Message From Space (1978) – Film Review

Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Cast: Sonny Chiba, Vic Morrow, Etsuko Shihomi
Certificate: PG

By Roger Crow

When Jaws was a massive hit in 1975, it spawned no end of clones all eager to surf the wave of killer fish flicks. In Japan, a manta ray was to be the choice of antagonist – only it was a space version. So that movie went into production, and then along came Star Wars, so the direction changed again to reflect the glory of George Lucas’s space saga.

I’d not seen Message From Space until recently, and it’s quite the find. If you’re a fan of cult Japanese puppet saga Star Fleet, which debuted on ITV’s Saturday morning schedules in 1982 (and attracted Queen’s Brian May among its many aficionados), then you’ll warm to this offering, the most expensive Japanese film ever made at the time. Some of the aesthetics are very similar, and there’s even a literal spaceship, like that saga – a galleon in space.

“Propherised protectors”

The Masters of Cinema series has long been delivering high-end Blu-ray versions of old curios, and this new one is laden with goodies, including an informative yack track detailing the movie’s production.

The saga opens on the planet of Jillucia. Once a peaceful utopia, it has now fallen under the control of the Gavanas Empire, a warlike race ruled by the ruthless Emperor Rockseia.

Desperate for help, the leader of the Jillucian people launches eight Liabe seeds into space – glowing orbs that, according to legend, will each summon a powerful warrior to the planet’s aid.

The seeds are followed into the void by Princess Emeralida and loyal Jillucian soldier Urocco, who attempt to find the prophesied protectors of their home world: ex-military commander General Garuda and his robot companion Beba-2, thrill-seekers Shiro and Aaron, gambler Jack, aristocrat Meia and swordsman Hans, who has a deeply personal score to settle with the Gavanas Empire.

“Bonkers”

So it’s basically a sort of Magnificent Seven in space, like Battle Beyond the Stars which arrived a couple of years later. Vic Morrow (who perished during an accident on Twilight Zone: The Movie) is on hand in an attempt to sell it to the US market, while Sonny Chiba (hero-worshipped by Quentin Tarantino) also stars in one of the most bonkers cult sci-fi-re-releases of recent years.

Effects range from the shoddy to the not-bad, and some of the music cues are rather good. Stylistically it’s all over the shop, with random disco-inflected scenes, dog fights in an asteroid belt, and so on. It’s just the sort of thing Kim Newman would twirl his moustache over with a knowing smirk, while no doubt dispensing words of wisdom over its production. More power to him and my fellow geeks who love this sort of thing. I doubt this is the last time I’ll watch this gloriously bonkers offering. Hopefully, this re-release will attract a new wave of fans. It’s certainly one way to brighten 105 minutes on a rainy day.