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The Dark Side of the Moon (1990) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Dark Side of the Moon (1990) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1990 · 91 mins · English
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Directed by
D.J. Webster
Starring
Robert Sampson, John Diehl, Alan Blumenfeld, Camilla More, Joe Turkel, Wendy MacDonald

In 2022 a mysterious systems failure strands a spacecraft crew on the Moon’s far side, leaving them with dwindling fuel and oxygen. They encounter a drifting NASA shuttle, board it hoping for supplies, but crew members are possessed and killed. Paxton Warner must uncover the link between Moon’s dark side, Bermuda Triangle and a demonic force.

Action Thriller Horror Cast, crew & box office
On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (8)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like The Dark Side of the Moon
  8. 8 Every angle
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8 main characters · contains spoilers

The Dark Side of the Moon Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Dark Side of the Moon (1990), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Flynn Harding (Robert Sampson)

    The captain and steady, decisive leader who bears responsibility for the crew as systems fail. He works to maintain order under pressure and ultimately makes the sacrifice to save others.

    • 🧭 Captain
    • 🚀 Leader
    • 🗺️ Strategic

  • Philip Jennings (John Diehl)

    A pragmatic crew member who weighs risks and questions plans as the crisis deepens. He keeps a cool head while others succumb to fear, contributing to survival strategies.

    • 🛠️ Engineer
    • 🧭 Pragmatic
    • 🧩 Skeptical

  • Dreyfuss Steiner (Alan Blumenfeld)

    A seasoned technician whose experience guides essential repairs and decision-making under stress. He remains practical and focused despite growing tension.

    • 🧰 Technician
    • 🔧 Dependable
    • 🧠 Experienced

  • Leslie (Camilla More)

    A resourceful crew member who adapts to the crisis and offers practical solutions. She stays resilient and supports the team when morale falters.

    • 🧭 Crew
    • 🧪 Resourceful
    • 🤝 Supportive

  • Paxton Warner (Joe Turkel)

    An older crew member who carries a sense of NASA's bygone era. He provides historical context and practical know-how in critical moments.

    • 🧓 Old Guard
    • 🗺️ Historian
    • 🎖️ Veteran

  • Alex McInny (Wendy MacDonald)

    A capable technician who contributes to troubleshooting and salvage efforts. She works with the team to improvise solutions under pressure.

    • 💡 Engineer
    • 🧰 Techie
    • 🤝 Collaborative

  • Glies Stewart (Will Bledsoe)

    A crew member with specialized skills who helps manage life support and propulsion systems. He remains practical and level-headed amid the crisis.

    • 🧊 Engineer
    • 🧬 Specialist
    • 💤 Calm

  • Michael C. Gotier (Ken Lesco)

    A crew member whose role supports the mission's maintenance needs. He contributes to problem-solving and keeps focus on crew safety.

    • ⚙️ Technician
    • 🧰 Support
    • 🎯 Focus

Last updated: March 05, 2026 at 18:00

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Setting

Where and When Does The Dark Side of the Moon Take Place?

The setting of The Dark Side of the Moon (1990): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Near Future

Set in the near future, space operations rely on aging tech and long-dormant programs. The NASA shuttle Discovery is a relic that has not been in operation for decades, underscoring the gap between past ambitions and current capabilities.

Location

Earth orbit, Bermuda Triangle (space)

The events unfold aboard a maintenance vessel circling Earth, tasked with repairing satellites. The crew confronts a sudden power failure and freezing conditions as they drift toward a mysterious region of space linked to the Bermuda Triangle. An old NASA shuttle named Discovery drifts into view, a relic from an era when NASA was more prominently active.

  • 🚀 Space
  • 🔍 Mystery
  • ⚠️ Suspense

Last updated: March 05, 2026 at 18:00

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3 major themes

The Dark Side of the Moon Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Dark Side of the Moon (1990) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Survival

    With air, power, and life support dwindling, the crew is forced to confront the limits of human endurance in the vacuum of space. The threat external to the crew becomes a test of resilience as time runs out. Every decision under pressure pushes them toward a life-or-death outcome.

  • Possession

    A malevolent force waits aboard the NASA shuttle, using a dead body as its host to stalk the living crew. The line between science and the supernatural blurs as rational explanations fail. Paranoia escalates as the entity tightens its grip.

  • Sacrifice

    The captain's decision to sacrifice themselves becomes the defining act of leadership and selflessness. Sacrifice is shown as a necessary choice when escape is impossible and the crew's survival depends on one final, risky gesture. The act reshapes the survivors' sense of duty and courage.

Last updated: March 05, 2026 at 18:00

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Character & theme questions

The Dark Side of the Moon Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Dark Side of the Moon (1990): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The story takes place aboard a maintenance vessel orbiting Earth. The crew is stranded in space near a mysterious region linked to the Bermuda Triangle, and they later board an abandoned NASA shuttle called Discovery that drifts into their vicinity.

  • earth orbit
  • space setting
  • nasa shuttle discovery
  • bahamas triangle space
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The movie is set in the near future. Space operations rely on aging technology and long-dormant programs, reflecting a gap between past space exploration ambitions and current capabilities.

  • near future
  • time period
  • space age
  • aging technology
Q3

What are the main themes in the movie?

The movie explores three major themes: survival under extreme pressure as resources run out, possession by a malevolent supernatural force that stalks the crew, and sacrifice as the captain makes a desperate choice to save the remaining survivors.

