The Jaw-Dropping Revelation: The Mind-Blowing Dead Space Movie That Preceded the Game by 17 Years

A good title holds incredible power, often overlooked. Many exceptional action, horror, and science-fiction movies make the mistake of choosing generic words or phrases, resulting in their downfall. Dead Space, originally a medical term referring to the air that doesn't reach the bloodstream, was given new life in 1991 by producer Mike Elliot. It adorned a low-budget remake of a no-budget classic, before being picked up by Visceral Games 17 years later.

The Dead Space franchise continues to be a prominent topic in the gaming community. Its first two iconic titles served as strong arguments against the industry's exclusive focus on always-online multiplayer shooters. Unfortunately, the franchise suffered from corporate short-sightedness with its third installment. However, years later, a remake brought its glory back, captivating a new audience. This story not only highlights the gaming industry's failure to learn from its mistakes and exercise restraint, but also serves as a testament to the potential greatness the medium can achieve.

What is Dead Space (1991) about?

Dead Space, a loose remake of the Roger Corman-produced classic Forbidden World, was shot in just three weeks with an even smaller budget than the original. Corman had produced several Alien rip-offs, including Forbidden World, which reused special effects from his previous works. Continuing this chain of ownership, Dead Space also reused shots from the same Corman film. Interestingly, the film was initially titled Biohazard, but this was deemed less original considering it was the original Japanese title for Resident Evil. Producer Mike Elliot undoubtedly wanted a title that resonated with horror game enthusiasts, prompting speculation on other potential titles such as The Evil Within or Prey.

Setting aside its title and peculiar origins, Dead Space follows Commander Steve Krieger and his robot companion, Tinpan, as they respond to a distress signal on the planet Phablos. Unbeknownst to the scientists on Phablos, their research had inadvertently led to the creation of a deadly virus. Infected victims transform into monstrous creatures and attack anyone in their vicinity. Audiences and critics alike applauded the film's unique monster design, which aimed to differentiate itself from the countless Xenomorph imitations found in other movies. The monstrous adversary proves resistant to Krieger and Tinpan's weapons, forcing the scientists to devise a potentially more dangerous solution. Dead Space is a campy blend of action and horror, punctuated by a peculiar sense of humor, and embellished with gratuitous violence and sexual content. Among the intriguing details surrounding the film, fans are often most captivated to discover that it marked Bryan Cranston's fourth-ever appearance in a live-action film.

Eerie similarities to the Dead Space game

No, Dead Space is not based on the 1991 film with the same name. While they share some similarities, these elements are coincidental. Dead Space follows a space traveler armed with weapons, who is called to a facility that has been taken over by monstrous creatures. These antagonists are actually twisted and disfigured human corpses, transformed by a viral infection. Both the film and the game prominently feature excessive gore as a central aspect of their design. The monsters can only be killed using unconventional methods, and the protagonists find themselves in way over their heads. There are a few points of comparison between the two works. In contrast, the 1991 film relied on explicit sexual scenes alongside its gore. The game, on the other hand, offers a deeper and more extensive storyline, revealing details gradually throughout its longer duration. When considering both works, it becomes clear that their similarities can be explained easily.

Dead Space does not have its basis in Dead Space itself. Instead, both works draw inspiration from a few beloved science fiction horror films. The 1991 film is undoubtedly a blatant copy of Ridley Scott's Alien. During the late '80s and early '90s, Corman produced numerous knock-offs of Alien every year. The game heavily borrows from Alien's atmosphere and iconic presentation. Additionally, both works also exhibit influences from John Carpenter's The Thing. These sources of inspiration ensure that both Dead Spaces share many similarities. However, the game benefits from 17 years of advancement in science fiction horror cinema, taking inspiration from films like Event Horizon and Sunshine. Ultimately, the works are similar because they both build upon and pay homage to similar source material.

The film Dead Space falls short in terms of quality. Although it features a captivating monster and a few intense scenes, the plot lacks substance and the characters are unimportant. In contrast, the video game Dead Space is exceptional and stands as a significant milestone in modern horror gaming. Fans of the game might appreciate the 1991 film, but they should lower their expectations in terms of quality. While the era of Roger Corman's low-budget films may have ended, there is still enjoyment to be found in those cheesy old messes. Dead Space may only be notable because it shares a title with a team of game designers, and revisiting the film suggests that even that recognition may have been undeserved.