A fun-filled, amateurish, juvenile but colourful sci-fi horror mixing astronauts, space monsters, laser guns and he-man rivalry.
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
Screenplay by William Finger, Tom Rowe, Charles Sinclair
Story by Ivan Reiner
Produced by Walter Manley, Ivan Reineri
Cinematography: Yoshikazu Yamasawa
Edited by Osamu Tanaka
Music by Toshiaki Tsushima
Production companies: Toei Ram Films, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by Toei Company (Japan), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (United States)
Running time: 90 minutes
Cast
Robert Horton as Commander Jack Rankin
Richard Jaeckel as Commander Vince Elliott
Luciana Paluzzi as Dr. Lisa Benson
Bud Widom as General Jonathan B. Thompson
Ted Gunther as Dr. Hans Halversen
Robert Dunham as Captain Martin
David Yorston as Lieutenant Curtis
William Ross as Ferguson
Gary Randolf as Cordier
Japanese dub
Gorō Naya as Jack Rankin
Ichirō Murakoshi as Vince Elliott
Haruko Kitahama as Lisa Benson
Kōsei Tomita as Johnathon B. Thompson
Trailer
A giant asteroid heads toward Earth.
A group of astronauts from a space station on a mission to blow it up.
The mission succeeds.
BUT!!!!
A strange slimy green substance is unknowingly brought back by the astronauts.
The alien substance mutates into one-eyed tentacled monsters that feed off electricity.
The station is soon infested with these alien life forms.
How will this new threat be dealt with?
Can these alien monsters be stopped before they kill all the humans on the station and go on to threaten humanity on earth itself?
Read on for more.....
Spoilers follow below
The routine at the United Nations Space Command is rudely disrupted by the shocking discovery of an asteroid named ‘Flora’ that is on a direct collision course with Earth. What’s more is that only ten hours remain to destroy the rogue asteroid before it results in an extinction level event on Earth. General Thompson decides that “the only answer is to blast that thing out of the sky” and so a mission must be quickly set up to accomplish just that.
General Thompson realises that there is nothing for it but to call on the services of the one man in the entire universe capable of leading the mission to avert the threat to earth posed by the oncoming space rock of doom – and that man is none other than Commander Jack Rankin!
Despite the general’s confidence in Rankin, there is the problem over the fact that the commander had resigned from Space Command and therefore can’t be ordered to go on the mission. He will have to volunteer. Also with so little time remaining there may not be sufficient time to escape the blast zone once the explosives have been planted on the asteroid. How can anyone be sent “on a mission where the chances of survival are zero?”
Ah! But few people really know the kind of stuff Rankin is made of as we see him alone in the general’s private office admiring a photo of himself together with another man named Vince Elliot. No doubt he’s reminiscing about the “best space team” ever which naturally he was a part of. Still, there’s a bit of a sour feeling over their partnership which he somehow feels responsible for.
Anyway it’s soon down to business as the general explains the situation to Rankin:
Of course he is the one to be “in full operational charge of Gamma 3 space station which is presently commanded by….Vince Elliot. Yes, Vince Elliot. Rankin, this is sure your lucky day……
Can there be room for two alpha male giant egos on one little space station? Elliot5 will need to swallow his pride and accept that Rankin is on the station to “take over” his command. However, one cannot ignore the undertone of resentment in his remark that Rankin was chosen as being the best man for assuming command and that “he'll get the job done, alright with no ifs, ands, or buts. in spite of anything or anybody.”
Added to the slight to Elliot’s pride and the tension between two former friends, there is the complication involving Elliot being engaged to Rankin’s ex-girlfriend, Lisa Benson who is a doctor on Gamma 3. Despite her assurances to him that he has no reason to be jealous of Rankin and that he doesn’t mean anything to her anymore, her demeanor and fluttering false eyelashes seem to indicate otherwise perhaps.
With 20 mminutes to go until departure from the station, Elliot convinces Rankin to have him included as part of the mission team. Is Rankin really all that glad to have Elliot included or is this all a part of their mutual unstated rivalry and competition? It’s big of Elliot to seem to have buried the hatchet and ask to join Rankin’s team. It’s also big of Rankin to appear to be doing the same by accepting Elliot's request. I guess neither wishes to appear to be an asshole.
