Year: 1983
Runtime: 112 min
Language: English
Director: Slava Tsukerman
In a futuristic New York City, a strange entity descends upon the vibrant punk scene, seeking the intense sensation of "orgasmic euphoria"—a powerful chemical released during human climax. The being preys on the city's inhabitants, drawn to the energy of the underground music and nightlife. As the predator’s presence intensifies, a diverse group of outsiders finds themselves entangled in a desperate fight for survival, uncovering the alien's motives and confronting an unexpected invasion.
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In the heart of Manhattan’s vibrant nightlife, a New Wave fashion show prepares to dazzle audiences at a bustling nightclub. Among the elite models, Margaret and her troublesome rival Jimmy stand at the forefront, both grappling with their respective vices and personal demons. While Margaret’s struggles with her bisexuality and cocaine addiction are merely whispered among industry insiders, Jimmy, a notorious cocaine junkie, always manages to stir up trouble. Adding to this complexity is Adrian, Margaret’s drug-dealing girlfriend, whose ongoing financial issues exacerbate the already tense atmosphere.
As fate unfolds, an unexpected event occurs when a small, unassuming UFO lands on the rooftop shared by Margaret and Adrian. Its occupants watch intently as the two navigate their tumultuous lives below. The duo prepares for the upcoming fashion show but not before they make plans for an exclusive photo shoot on their rooftop the following evening—promising a generous supply of cocaine to set the mood.
In a twist of irony, Johann Hoffman, a German scientist, finds himself in Manhattan to discreetly monitor the alien visitors. His quest for a suitable observation point leads him to bump into Owen, a college drama teacher and an old friend. In a serendipitous turn of events, Johann ends up in Sylvia’s apartment building, coincidentally located across from Margaret’s penthouse, where he is invited to an impromptu dinner by the television producer.
Across the city, the tension continues to rise as Katherine disapproves of her boyfriend Paul’s heroin use. Paul gives a half-hearted defense, making an obscure reference to Cocteau’s alleged opium-fueled symphonies. As bitterness festers and chaos reigns, these characters from varying walks of life become intertwined, battling their addictions, navigating relationships, and confronting the mysteries of the universe that loom above them.
In a shocking encounter, Margaret’s existence shifts dramatically when Owen, her former mentor, reignites a long-buried desire within her. The evening takes a macabre turn as Margaret finds Owen appearing lifeless, a mysterious crystal protruding from his head. Startled yet intrigued, she removes it, only for it to mysteriously vanish without a trace of blood or trauma. When Adrian returns to their luxurious penthouse and discovers Owen’s body, their reaction is chillingly indifferent. Adrian, ever the provocateur, opts to throw a hell-themed wake for the fallen professor, yet things quickly devolve into a disturbing scene filled with psychopathic tendencies, leaving Margaret both horrified and entangled in a dangerous struggle for power.
When the ruckus subsides, Margaret and Adrian navigate their misadventures, prompting an encounter with Johann, who senses danger approaching. However, Adrian’s paranoia makes them dismissive of Johann’s warnings, causing more turmoil. As Margaret confronts her own spiraling life, she learns of an unsettling curse: every man she engages intimately with suffers a gruesome fate, a crystal emerging from their heads upon climax. This horrific revelation culminates in a harrowing encounter with Paul, whose rage towards Margaret’s sexuality drives him to attempt to rape her. In a twisted act of retribution, Margaret invokes her lethal power, forcing him into a climax that seals his fate.
As tensions rise and desperate pleas echo through the night, Margaret turns to the mysterious tower outside her window, begging for intervention. In a stunning flash of light, Paul’s body disappears, leaving her grappling with grief and newfound freedom. Meanwhile, Johann, lost in thought outside Sylvia’s apartment, witnesses the unfolding drama between dinner and her subtle advances. When chaos descends back at Margaret’s place due to the arrival of the fashion crew, the atmosphere thickens, further heightened by Jimmy’s taunts that plunge Margaret back into destructive patterns.
Unfolding in a cycle of rage, vengeance, and riveting moments, each character becomes ensnared in a web of their own making. In the aftermath of their collective suffering, Margaret lashes out against her adversaries, culminating in an eruption of mayhem as the electricity of Manhattan pulses around her. While she finds solace in her newfound power, she becomes entangled in a showdown with her darkest self, eventually leading to a catastrophic moment that unveils the terrifying extraterrestrial threat.
As Johann renders the chilling truth regarding the extraterrestrial’s intent—to harvest endorphins from their climaxing victims—Margaret narrowly escapes fate, her survival hinging on her refusal to succumb to carnal pleasures. The suspense reaches a fevered pitch when Johann meets a tragic end, forcing Margaret to confront the impending doom through a desperate act of self-sabotage. Just as hope flickers out, Sylvia and Katherine storm in, witnessing Margaret’s sensational vaporization aboard the alien craft, leaving her fate sealed amid a tale of addiction, revenge, and unearthly mysteries.
Last Updated: November 18, 2024 at 21:15
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