  • survival theme
  • possession
  • demonic force
  • sacrifice theme
Q4

Who is Captain Flynn Harding?

Flynn Harding is the captain of the maintenance vessel. He is a steady, decisive leader who bears responsibility for the crew as systems fail. He ultimately makes the sacrifice to save the remaining crew members.

  • flynn harding
  • captain
  • leader
  • crew leader
Q5

What is the NASA shuttle Discovery in the movie?

Discovery is an old NASA shuttle that drifts into view during the crisis. It is a relic from an era when NASA was more prominently active and has not been in operation for decades, representing past space ambitions.

  • nasa shuttle discovery
  • relic
  • space shuttle
  • nasa history
Q6

What supernatural threat do the crew face?

A malevolent force waits aboard the NASA shuttle Discovery, using dead bodies as hosts to stalk and kill the living crew. The line between science and the supernatural blurs as rational explanations fail and paranoia escalates.

  • demonic entity
  • possession
  • supernatural threat
  • malevolent force
Q7

What is the Bermuda Triangle connection in the movie?

The mysterious region where the crew becomes stranded is linked to the Bermuda Triangle. This connection adds a layer of mystery and supernatural lore to the already dangerous situation in space.

  • bermuda triangle
  • mystery region
  • supernatural location
Q8

What does the sacrifice theme represent in the story?

The captain's decision to sacrifice themselves becomes the defining act of leadership and selflessness. It is portrayed as a necessary choice when escape is impossible, and it reshapes the survivors' sense of duty and courage.

  • captain sacrifice
  • selflessness
  • leadership
  • heroic act
Q9

Who are the key crew members?

The main crew includes Captain Flynn Harding, Philip Jennings (a pragmatic risk-weigher), Dreyfuss Steiner (a seasoned technician), Leslie (resourceful problem-solver), and Paxton Warner (who carries knowledge of NASA's earlier era).

  • crew members
  • main characters
  • cast
  • space crew
Q10

What kind of movie is The Dark Side of the Moon?

The movie is a science fiction horror thriller. It combines survival drama in space with supernatural horror elements, featuring a demonic entity that possesses crew members one by one.

  • science fiction horror
  • thriller
  • space horror
  • sci-fi thriller

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Dark Side of the Moon, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Dark Side of the Moon tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Claustrophobic Space Survival Horror movies like The Dark Side of the Moon

Trapped astronauts facing supernatural or psychological threats in the void. If you liked the intense, trapped-in-space horror of The Dark Side of the Moon, this collection is for you. Discover films that combine the dangers of space with terrifying supernatural or psychological threats, creating a desperate fight for survival against impossible odds.

  • claustrophobic
  • tense
  • desperate
  • sinister
  • anxious
  • hopeless
  • Tone: tense, bleak, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a catastrophic event that strands a crew in an isolated location, often a spaceship or station. The narrative is a race against time as life support fails, forcing characters to confront a sinister entity or psychological breakdown. The plot is a straightforward survival thriller with a focus on escalating tension and high body counts.

Why they belong together: These films share a core DNA of intense claustrophobia, high-stakes survival, and a relentless external (or internal) threat. They create a specific, nerve-wracking vibe by combining the cold logic of sci-fi with the primal fears of horror.

Life movie poster

Life

2017
Alien Cargo movie poster

Alien Cargo

1999
Stranded movie poster

Stranded

2013
Pandorum movie poster

Pandorum

2009
The Dark Side of the Moon movie poster

The Dark Side of the Moon

1990
Supernova movie poster

Supernova

2000
Aliens movie poster

Aliens

1986
Life movie poster

Life

1999

High-Stakes Demonic Containment thrillers like The Dark Side of the Moon

Characters trapped in a confined location, hunted by an ancient evil. Fans of The Dark Side of the Moon's blend of demonic horror and a desperate containment scenario will find more films here. Explore stories where characters are hunted by an ancient evil in a confined space, leading to paranoia, possession, and a bleak struggle for survival.

  • demonic possession
  • sinister
  • paranoid
  • siege
  • body horror
  • desperate
  • Tone: tense, sinister, bleak
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a contained group discovering a malevolent supernatural presence. The entity systematically targets and possesses individuals, turning them against each other. The plot centers on uncovering the source of the evil while battling dwindling resources and the psychological toll of being hunted, often culminating in a last stand or a bleak conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their core premise: a supernatural siege in a closed environment. They prioritize relentless tension, body horror, and a shared feeling of hopelessness against an incomprehensible demonic threat.

Demonic movie poster

Demonic

2015
The Dark Side of the Moon movie poster

The Dark Side of the Moon

1990
Ghostkeeper movie poster

Ghostkeeper

1981
When Evil Lurks movie poster

When Evil Lurks

2023
Gehenna: Where Death Lives movie poster

Gehenna: Where Death Lives

2016
The Devil Inside movie poster

The Devil Inside

2012
Prey movie poster

Prey

2019
Cold Prey movie poster

Cold Prey

2006

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Movies Like The Dark Side of the Moon

Similar movies to The Dark Side of the Moon: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Shark Side of the Moon movie poster

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Moon Zero Two movie poster

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The Black Moon movie poster

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Every angle

The Dark Side of the Moon (1990) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Dark Side of the Moon in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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