I had me some fun revisiting MOONTRAP the other day. Had not seen it since my teen-days. A small but ambitious sci-fi/horror film about a race of robotic aliens hidden on the dark side of the moon, occupying themselves since ages with building a giant mother-ship - that thing was huge! - to invade earth and using human bodies for spare-parts (VIRUS with Jamie Lee Curtis, anyone?). A weird film altogether with a lot of great and some not-so-great special effects, including nifty looking miniatures. Starring none less than Walter Koenig (from the original STAR TREK series) and Bruce Campbell, who's acting his way very inappropriately through this film, like if he was convinced he was doing another EVIL DEAD film. Can't really call this a great film, with its pacing problems and illogical goings-on, but it was a blast seeing it again.
63 Reviews
Lacklustre
Leofwine_draca23 March 2015
MOONTRAP has the perfect genre cast: THE EVIL DEAD's Bruce Campbell and STAR TREK's Walter Koenig team up as a pair of astronauts who are busy investigating a robotic mystery on the surface of the Moon. That set-up sounds great, but in reality the execution turns out to be quite pedestrian; this has the look and feel of an Albert Pyun movie, say, rather than a 'proper', well made movie.
It looks cheap and it is. About the only thing MOONTRAP has going for it are a series of robotic creations which are pretty good in a cheesy '80s kind of way. The animation is fairly decent, with some scenes bringing to mind the likes of ROBOCOP, but it's the story that also lets this one down. There's little to no scope here, just characters wandering around aimlessly and fighting repetitively.
Campbell is given short shrift by the script and that awful haircut of his doesn't help. Koenig is, somewhat hilariously, playing a youthful hero type (his character appears to be at least 20 years younger than the actor), the sort of guy who gets the girl at the end, which is a little weird and unworkable. But really, there's not a lot going on here, especially for fans of the sci-fi genre who will have seen it all before.
It looks cheap and it is. About the only thing MOONTRAP has going for it are a series of robotic creations which are pretty good in a cheesy '80s kind of way. The animation is fairly decent, with some scenes bringing to mind the likes of ROBOCOP, but it's the story that also lets this one down. There's little to no scope here, just characters wandering around aimlessly and fighting repetitively.
Campbell is given short shrift by the script and that awful haircut of his doesn't help. Koenig is, somewhat hilariously, playing a youthful hero type (his character appears to be at least 20 years younger than the actor), the sort of guy who gets the girl at the end, which is a little weird and unworkable. But really, there's not a lot going on here, especially for fans of the sci-fi genre who will have seen it all before.
Watchable for fans of the genre.
Hey_Sweden12 December 2014
Astronauts Jason Grant (Walter Koenig of 'Star Trek' fame) and Ray Tanner (Bruce "Ash" Campbell) discover some ancient alien artifacts in the vicinity of the moon. Among them are an alien corpse (that turns out to be 14,000 years old), and an object somewhat resembling one of the eggs from the "Alien" franchise. When the object and the corpse merge into a menacing cyborg, our heroes are motivated to make a return trip to the moon to see what else is out there. They're in for some more discoveries. This time, one of them is a very human looking female named Mera (lovely Leigh Lombardi).
Director Robert Dyke and screenwriter Tex Ragsdale try not to overstate matters. Basically, Jason has to figure out for himself what the story is, and expresses it out loud just to make sure that we get it. Dyke does a creditable job of working with an obviously very limited budget, but establishes a fairly grim atmosphere right from the start. The practical special effects are actually pretty damn good considering the constraints. Joseph LoDuca composed a decent enough score. While Dyke and Ragsdale are to be commended for creating a serious mood, they don't hesitate to insert a little levity here and there. As can be expected, the swaggering Campbell does have his moments. There's just a little bit of gore, but folks looking for exploitable elements will be pleased to see that Lombardi and an exotic dancer both bare their breasts. The dialogue isn't always so hot, but the performances are fine from the two leads, and they do create some chemistry. It IS nice to see veteran Koenig in a top billed hero role.
Be sure to wait through the closing credits for a little bit of an epilogue.
"Moontrap" is decent, deliberately paced entertainment that may have some appeal for lovers of sci-fi / horror combos.