By the way. Guess who has come to see the crew off as they board the shuttle? None other than Lisa despite her assurances that she wouldn’t do so. Is it for the man she’s engaaged to who is full of insecuriites and weiged down by guilt? Or is it for the man awash with an over-abundance of self confidence, a sense of his own worth and in possession of a giant ego and for whom she still has feelings?
Aboard the spaceship on the way to Flora, Rankin curtly and brusquely issues directives left, right and center just to let everyone (including Elliot) know who is in charge.
After landing on Flora and undertaking the mission to lay the required explosives, it transpires that time is now the enemy. Flora is now accelerating and at the current timed of 2.40 “detonation time has to be moved up to 3 o'clock.” All the equipment has to be abandoned and with the time change there may not bed sufficient time for the team to escape the blast effects of Flora’s destruction.
Dr Halvorsen has not yet returned and despite Elliot’s plea to Rankin not to leave him there, it seems that is just what the commander is prepared to do. Harsh? Yes, but that is the price of command whereby decisions might have to ne made to issue the order that could result in someone’s death if it means the survival of the others under the leader’s command. This scene also gives us a clue as to a possible past event involving Elliot who may have placed those under his command in jeopardy by trying to save the life of a single member of his team. This fact Rankin callously throws in Elliot’s face in front of the others. Bastard!
Dr. Halvorsen eventually shows up bearing a canister containing of a slimy green substance. Rankin orders him to “get rid of it” despite the fact that it may prove to be a “major discovery” being the first ever proof of extra-terrestrial life! And what does the illustrious leader Rankin do? He snatches the specimen container out of Halvorsen’s hands and smashes it on the ground. The alien specimen that was safely contained in a glass container is smashed to smithereens resulting in a porftion of the slime attaching itself to one of the astronaut’s suits. We have seen what the slime does when it attaches itself to the various pieces of equipment used by the team. We can readily guess the likely consequences of Rankin’s impetuous command decision and they probably wont be good!
The crew finally make it off the surface of Flora, but with only 3 minutes until detonation there appears to be little chance of them outrunning the blast. With their ship straining under more than 10-g’s, Rankin orders an increase of speed and then follows this up by single-handedly defying the crushing g-forces to get the ship back on track thereby proving to everyone that he’s better than Batman. His hair-style remains intact but I fear that some of his plastic surgery work may need some re-doing when he returns to Earth. Is there nothing this man can’t do? Obviously not. With force shield activated, the crew make it back safely to Gamma 3…...along with a possible stowaway perhaps?…….
The successful return to Gamma 3 is greeted by applause and whoops of elation, and isn’t our hero Rankin in his element as he acknowledges the “welcoming committee” and declares that the “ job isn’t over yet.” This is followed by a verbal rebuke for Dr Halvorsen whom he holds “responsible for the decontamination of material and personnel used on the mission.” Someone please remind Rankin that it was his rash action that will lead to what happens a bit later!
Being now on an autocratic and pugnacious roll, Rankin flexes his command muscles by ordering the running of the decontamination procedures three times despite the difficulty of sparing equipment for the length of time it would take and the other tasks the station personnel have to perform. Just in case Elliot doesn’t concur with his decision, Rankin once again rebukes and embarrass him in front of the other personnel by reminding him that the command reverts to Elliot “when the mission is completed.” He further belittles the station commander by suggesting that he “bone up” on his regulations. Not exactly a very professional approach to engage in personal rivalry in the presence of subordinates who depend on the judgement of and cooperation between their commanding officers.
“Nothing exciting ever happens around here.”
The routine at the United Nations Space Command is rudely disrupted by the shocking discovery of an asteroid named ‘Flora’ that is on a direct collision course with Earth. What’s more is that only ten hours remain to destroy the rogue asteroid before it results in an extinction level event on Earth. General Thompson decides that “the only answer is to blast that thing out of the sky” and so a mission must be quickly set up to accomplish just that.
General Thompson realises that there is nothing for it but to call on the services of the one man in the entire universe capable of leading the mission to avert the threat to earth posed by the oncoming space rock of doom – and that man is none other than Commander Jack Rankin!
