Don't misconstrue this. I'm not displaying character. Just temporary insanity.
-Dr. Lazarus

A damn good sci-fi thriller that has a bit of a noir and western influence to it. Even though it only came out 20 years later, it's a bit like Deadwood in space complete with miners, bars and hookers.

The sets and look of the film are clearly inspired by Alien. It's a "used future" that seems real and populated by working class people. There's a foot chase in the movie that uses the sets to great effect, running through corridors, balconies and stairs. Most action films today aren't capable of putting a scene like that together without using mind numbing fast editing to the point where you're risking a seizure if you keep watching.

Sean Connery is really great in this. He gives a surprisingly great performance here. I shouldn't be surprised because it's Connery, but I just expected for him to seem out of place in a sci-fi film. Even though he could, he doesn't hold up the film on his own. The film is filled with great character actors at their best like Peter Boyle and James Sikking. It's Frances Sternhagen's scenes with Connery however that steals it from everyone else. Their back and forth not only gives the film some comic relief, but it's also the most interesting relationship in the film.

Even though the special effects are obviously dated, there's just something about practical effects of this era that work even when you can clearly see models are being used. There is a gruesome scene or two though that caught me off guard by how well they were made.

It's a really fun sci-fi thriller that often goes overlooked. I loved it.