Forbidden World Review

Review of Forbidden World (1982) by screenqueeen: 👍 4.5/5

I decided to get fairly stoned for this and -- let me tell ya -- it's the best decision I made in preparation to sit down and watch this, finally. I'm not the type to insist that a movie should be enjoyed with the aid of certain vices, movies are and can be wild trips of their own (case in point, FORBIDDEN WORLD) but for the like-minded it's a recommendation in passing.

You know what you're going to get tonally, visually, and a little bit sub-textually within the entire opening leading to the title card. I think I cheered when the slow, space-set letters forming the words F O R B I D D E N W O R L D slowly zoomed towards my noggin (and made me want for a slapped-together 3D cut of this in the process).

It is one of the ultimate ALIEN ripoffs, without a doubt, but also predates an idea I'm sure Whedon stole from this for RESURRECTION. But this came first. So in effect this doesn't only rip from the '79 classic but contributes to the development of the story's themes as it added to itself through its various sequels (and this came out before ALIENS, jumping the gun on the whole gene splicing aspect). As far as I'm concerned it's natural storytelling and while it's not operating at full capacity for the entire length it's a damn good entry in space- and ALIEN-sploitation.