Plot: After getting a car ride from an unknown man, Lisa wakes up in a tube. On her arm is strapped a bracelet with a countdown. She quickly understands that every 8 minutes, fire burns an occupied section. She has no choice but to crawl into safe sections to survive. To know why she’s there and how to get out, Lisa will have to face the memories of her dead daughter…

KBZ’s Take: This is a film where the less you know going in, the better the experience. We’re going to refrain from talking about the film’s plot here other than to say it’s one of the better recent Survival Horror films in the vein of Cube (1997).

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3qyl0Er

Plot: Space-shuttle astronauts (Walter Koenig, Bruce Campbell) are lured to the moon by alien robots needing human parts.

KBZ’s Take: We’ll start off by saying this isn’t a great film of the subgenre and it’s not particularly scary (especially for modern day horror fans). However, the film can be commended for doing quite a bit with its limited budget. It looks better than most of the other cheesy Space Horror films that infected the 80’s and it’s one of the better B-grade horror films of the decade.

The film’s claim to fame at the time was the casting of leads Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov from Star Trek) and up-and-coming horror icon Bruce Campbell (Ash from The Evil Dead (1981) & Evil Dead II (1987)). They actually have a good rapport in the film even if most of their scenes encompass long walks across the moon’s surface. But the film does have a somewhat unique premise with its alien robots, what the aliens need to ‘survive’ and their plans for an invasion.

It’s a film that most fans of Space Horror will likely enjoy but don’t go into it expecting a big budget horror extravaganza. Enjoy it for what it is – one of the better lower budget subgenre films from the 80’s.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3sgcqKQ

Plot: Trapped in a damaged cryogenic pod, a man is forced to watch a series of horrific science-fiction tales while his life support systems run out. Featuring eight intense stories of the unknown and other-worldly, equally wonderful and terrifying.

KBZ’s Take: Galaxy of Horrors is a Horror Anthology with some segments set in space. Like most low budget anthologies, many stories won’t be worth watching but there will be a few diamonds in the rough.

For subgenre fans, we would recommend watching Iris (about a man’s smart phone AI that is almost too human), They Will All Die in Space (about a crew member who awakens and suspects something is not right with his fellow crew members) and Entity (about an astronaut lost and drifting alone in space).

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3OzQNg7

Plot: An astronaut (Barry Sullivan) and his partner (Norma Bengell) flee from walking-dead astronauts on a volcanic planet.

KBZ’s Take: Planet of the Vampires is the OG of Space Horror and a film every subgenre fan shouldn’t miss. This is a film from the iconic Mario Bava who directed other horror classics including Black Sabbath (1963), A Bay of Blood (1971) and Lisa and the Devil (1973). Bava’s entry into Space Horror would be just as notable as his other horror films and have a lasting impact on the subgenre.

The film’s heaviest influence was on another Space Horror classic – Alien (1979). Both films feature a space crew answering a distress signal, exploring a planet and coming across an alien skeleton. But that’s where the films diverge as Alien is a much superior horror film and Vampires can be a chore to sit through as it has pacing issues and isn’t particularly scary (for modern audiences).

However, for subgenre fans, this is a film to watch at least once to see its influence and impact across future iconic Space Horror from Alien (1979) to Pitch Black (2000).

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3sdvnOw

Plot: Space station couple are menaced by a murderous scientist and his equally murderous robot.

KBZ’s Take: While this film will be remembered by Gen X and Boomers, it’s a bit of a forgotten film of the early 80’s. It’s not a great film despite starring Kirk Douglas, Harvey Keitel and Farrah Fawcett. However, it does feature one of the truly psychotic and murderous robots ever filmed on screen with Hector.

There are shades of The Terminator (1984) in this film and it’s worth seeing for the opening scenes alone – you won’t soon forget the music or visuals. Though we wouldn’t advise rushing out to see Saturn 3, we would still recommend it for fans and completists of Space Horror films.

Additional Lists: Top Films About Robots You Haven’t Seen #4, Top Films Set in Space You Haven’t Seen #5

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3WPOzeN

Plot: At the height of the Cold War, a Soviet spacecraft crash lands after a mission gone awry, leaving the commander as its only survivor. After a renowned Russian psychologist is brought in to evaluate the commander’s mental state, it becomes clear that something dangerous may have come back to Earth with him.

