SHADOWZONE (1990)

3 stars

88 Films. Blu ray. Out Now

Having just reviewed the more recent SOMNIUM, which explored dreams, SHADOWZONE came as a somewhat different take on the idea of manifesting your sleeping visions – it’s another in 88 Films dives into the back catalogue of Charles Band’s Full Moon, and as such is more slanted towards the horror angle. It was originally to be made as ‘Dream Invaders’ back in the Empire Pictures days. This was written and directed by J S Cardone – perhaps best known for the video nasty THE SLAYER (1982).

Captain Hickock (David Beecroft) is dropped off by helicopter to a remote US Government property in the desert. He is picked up by one Tommy Shivers (Frederick Flynn) who whisks him away to the underground research lab. It used to be used in the 50s but was shut down in the 60s – it is now home to a secret project and Hickock has been sent there to check out the body of a person who was killed by the experiments being carried out and to determine whether the work can continue.

He meets Dr Erhardt (Louise Fletcher, who clearly wasn’t bothered by starring in schlock) and shown round the rather rundown installation. Her boss Dr Van Fleet (James Hong) is keen to start up his tests again but must wait until the Captain has carried out his inspection.

He is shown the bloodily eviscerated corpse – opened up for an autopsy. The now dead person had answered an advert to be part of the experiments. Possibly not the best move on his part!

The tech being developed there is for NASA and space travel – involving sleep pods where people are put into an extended deep sleep.

Of course, this being an exploitation movie, there is something awry with what is going on. Hickock asks for the tests to be run again whilst he is there and wouldn’t you know it the computer system goes into meltdown and the sleep subject’s head explodes… and this is just the start of their troubles.

This is a fairly typically derivative B movie sci fi horror outing. It’s from Charles Band, so you kind of know what to expect – experiment gone wrong, a touch of nudity, bright red gore, a cheesy monster on the loose, stupid science, the cast trapped and unable to escape, throw in a couple of familiar actors and you have yourself a cheap frightener to fill up nearly 90 minutes.

Steve Kirkham