The Luigi Cozzi Derivative Double Feature
Name two of the iconic science fiction films in history. If you’re like me, you recognize two classics instantly — George Lucas’ Star Wars and Ridley Scott’s Alien. Now, imagine those behemoth movies as the apex predators of the sea — the menacing voracious Great White Shark.
Those films have devoured the box office since their initial release. It is no wonder that remoras would attach themselves to those much bigger fish hoping for scraps. Enter the derivatives, the remoras of the cinematic sea.
One of those hungry parasitic remoras was Luigi Cozzi. After the blockbuster success of Star Wars, Cozzi decided that he could capitalize on the genre with his own version — Starcrash as both writer and director. Crash being the operative term here; it was a train wreck to be sure. But in a good way. Hear me out.
There were epic space battles, laser sword fights, sarcastic robots, and even a scaled back version of the force. There was also “star” power with actors such as Christopher Plummer and David Hasselhoff. Added to the mix were Neanderthal cavemen, Amazonian like warrior women, a “handy” spacecraft shaped like a claw ready to literally seize adversaries, and dialog the likes of which have never graced the screen before or since.
Watching Starcrash is an experience best shared with others and copious amounts of alcohol. The film is a vehicle for folly and enjoyment, despite the ludicrous attempt to carbon-copy the classic. Sexy Stella Star definitely steals the show, driving the film towards its predictable conclusion with style. It is thoroughly enjoyable and rewatchable. For these reasons, Starcrash is the headliner to a delightful derivative double feature
Cozzi, riding the wave of his colossal Starcrash success, decided to rip-off another classic — Alien with some subtle differences. Alien Contamination, or simply Contamination, was born. Or rather, hatched. Eggs? Get it? I apologize.
Budgetary constraints limited the setting to New York instead of outer space in a ship like the Nostromo, for one. Also, in lieu of facehuggers the eggs explode with goo and literally turn you inside out. Instead of a monster stalking its prey, there is a cycloptic creature more identifiable as Jabba the Hutt instead of a lithe xenomorph. Don’t worry, though, that single eye is hypnotic so the victims walk right up and into the mouth of the monster so it doesn’t need to move.
But fear not — the movie isn’t limited to the cyclops’ lair. The alien eggs are smuggled inside of coffee bean shipments, facilitating more settings just to keep things interesting. There is still a large Martian egg chamber though, so they could have their own Giger-esque set as well. You have to have something to put on the VHS box cover, right?
Though not boasting the heavy duty acting muscle as in Starcrash, Contamination stars Ian McCulloch of Zombi 2 and Doctor Butcher M.D. fame as well as Louise Marleau of numerous Italian television and movies. Special effects were by Pierantonio Mecacci who did the effects for Suspiria, The Last Man on Earth, and many others. Cozzi wrote and directed this one, as well.
The gory visuals, an awesome rhythmic sound effect when the eggs are about to explode, and a kick ass soundtrack by Goblin are just some of the reasons this film is rewatchable and one of the better Alien derivatives.
They are also why Contamination is a great second bill in your derivative double feature. Grab some snacks to enjoy, why don’t you? Nothing name brand, though. Knock-offs will do just fine.