“I'd have absolute confidence in him no matter what we're faced with”
Despite the general’s confidence in Rankin, there is the problem over the fact that the commander had resigned from Space Command and therefore can’t be ordered to go on the mission. He will have to volunteer. Also with so little time remaining there may not be sufficient time to escape the blast zone once the explosives have been planted on the asteroid. How can anyone be sent “on a mission where the chances of survival are zero?”
Ah! But few people really know the kind of stuff Rankin is made of as we see him alone in the general’s private office admiring a photo of himself together with another man named Vince Elliot. No doubt he’s reminiscing about the “best space team” ever which naturally he was a part of. Still, there’s a bit of a sour feeling over their partnership which he somehow feels responsible for.
Anyway it’s soon down to business as the general explains the situation to Rankin:
- An asteroid moving towards earth.
- “Close to six million tons of rock.”
- Set to collide with earth at 7 o'clock the next morning.
- The “only one solution” being to blow the asteroid to dust
Of course he is the one to be “in full operational charge of Gamma 3 space station which is presently commanded by….Vince Elliot. Yes, Vince Elliot. Rankin, this is sure your lucky day……
“Since that's the way it is, let's be sure that's the way it is”
Added to the slight to Elliot’s pride and the tension between two former friends, there is the complication involving Elliot being engaged to Rankin’s ex-girlfriend, Lisa Benson who is a doctor on Gamma 3. Despite her assurances to him that he has no reason to be jealous of Rankin and that he doesn’t mean anything to her anymore, her demeanor and fluttering false eyelashes seem to indicate otherwise perhaps.
With 20 mminutes to go until departure from the station, Elliot convinces Rankin to have him included as part of the mission team. Is Rankin really all that glad to have Elliot included or is this all a part of their mutual unstated rivalry and competition? It’s big of Elliot to seem to have buried the hatchet and ask to join Rankin’s team. It’s also big of Rankin to appear to be doing the same by accepting Elliot's request. I guess neither wishes to appear to be an asshole.
By the way. Guess who has come to see the crew off as they board the shuttle? None other than Lisa despite her assurances that she wouldn’t do so. Is it for the man she’s engaaged to who is full of insecuriites and weiged down by guilt? Or is it for the man awash with an over-abundance of self confidence, a sense of his own worth and in possession of a giant ego and for whom she still has feelings?
“Are there any questions, gentlemen? Take her in”
Aboard the spaceship on the way to Flora, Rankin curtly and brusquely issues directives left, right and center just to let everyone (including Elliot) know who is in charge.
Dr Halvorsen has not yet returned and despite Elliot’s plea to Rankin not to leave him there, it seems that is just what the commander is prepared to do. Harsh? Yes, but that is the price of command whereby decisions might have to ne made to issue the order that could result in someone’s death if it means the survival of the others under the leader’s command. This scene also gives us a clue as to a possible past event involving Elliot who may have placed those under his command in jeopardy by trying to save the life of a single member of his team. This fact Rankin callously throws in Elliot’s face in front of the others. Bastard!
Dr. Halvorsen eventually shows up bearing a canister containing of a slimy green substance. Rankin orders him to “get rid of it” despite the fact that it may prove to be a “major discovery” being the first ever proof of extra-terrestrial life! And what does the illustrious leader Rankin do? He snatches the specimen container out of Halvorsen’s hands and smashes it on the ground. The alien specimen that was safely contained in a glass container is smashed to smithereens resulting in a porftion of the slime attaching itself to one of the astronaut’s suits. We have seen what the slime does when it attaches itself to the various pieces of equipment used by the team. We can readily guess the likely consequences of Rankin’s impetuous command decision and they probably wont be good!
The crew finally make it off the surface of Flora, but with only 3 minutes until detonation there appears to be little chance of them outrunning the blast. With their ship straining under more than 10-g’s, Rankin orders an increase of speed and then follows this up by single-handedly defying the crushing g-forces to get the ship back on track thereby proving to everyone that he’s better than Batman. His hair-style remains intact but I fear that some of his plastic surgery work may need some re-doing when he returns to Earth. Is there nothing this man can’t do? Obviously not. With force shield activated, the crew make it back safely to Gamma 3…...along with a possible stowaway perhaps?…….
“I get an order, I carry it out. I give one, I expect the same, right down the line.”
