''Star Crystal'' is a 1986 American

horror Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction ** Japanese horror, Japanese horror fiction **Korean horror, Korean horror fiction * Horror film, a film genre *Horror comics, comic books focusing o ...

science fiction film directed by

Lance Lindsay A lance is a spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior or cavalry soldier (lancer). In Ancient warfare, ancient and medieval warfare, it evolved into the leading weapon in cavalry charges, and was unsuited for throwing or for repeated thru ...

. The film stars C. Juston Campbell and Faye Bolt as a pair of astronauts who must survive against a mysterious alien lifeform seeking to kill them, while also facing dwindling supplies aboard their damaged shuttlecraft.

Plot

In 2032, a crewed expedition to Mars discovers a mysterious egg buried under the planet's surface and brings it to their ship, the SC-37. While the astronauts are away, the egg hatches, releasing a crystal and a slimy alien creature. The astronauts conduct experiments on the crystal and the alien, and are soon killed when their air supply is shut off. Two months later, the SC-37 is intercepted by the

space station A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a human crew in orbit for an extended period of time, and is therefore a type of space habitat. It lacks major propulsion or landing systems. An orbital station or an orbital space station i ...

L-5, which subsequently is destroyed by a malfunctioning neutron reactor. A ragtag repair crew escape aboard the damaged ship, and the dire situation forces them to work together despite their differences. The crew of five conclude that they lack the supplies necessary to return to Earth or await rescue, and decide to stop at a pair of supply stations to remedy this. Meanwhile, the alien hides in the engine room and quickly begins killing the crew. Soon, only two, Roger Campbell and Dr. Adrian Kimberly, remain. As Roger and Adrian lock the alien out of the bridge, it retreats back to the engine room with the crystal. Roger and Adrian find data from the original crew's experiments in the ship's computer, Bernice, indicating that the alien rapidly matures and grows in intelligence, while the crystal is an advanced computer the alien uses when confronted with a problem. Using the crystal, the alien hacks into and takes control of the ship, cutting off their communications and tricking another nearby ship into believing SC-37 does not require rescue. During a subsequent meteor storm that endangers the ship, the alien uses the crystal to project a force field until the storm passes. Roger is forced to enter the lab to retrieve a crate of rations, but when he returns to the bridge without threatening the alien, it lets him go. Soon after, the alien begins reading data on the evolution of the human race and a Bible stored in Bernice's memory. Roger and Adrian decide to continue on to the first supply station, Alpha-7, but Bernice informs them that they will need to repair the engine for this to be feasible. Realizing they must confront the alien, they go the engine room, where it reveals itself to them. Much to their shock, it apologizes profusely for its actions, claiming that it was killing in self defense until realizing that humans were not as dangerous as it first thought. Identifying itself as GAR, it surrenders control of the ship back to Roger and Adrian, who forgive it and strike a bargain: after they reach the safety of Alpha-7, they will give SC-37 to GAR so it can return to its home planet. The trio work together and repair the ship, quickly forming a friendship with each other despite their initial conflict. SC-37 docks at Alpha-7, and Roger helps GAR load rations in preparation for its voyage. However, a gravity tunnel soon opens; this anomaly can help Roger and Adrian return to Earth, but they must immediately depart aboard the SC-37 to make the trip. GAR realizes that it must part ways with the humans and thanks them, saying that it will always cherish their brief time as friends. Bidding them a sad farewell, GAR uses the crystal to convert Alpha-7 into a ship and sets off for its planet, while Roger and Adrian finally make it back to Earth.

Cast

* C. Juston Campbell as Roger Campbell * Faye Bolt as Dr. Adrian Kimberly * John W. Smith as Cal * Taylor Kingsley as Sherrie Stevens * Marcia Linn as Lt. Billi Lynn * The Gling as the voice of GAR

Music

The film's score was composed by Doug Katsaros. The song featured in its end credits, "Crystal of a Star," was written by Katsaros with lyrics and vocals by Stefani Christopherson.

Release

Theatrical

''Star Crystal'' was released in theaters in 1986.

Home media

On June 24, 2003 ''Star Crystal'' was released for the first time on DVD in Widescreen by Anchor Bay Entertainment. Kino Lorber later issued it on DVD and Blu-ray on July 11, 2017.

Footnotes

External links

* * {{AllMovie title, 46474, Star Crystal
Review on BadMovies.org
1980s science fiction horror films Films about astronauts Films set in 2032 Films set on spacecraft Mars in film Films set in the future 1980s monster movies American space adventure films New World Pictures films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films 1986 science fiction films English-language science fiction horror films