Six out of 10.
Director Robert Dyke and screenwriter Tex Ragsdale try not to overstate matters. Basically, Jason has to figure out for himself what the story is, and expresses it out loud just to make sure that we get it. Dyke does a creditable job of working with an obviously very limited budget, but establishes a fairly grim atmosphere right from the start. The practical special effects are actually pretty damn good considering the constraints. Joseph LoDuca composed a decent enough score. While Dyke and Ragsdale are to be commended for creating a serious mood, they don't hesitate to insert a little levity here and there. As can be expected, the swaggering Campbell does have his moments. There's just a little bit of gore, but folks looking for exploitable elements will be pleased to see that Lombardi and an exotic dancer both bare their breasts. The dialogue isn't always so hot, but the performances are fine from the two leads, and they do create some chemistry. It IS nice to see veteran Koenig in a top billed hero role.
Be sure to wait through the closing credits for a little bit of an epilogue.
"Moontrap" is decent, deliberately paced entertainment that may have some appeal for lovers of sci-fi / horror combos.
Six out of 10.
good flick with some weird ideas
black_wolf_197013 March 2005
SPOILER: i loved this movie and not for a post ST Koenig or evil dead Campbell, but because it had a strange twist on what may have happened to earth in the past, they were prob the legends of Atlantis and shows us a idea of why we should not let our toys get smarter then the ones who build them. yes there are a lot of poor cheesy jokes and the plot was lame in places but over all it was a good flick if a bit gory in the reuse of humans for parts. It does have a lot in common with terminator, aliens and virus but sci-fi does have a tend to copy it self, but if you want to see a good film with some good ideas then this one is for you, it is a thrill ride if you don't think to hard
Silly and enjoyable cheesy 80s sci-fi!
teachermarkthailand6 April 2021
The good? Effects and props... and Koenig.
The bad? Everything else.
Apart from its value as 80s nostalgia, there's not much to see. The 1950s did this type of stuff much better.
It would have made a good TV movie, though.
The bad? Everything else.
Apart from its value as 80s nostalgia, there's not much to see. The 1950s did this type of stuff much better.
It would have made a good TV movie, though.
A good low budget B-movie.
RoboRabbit8924 November 2017
Let me get to it,this movie was good and original, a little corny in places, but damn good non the less.
Walter Koenig and Bruce Campbell are great together and have good chemistry. I like how this is kinda like a buddy movie and a monster movie blended into one. And the space woman they find is very hot, I don't know her but she did a good job as well, especially being mute for most of it.
I think this was well made for it's time, I think what works best about this is, it's high concept story and chemistry with it's characters, having never seen the movie before I think it has aged well, I also like that the movie released the year I was born.
Overall, a well made film that is entertaining, and I hope to see more stories to this soon. Now I have seen "Moontrap: Target Earth" staring Sarah Butler, which described by the filmmakers is a stand alone sequel. I personally liked it, I seen that one first before this one and I can honestly say this movie is much better, but I still liked the sequel, it's a guilty pleasure of mine and so is this one.
I give this one a 5/10. A cool, fun B-movie. Highly recommended.
Walter Koenig and Bruce Campbell are great together and have good chemistry. I like how this is kinda like a buddy movie and a monster movie blended into one. And the space woman they find is very hot, I don't know her but she did a good job as well, especially being mute for most of it.
I think this was well made for it's time, I think what works best about this is, it's high concept story and chemistry with it's characters, having never seen the movie before I think it has aged well, I also like that the movie released the year I was born.
Overall, a well made film that is entertaining, and I hope to see more stories to this soon. Now I have seen "Moontrap: Target Earth" staring Sarah Butler, which described by the filmmakers is a stand alone sequel. I personally liked it, I seen that one first before this one and I can honestly say this movie is much better, but I still liked the sequel, it's a guilty pleasure of mine and so is this one.
I give this one a 5/10. A cool, fun B-movie. Highly recommended.
Laughably bad on EVERY level!
paulclaassen29 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Having attached Walter Koenig and Bruce Campbell to the project would attract audiences to the movie. This was a good move, since 'Moontrap' has nothing else going for it. This was just plain bad!