Being now on an autocratic and pugnacious roll, Rankin flexes his command muscles by ordering the running of the decontamination procedures three times despite the difficulty of sparing equipment for the length of time it would take and the other tasks the station personnel have to perform. Just in case Elliot doesn’t concur with his decision, Rankin once again rebukes and embarrass him in front of the other personnel by reminding him that the command reverts to Elliot “when the mission is completed.” He further belittles the station commander by suggesting that he “bone up” on his regulations. Not exactly a very professional approach to engage in personal rivalry in the presence of subordinates who depend on the judgement of and cooperation between their commanding officers.
Speaking of personal rivalry, the one between Elliot and Rankin is fleshed out when Lisa dresses Rankin’s arm wound in the infirmary. There’s the matters of his ego and uncompromising attitude. He almost considers it a personal slight against him that Lisa dropped him and got engaged to his best friend. Even when Lisa tells Rankin that whatever they had between them is finished, he is conceited enough to retort with, “I wonder.” Isn’t he familiar with the notion of just moving on with his life?
Rankin’s lack of empathy and understanding of other people’s needs (an important element of command) is evident in his attitude toward leadership as he comments on his role as a commanding officer whereby when he gets an order he carries it out and when he gives one, he expects the same. That’s fair enough up to a point but as Lisa observes, “there's no margin to let other people be wrong, to fail sometimes.”
Later while the celebrations continue, (amid a really stupid dance that reminds me of a similar dance in the movie Ikarie ) the members of our little love triangle are having drinks where the competition between Rankin and Elliot continues with Lisa of course being the subject of their rivalry. Within a cloud of innuendo surrounding their table, Elliot meaningfully informs Rankin that “the old man” will be glad to hear that Lisa and he will be married the next week. Rankin then oh, so sincerely wishes Lisa “every happiness” and then follows this up by asking Elliot if can dance with “your fiance.” Elliot is then left with an alcoholic beverage for company while his rival sashays away with his fiance on the dance floor. Question: Why didn’t Lisa just throw a drink in each of the faces of these two juveniles and walk off and search for someone with a modicum of maturity?
On the dance floor, we discover a bit more detail surrounding the event that soured the friendship between Elliot and Rankin. It seems that Rankin reported Elliot which led to hum having to face an enquiry. His crime in Rankin’s eyes was to have sacrificed 10 men in order to save one which he characterizes as being a “pretty stupid mistake.” What Rankin doesn’t see whenever he continues to rub Elliot’s nose in this fact is how the whole incident has “almost destroyed him” and how “it's killing him.” Rather than acknowledge this, Rankin side-steps to the other element of the rivalry between himself and Elliot by stating point blank to lisa, “you're making a big mistake” and that instead of loving Elliot, she pities him. In reply, all Lisa can offer is that she is “very happy with him.” Well, often in a relationship that’s all you can ask for initially but to the man with the “incredible ego” it’s an indication that she loves him. Perhaps, but sometimes that is just not enough on its own in a meaningful relationship. How will Elliot and Lisa find out if Rankin keeps blundering about like a wrecking ball?
Suddenly the joyful ambience of the celebrations is shattered by an alert of trouble in the lab decontamination area. When the senior officers arrive to investigate, they discover a crew member has been electrocuted to death. They also discover in the room the same substance that was found on the asteroid. Rankin cannot resist having another dig at Dr Halvorsen by telling him that it is his responsibility.
Rankin’s lack of empathy and understanding of other people’s needs (an important element of command) is evident in his attitude toward leadership as he comments on his role as a commanding officer whereby when he gets an order he carries it out and when he gives one, he expects the same. That’s fair enough up to a point but as Lisa observes, “there's no margin to let other people be wrong, to fail sometimes.”
Later while the celebrations continue, (amid a really stupid dance that reminds me of a similar dance in the movie Ikarie ) the members of our little love triangle are having drinks where the competition between Rankin and Elliot continues with Lisa of course being the subject of their rivalry. Within a cloud of innuendo surrounding their table, Elliot meaningfully informs Rankin that “the old man” will be glad to hear that Lisa and he will be married the next week. Rankin then oh, so sincerely wishes Lisa “every happiness” and then follows this up by asking Elliot if can dance with “your fiance.” Elliot is then left with an alcoholic beverage for company while his rival sashays away with his fiance on the dance floor. Question: Why didn’t Lisa just throw a drink in each of the faces of these two juveniles and walk off and search for someone with a modicum of maturity?
