceship movie ever made and a real-deal cult classic."
02inseminoid
*Inseminoid* (1981) ------------------- __Chris Alexander:__ "After the success of *Alien*, every monkey and his brother tried his tentacle at intergalactic bio-horror. [This one](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084090/) is from British exploitationeer Norman Warren and it’s a doozy, combining graphic gore with ridiculous ET rape."
03jason-x
*Jason X* (2001) ---------------- __Chris Alexander:__ "After nine tired times putting serial-killing zombie Jason Voorhees into a goalie mask and dispatching him to hack up horny teenagers, *Friday the 13th* franchise holders New Line (inherited from Paramount) [sent the killer into space](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211443/). The results were surprisingly freakish, with a healthy dose of satire and an amusing David Cronenberg cameo."
04lifeforce-4
*Lifeforce* (1985) ------------------ __Chris Alexander:__ "Tobe Hooper’s [*other* masterpiece](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089489/) (after *The Texas Chain Saw Massacre*, natch) featuring Mathilda May as a perfect, nude space vampire sucking London dry and turning everyone into sex zombies. Meanwhile her giant, bat-winged spaceship sucks everyone's souls into the stratosphere. As mad as it sounds, also scary, operatic and unlike anything else." (Warning: Trailer NSFW.)
05leprechaun-4-in-space
*Leprechaun 4: In Space* (1997) ------------------------------- __Chris Alexander:__ "The [title says it all](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116861/) and man is it silly. And awesome. Warwick Davis once more dons the rubber and green duds to portray the malevolent sprite intent on murdering those who try to part him with his gold. In space, no one can here you sing Tu-La-Ru-La-Ru-La."
06creature
*Creature* (1997) ----------------- __Chris Alexander:__ "Another year, another *Alien* clone – this one mixing skin, blood and batshit craziness in the form of professional madman Klaus Kinski, picking up a paycheck for [this 1985 space shocker](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088961/) (directed by *FeardotCom*’s William Malone) and stealing every scene he’s in, even from the titular creature itself!"
07ghosts-of-mars
*Ghosts of Mars* (2001) ----------------------- __Chris Alexander:__ "Dismissed upon release, this is John Carpenter’s [space-set nod](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0228333/) to westerns like *3:10 to Yuma* by way of *Night of the Living Dead* and his own *Escape From New York*. A masterpiece of weird action, amazing music and sheer brazen WTF-ishness. Great cast, too, that features Pam Grier, Jason Statham and Ice Cube, among many other people that don’t belong in the same universe."
08planet-of-the-vampires
*Planet of the Vampires* (1965) ------------------------------- __Chris Alexander:__ "Before *Alien*, maestro Mario Bava chilled blood with this moody, [stylish space opera](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059792/), featuring leather-bodysuit-wearing cosmonauts landing on a haunted planet. One by one the crew are possessed. Chilling, strange and meditative sci-fi horror show."
09hellraiser-bloodline
*Hellraiser: Bloodline* (1996) ------------------------------ __Chris Alexander:__ "Like Jason, it seemed right to move the decidedly earthbound horrors of Clive Barker's [*Hellraiser* into the solar system](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116514/), with Doug Bradley’s Pinhead pouncing around a spaceship pontificating while his hellish chains work overtime. It seemed right.... It was very wrong, in fact."
10incredible-melting-man
*The Incredible Melting Man* (1977) ----------------------------------- __Chris Alexander:__ "It ain't set in space, but this one is [a D-movie classic](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076191/), with astronaut Alex Rebar getting blasted by some sort of supernova before coming back to Earth a shambling, dissolving, cannibalistic mess. Features early FX work by future Oscar winner and *An American Werewolf in London* legend Rick Baker."