KBZ’s Take: Sputnik is one of two films on our list that while featuring sequences set in space, is primarily set on Earth. And while Sputnik borrows heavily from other Space Horror Films, it does just enough to cement its place as one of the scarier and gorier films of the subgenre.

Unlike other Russian horror films that are visually amazing but hard to follow for western audiences such as Night Watch (1994) and Superdeep (2020), Sputnik is an easier film to understand and slowly develops a terrifying atmosphere that give the film’s scares much more weight.

The film does have some flaws such as pacing and a confusing subplot. And, you’ll be able to spot the subgenre’s influences on this film from the start, but we would advise you to keep watching as it eventually carves out its own horrific niche within the subgenre.

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/47qDQy1

Plot: A woman wakes up in a cryogenic chamber with no recollection of how she got there – and she is running out of air.

KBZ’s Take: There’s not much we can say about this film without ruining it so we’ll just give you three reasons why you should check it out.

First, it’s by Alexandre Aja who has made some great films in High Tension (2003), Horns (2013) and Crawl (2019).

Second, it combines many of the best elements of Survival Horror with various sci-fi themes.

Finally, the film is a suspense-filled ride where you likely won’t check your phone even once while watching it. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.

Additional Lists: Top Films Set in Space You Haven’t Seen #2

Where to Stream / Buy: https://www.netflix.com/title/81277610

Plot: On a distant mining planet, scientists have created the perfect weapon – robotic Screamers.

KBZ’s Take: If you grew up during the 1990’s, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen this film and it’s a classic film of yours within the subgenre. However, we felt the need to list it for people who might not have seen this great film.

Screamers is based on a Philip K. Dick story, Second Variety, and it features the cutest but most terrifying robot in any subgenre film. This is another film where it’s better not knowing much about the plot when first viewing. The full revelation of the Screamers will be much more impactful. It’s one of our favorites from the subgenre and highly recommended.

Additional Lists: Top Films About Robots You Haven’t Seen #4, Top Sci-Fi Military Films You Haven’t Seen #4

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DsWpUC

Plot: Astronauts investigating Haley’s Comet discover creatures that are brought back to earth – with disastrous results.

KBZ’s Take: While Planet of the Vampires (1965) is one of the most influential films of the subgenre, it doesn’t technically feature vampires. But Lifeforce does and it has the most memorable space vampire of the entire horror genre. Hint: it’s Mathilda May as the space vampire who spends most of the film in her birthday suit – to the obvious delight of every young horror fan of the 80’s.

Despite the film being mostly remembered for May’s vampiric assets, it’s effective B-grade horror and one of Tobe Hooper’s better films. The horror in the film stems from the Zombie-like Vampires who feed on the life force of others. And the third act features some chaotic and horrific scenes as the vampiric outbreak makes it way through the masses in greater London.

For horror fans growing up in the 80s, Lifeforce will always hold a special place in their horror-filed hearts – especially for Mathilda May. But, for younger subgenre fans, it’s an underrated Space Horror film that, though dated, still brings some effective scares.

Additional Lists: Top Films About Vampires You Haven’t Seen #10

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3UnZprg

Plot: A search and rescue team are transported through deep space to a distant mining colony to save the sole survivor of a biological outbreak.

KBZ’s Take: Infini is heavily influenced by both Aliens (1986) and Event Horizon (1993) and contains some of the best elements from both of these films. However, it also falls short of reaching the level of both subgenre classics due to its slowly paced and confusing second act.

However, despite its weak second act, the first and last 20 minutes of this film are some of the best scenes you’ll see from both the Sci-Fi Military Films and Space Horror Films subgenres. There’s a lot to like in this film despite its flaws.

It’s best to go into this film without knowing anything but the basic plot, and after you’re finished with the film, you’ll likely have questions about the somewhat ambiguous ending. You can check out this link for answers to questions you might have once everything’s revealed at the end.

It’s one of our lesser-known favorites of the subgenre and a film recommended for every fan of Space Horror.

Additional Lists: Top Sci-Fi Military Films You Haven’t Seen #3

Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3kSHj4r