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In “Liquid Sky,” aliens arrive in New York City in miniature flying saucers in search of heroin. However, an experiment reveals that the chemical released in the human brain during orgasm is just as powerful, even preferable to the drug they crave. Hanging around young Margaret’s apartment, the aliens are able to achieve their desired fix. However, Margaret’s numerous casual sex partners soon each begin to die a mysterious death.
I’ve always admired interesting female-led sci-fi focused films. From classics like “Alien” to the excellent but mostly overlooked “Under the Skin.” In the fascinating “Under the Skin,” Scarlet Johansson is an alien, abducting men along the Scottish countryside drenched in mysterious bizarre beauty. “Liquid Sky” is a colorful, psychedelic, and at times, extremely dated film. It’s an ’80s cult movie recently restored to Blu-ray as part of Vinegar Syndrome’s recent rare releases.
“Liquid Sky” is set in an ’80s glam pop-tinged Manhattan. Margaret and Jimmy are both played impressively by one actor, Anne Carlisle. They are introduced feverishly dancing in a cigarette smoke-laced room, draped in neon with fellow club dancers. Outside, unbeknownst to them, a large fluorescent UFO quietly peers over the New York City skyline. Margaret is a drug-addicted model living with her drug-dealing girlfriend Adrian and is also sleeping with partners in exchange for cocaine or heroin. The story is bonkers, the aliens are not coming to earth for resources or nefarious probes, but instead, they arrive in search of heroin! Yes, intergalactic intravenous seeking beings, man the ’80s were wild. After realizing that highs come and go, they are immediately enamored with the human orgasm. To the aliens, the orgasm supersedes the search for drugs, and all the while a German scientist is observing everything from his neighboring apartment. Don’t worry, the story begins to get even weirder.
For a low budget 1982 film, the imagery is, at times, impressive, or at least very creative. I’m a sucker for neon lights, and “Liquid Sky” is full of dark and sumptuous vivid colors. Stark blue dusks and lavender like summer morning skies light up the city. Lots of people wear multi-colored make up that feels grounded in the time period but also the influence of Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” persona. The editing and music at times can be sloppy but also wonderfully creepy. The camerawork felt artistic, yet clinically composed, sometimes evoking images framed like Stanley Kubrick would. While I love females kicking butt and putting men in their place, sometimes feminism and toxic violence can be misconstrued. It’s a delicate narrative that should showcase strength and not encourage more useless violence. If you’re up for a unique outlandish midnight movie, throw on some synth-Pop and some fabulous makeup.
Available on Blu-ray April 24th from Vinegar Syndrome
