Year: 1988
Runtime: 90 mins
Language: English
A monster that was secretly engineered and launched into space by government scientists crashes back to Earth, unleashing a killing spree. As the death toll climbs, veteran cop McLemore takes charge, determined to stop the creature and protect the survivors.
Warning: spoilers below!
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Deep Space (1988), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
On a U.S. military satellite project, head scientist Dr. Forsyth, James Booth, oversees a high-stakes operation. When control is lost, the team cannot prevent a crash within two hours. Upon impact, the capsule cracks open, revealing a dormant biological weapon — a sentient creature nicknamed Sentar. Forsyth informs General Randolph, Norman Burton, that the payload is a new kind of weapon; the General wants it destroyed via a remote emergency system, but Forsyth remains cautious, arguing there is little risk that it will wake. A careless disturbance by a passing couple wakes the creature and sets it loose, sending it toward Los Angeles.
Across Los Angeles, veteran police lieutenant Ian McLemore, Charles Napier, is paired with Carla Sandbourn, Ann Turkel, a newly transferred officer. Their boss, Captain Robertson, Bo Svenson, tries to steer them away from danger due to McLemore’s notorious luck. The pair are contacted by a psychic calling Lady Elaine Wentworth, Julie Newmar, who hints at knowledge of the events. McLemore and Sandbourn head to Innsmouth Road, where a double homicide is discovered with a large, organic pod at the scene and several smaller ones. They and their partner Jerry Merris, Ron Glass, decide to take two smaller pods back to the lab for study, fearing a possible cover-up.
The large pod is brought to the local forensics lab, where Dr. Rogers, Anthony Eisley, is killed by an unseen force. Testing reveals fragments of an unknown metal that don’t match anything known. When McLemore and Merris try to return, Military Police block their entry, led by a mysterious suited officer. The same man is seen leaving Robertson’s office, who soon informs them the deaths are ruled accidental despite the obvious evidence. Back home, McLemore receives another call from the psychic. Lady Elaine Wentworth claims to know more about the events.
McLemore and Sandbourn visit an entomologist they know, drilling into one pod; a creature bursts out and attacks the entomologist and Sandbourn. The creature is destroyed in a terrarium filled with gas. Merris’ pod hatches back at his house and Merris is killed; a chase follows and the second creature is killed. Lady Elaine directs them to the location of the original creature, and Sandbourn calls for backup. The final confrontation sees the creature fight McLemore; Robertson arrives, and the distraction allows McLemore to decapitate the creature with a chainsaw.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:25
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
A tense race against time to stop a deadly alien threat in a confined setting.Looking for more movies like Deep Space? This list features tense sci-fi horror films where a team must hunt down a deadly alien creature in a confined space. If you enjoyed the fast-paced investigation and survival elements of Deep Space, you'll find similar thrillers here with high stakes and pulpy creature-feature action.
These narratives typically begin with a sudden, violent incursion by an unknown creature. A group is quickly assembled or finds itself trapped, forced to investigate the threat's nature and weaknesses while fending off attacks. The plot follows a linear, urgent path from discovery to a final, explosive confrontation to eliminate the monster.
Movies are grouped here for their shared atmosphere of paranoid tension and immediate, high-intensity danger. They prioritize a fast-paced, straightforward plot focused on action and survival against a singular monstrous threat, creating a pulpy and suspenseful B-movie vibe.
Uncovering a deadly secret where official lies hide a terrifying scientific creation.If you liked the government conspiracy angle in Deep Space, explore these similar movies where a monstrous threat stems from a secret experiment. These films combine creature-feature action with paranoid thrillers about uncovering a deadly cover-up, perfect for fans of sci-fi horror with a conspiracy twist.
The narrative pattern involves a catastrophic event revealing a creature that was secretly created. The protagonists soon discover they are not just fighting a monster but also a powerful entity that will go to great lengths to silence them and hide its culpability, adding a layer of paranoia to the survival horror.
These films are connected by their core theme of 'scientific hubris' and the paranoia that comes from battling a threat while being actively hindered by a corrupt institution. They blend the visceral fear of a monster with the psychological tension of a conspiracy thriller.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Deep Space in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Deep Space is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Deep Space with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Deep Space. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Deep Space that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Deep Space: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Deep Space that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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