Lifepod (1993 film)

1993 television film directed by Ron Silver

This article is about the 1993 film. For escape pods, see escape pod. For the 1981 film, see Lifepod (1981 film).

Lifepod

Genre| Mystery
Science Fiction
Thriller
Based on| Lifeboat
by Alfred Hitchcock
Written by| Jay Roach
Pen Densham
Story by| Harry Sylvester
Directed by| Ron Silver
Starring| Ron Silver
CCH Pounder
Robert Loggia
Jessica Tuck
Ed Gale
Adam Storke
Stan Shaw
Kelli Williams
Composer| Mark Mancina
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
Production
Executive producers| Scott Brazil
Pen Densham
Richard Barton Lewis
John Watson
Producers| Tim Harbert
Mark Stern
Cinematography| Robert Steadman
Editor| Alan Baumgarten
Running time| 90 minutes
Production companies| Trilogy Entertainment Group
RHI Entertainment
Original release
Network| Fox
Release| June 28, 1993 (1993-06-28)

Lifepod is a 1993 television film reworking of the Alfred Hitchcock film Lifeboat. It starred Ron Silver, Robert Loggia, Kelli Williams & C. C. H. Pounder, with Silver also directing. It aired on Fox Network in June 1993. Lifepod moved the action from an ocean-bound lifeboat on Earth to a spacecraft's escape pod, with the characters the survivors of a sabotaged spacecraft.[1]

## Plot

[edit]

On Christmas Eve 2169 AD, a ship traveling through space suffers a critical malfunction.[2] Eight passengers and crew escape to a lifepod, just before the spaceship explodes, killing all others on board.

The survivors attempt to broadcast a distress signal and wait for rescue. As the days wear on, the lifepod suffers a series of setbacks and malfunctions: air and heat become limited, along with food and potable water. As supplies dwindle, the survivors debate how to conserve their supplies and whether they should prematurely end the life of a critically injured survivor who is consuming a disproportionate amount of supplies.

One morning, the survivors wake up to discover their critically injured crewmate dead. The survivors realize there is a killer hiding among them on the lifepod. Eventually the survivors realize that it's possible that one of the people in the Lifepod could have sabotaged the spacecraft, and who wouldn't balk at killing the others to keep themselves alive.[3]

## Cast

[edit]

* Robert Loggia as Director Banks
* Jessica Tuck as Claire St. John
* Stan Shaw as Parker
* Adam Storke as Kane
* Kelli Williams as Rena Jahnusia
* Ed Gale as Q-Three "Toolie"
* CCH Pounder as Mayvene
* Ron Silver as Terman

## Production

[edit]

Pen Densham's Lifepod was greenlit by Fox Network executives seeking to expand their Monday night showcase of theatrical films with made for TV movies.[4] The movie was shot on the same sound stages as Densham's cancelled TV series Space Rangers.[4]

This was the first time Silver had directed a movie. It was produced by Trilogy Entertainment and Pen Densham. The film was intended as a homage to Lifeboat, not a remake.[5]

## Reception

[edit]

In Creature Feature, the movie got 3 1/2 stars out of 5, praising the pacing and the effects.[6] Variety liked the opening sequence and found that Silver mixes action and characters well enough to emphasize their specialties, but not their individuality and that the movie was overall just OK.[7]

## See also

[edit]

* Remakes of films by Alfred Hitchcock

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Vagg, Stephen (March 25, 2023). "A Brief History of Hitchcock Remakes". Filmink.
2. ^ "Film: Lifepod". TV Tropes. 28 June 1993. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
3. ^ "Lifepod: 90s Sci-Fi Mystery and Suspense". Hocus Focus Productions. June 14, 2018.
4. ^ a b Altman, Mark A. (October 1993). "Lifepod". Cinefantastique. Fourth Castle Micromedia. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
5. ^ "A Direct Approach : ACTOR RON SILVER HELMS a HOMAGE TO HITCHCOCK's 1944 THRILLER 'LIFEBOAT'". Los Angeles Times. 27 June 1993.
6. ^ Stanley, J. (2000). Creature Features (The Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Movie Guide) (3rd ed.). Berkley Books.
7. ^ Scott, Tony (28 June 1993). "Fox Night at the Movies Lifepod". Variety.

## External links

[edit]

* Film portal
* Science fiction portal
* Spaceflight portal

* Lifepod at IMDb