Suddenly the joyful ambience of the celebrations is shattered by an alert of trouble in the lab decontamination area. When the senior officers arrive to investigate, they discover a crew member has been electrocuted to death. They also discover in the room the same substance that was found on the asteroid. Rankin cannot resist having another dig at Dr Halvorsen by telling him that it is his responsibility.
What follows is yet another opportunity for the rivalry between Elliot and Rankin to play out. Rankin is all for getting rid of the creature that has already killed two men but Elliot “as commander of this station” decrees that they ought to try and capture it for which he swill take full responsibility. Surprisingly Rankin magnanimously agrees to let Elliot do it his way to which Elliot sarcastically replies “thank you very much.”
Elliot then employs sound command skills by asking for advice from one of his expert personnel, Dr Halvorsen who suggests paralyzing the creature using gas guns and a net. Elliot then goes into uber-command mode and issues orders left and right probably showing Rankin that he can cut the mustard as a commander while Rankin probably thinks that Elliot will likely fall flat on his face.
The upshot of the resulting human versus alien melee is the death and wounding of several crew members. Enter ‘I Told You So’ Rankin who smugly suggests “suppose we try it my way now, Vince.” Just to rub Elliot’s failure in further, he declares that “now on, I'm in command.” What a asshole! It is now all down to business with firing at will and doubling of guards. None of this touchy-feeling lefty mamby pamby progressive nonsense. It’s time to zap the crap outa stuff!
Nothing however is perfectly black and white as Rankin retorts with, “tell that to the wives of the men in the morgue.” Unfortunately, Rankin seems to be unable to acknowledge or appreciate his own share of responsibility for what has occurred, nor does he seem to understand that scientific discoveries and advancements in our knowledge often come at the price of human lives.
“Commander Rankin and I've doped out a plan we hope will work.”
Word soon reaches Rankin and Elliot that Dr Halverson has “got something in the lab” that’s “very important.” It turns out that the fluid discovered earlier in the power room is in fact blood and that the cells it contains “duplicate faster than anything known to man.” As the implications of this “incredible” and “frightening” discovery are beginning to sink in, Halverson informs the others that he has a theory as to why the alien creature was in the transmission room ripping up wires and what it was after. By means of a simple experiment employing incremental increases of electrical charge, Halverson demonstrates that the creatures both feed on and discharge energy. In fact, “one cell, one microscopic speck left on a spacesuit….would absorb all the energy it could get.”
So Rankin, are you at least a little bit sorry that you kept on chewing out the good doctor for having the effrontery of even existing in your presence on the station? On your own orders “this stuff reproduced inside the decontamination chamber” and as the current was stepped up “it just grew.” It was the decontamination process that accelerated the creatures’ growth! If the creatures make it to the power room, (coz there’s power in the power room!) they could be all over the station in no time. However, no matter what precautions are taken, weapons cannot be used against the creatures because as Halverson explains in the midst of battle in the infirmary, “blood cells of this creature is like a seed. It can spawn new creatures from its own blood.” Also as the beleaguered crew soon discover, the creatures are able to heal themselves. How does one kill such a dangerous life-form?
In short order a couple or crucial orders are issued. One from Elliot to have power in the infirmary cut off. Rankin gazes at Elliot in surprise for having made such a “smart move.” Why? Does Rankin think that only he himself can come up with such command decisions? The next order issued is to have the station placed in quarantine which causes General Thompson back at the United Nations Space Command to have a severe bout of dyspepsia and apoplexy.
A plan is soon placed before the rest of the station’s crew by Elliot. It involves getting everyone out of c-block and sealing it off. This will be followed by further confining the creatures “right down to the storage room.” Energy will be used to get them in there by cutting off power and lighting in c-block and then running a power beam search car down the corridor stopping at a room in which a portable generator will be set up. It is hoped that the light beam will lure them into the room “right to the generator.” By this means it is intended that the creatures will be contained in one area. So what could go wrong?
So Rankin, are you at least a little bit sorry that you kept on chewing out the good doctor for having the effrontery of even existing in your presence on the station? On your own orders “this stuff reproduced inside the decontamination chamber” and as the current was stepped up “it just grew.” It was the decontamination process that accelerated the creatures’ growth! If the creatures make it to the power room, (coz there’s power in the power room!) they could be all over the station in no time. However, no matter what precautions are taken, weapons cannot be used against the creatures because as Halverson explains in the midst of battle in the infirmary, “blood cells of this creature is like a seed. It can spawn new creatures from its own blood.” Also as the beleaguered crew soon discover, the creatures are able to heal themselves. How does one kill such a dangerous life-form?
In short order a couple or crucial orders are issued. One from Elliot to have power in the infirmary cut off. Rankin gazes at Elliot in surprise for having made such a “smart move.” Why? Does Rankin think that only he himself can come up with such command decisions? The next order issued is to have the station placed in quarantine which causes General Thompson back at the United Nations Space Command to have a severe bout of dyspepsia and apoplexy.
A plan is soon placed before the rest of the station’s crew by Elliot. It involves getting everyone out of c-block and sealing it off. This will be followed by further confining the creatures “right down to the storage room.” Energy will be used to get them in there by cutting off power and lighting in c-block and then running a power beam search car down the corridor stopping at a room in which a portable generator will be set up. It is hoped that the light beam will lure them into the room “right to the generator.” By this means it is intended that the creatures will be contained in one area. So what could go wrong?
“Situation here beyond control. Further efforts futile."
Later on when a section of the station is on fire, Rankin in a 180 degree shift, decides to evacuate the station using the shuttles and informs Space Command to set up a quarantine facility for the station crew. Hadn’t Lisa suggested something like this earlier?
When Rankin orders the destruction of Gamma 3 by having the station burn up in Earth's atmosphere, Elliot challenges him declaring, “Now I’m going to tell you something for the last time. I’m in command of this station, and when my Chief gives me an order to destroy Gamma 3 I’ll take that order from him, but I won’t take it from you!” He then takes a swing at Rankin who being the action hero he is, skillfully blocks the blow and counter-punches Elliot. Rankin then orders security officers to escort Elliot to one of the evacuation ships adding that if Elliot resists they should consider him under arrest. All this happening between two commanders in front of the station crew at a time of peril! Doesn’t exactly instill confidence!
“You never could take orders.”
“Everybody's got his weakness, right?”
When the station is eventually evacuated there is the added problem of insufficient power for Space Command to remotely detonate the station. There remains nothing for it but for one heroic person to go back inside and do it manually. And that heroic person is n one other than Rankin. After his successful space battle, Elliot learns from Lisa that Rankin has gone alone on what amounts to a suicide mission. Not one to be outdone in the heroics department, Elliot grabs a laser rifle, gives his fiance some meaningful looks for the last time, and sallies forth to join his rival in battle. Notice that Lisa doesn’t plead with him not to go as she had with Rankin. Rankin, the egotistical so-and-so had left with the certain knowledge that Lisa still had feelings for him. Elliot left knowing this too, but what the hell, one may as well go out in style rather than show how beaten down he must have felt inside and thereby giving Rankin the final word in glory, courage, self-sacrifice, truth, justice and the American way!
“I recommend the highest citation for commander Elliott.....posthumously.”
After Rankin returns to the evacuation ship, the Gamma 3 station along with the alien creatures burns up in Earth’s atmosphere. Rankin radios Space Command and requests the highest commendation be given to Vince Elliot, “posthumously.” Well, Elliot is now out of the way as a rival for Lisa’s affections and Rankin the surviving hero has his buddy's fiancé. Not a bad day's work. Thumbs up buddy! How’s that for one-upmanship! Bastard….
Points of Interest
The Green Slime was shot in Japan with a Japanese director and film crew, but with a non-Japanese cast. The film certainly reflects some of the rollicking style of Japanese sci-fi films of the 1950s and 1960s such as Rodan (1956), Battle In Outer Space (1959) and Atragon (1963).
At least the film lives on in the form of the annual ‘Green Slime Award’ given out for each year's worst in science fiction at Bubonicon. I guess it’s better to be known for something than not known at all!
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©Chris Christopoulos 2026
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