Bad visuals. Bad production design. Bad lighting. Bad photography. Bad dialogue. Annoying score. Unconvincing acting - even from the lead actors. This was just a very bad script and badly executed by first-time director Robert Dyke.
Whoever did Walter Koenig's make-up made him look like a mannequin, or the result of too much plastic surgery. He looked fake with all that make-up, almost like a drag queen who hasn't washed off his make-up properly after a Follies show the previous night.
Regarding the premise, there is nothing exciting here. Much of the movie is made up by silly chit-chat from the lead actors, or even monologues!! The action sequences - if one could call them that - was so badly done, even the gunfire looked and sounded like they were using toy guns. The bad editing made it much worse.
And they had to insist on a romance interest as well! Seriously?? Was that absolutely necessary?? Koenig's character Jason Grant discovers an alien female (looking very human, off course) on the moon and is apparently about 14,000 years old. The film doesn't tell us anything about her and apart from trotting along, she does absolutely nothing in the film - apart from making love to Jason, off course, in one of the most unromantic and forced love scenes in sci-fi horror history. The rest of the time she was a bland character who contributed nothing to the film. And Bruce Campbell tried his best to give an 'Evil Dead' impression - but failed miserably!
'Moontrap' just got worse and worse as it plodded to the end. Hardly any mentionable climax. This was laughably bad!
Would I watch it again? Nope!!
Bad visuals. Bad production design. Bad lighting. Bad photography. Bad dialogue. Annoying score. Unconvincing acting - even from the lead actors. This was just a very bad script and badly executed by first-time director Robert Dyke.
Whoever did Walter Koenig's make-up made him look like a mannequin, or the result of too much plastic surgery. He looked fake with all that make-up, almost like a drag queen who hasn't washed off his make-up properly after a Follies show the previous night.
Regarding the premise, there is nothing exciting here. Much of the movie is made up by silly chit-chat from the lead actors, or even monologues!! The action sequences - if one could call them that - was so badly done, even the gunfire looked and sounded like they were using toy guns. The bad editing made it much worse.
And they had to insist on a romance interest as well! Seriously?? Was that absolutely necessary?? Koenig's character Jason Grant discovers an alien female (looking very human, off course) on the moon and is apparently about 14,000 years old. The film doesn't tell us anything about her and apart from trotting along, she does absolutely nothing in the film - apart from making love to Jason, off course, in one of the most unromantic and forced love scenes in sci-fi horror history. The rest of the time she was a bland character who contributed nothing to the film. And Bruce Campbell tried his best to give an 'Evil Dead' impression - but failed miserably!
'Moontrap' just got worse and worse as it plodded to the end. Hardly any mentionable climax. This was laughably bad!
Would I watch it again? Nope!!
Soundtrack is the best part!
arion12 December 2003
This movie is what I call "Cheap Sci-Fi": a garage sale script, minimal special effects, and a great leap of faith to justify the story.
The premise is that there was a previous technological civilization on Earth (of course, this is never really explained), and they've left deadly robots on the moon. Not to be outdone, Earth sends a team of astronauts on a search and destroy mission.
Of course, the fact that it would be safer to leave them there, with the lunar gulf separating us is never mentioned! That would invalidate the whole movie, wouldn't it?
Jason & Ray (Koenig & Campbell) awaken a woman (Leigh Lombardi) in suspended animation whose role is wasted on a pointless T&A scene and the obligatory screams of fright. But don't despair, Koenig's real-life wife, Judy Levitt, shows up to save the plight of women on the screen by piloting a space shuttle, armed with missiles (did the producer have something against the peaceful uses of space?).
Most sad are the scientific errors which plague the script (be sure to click on the "goofs") and show that quick profits, not accuracy, were the driving force behind this flick.
Ironically enough, although the movie's a lost cause, the soundtrack by Joseph Lo Duca is superb, and a good premonition of his later work. Even more ironic is the fact that Lo Duca went on to write soundtracks for shows like Xena and Hercules, in which Bruce Campbell would have recurring roles.
Moontrap? Moon-trash would be a better title!
The premise is that there was a previous technological civilization on Earth (of course, this is never really explained), and they've left deadly robots on the moon. Not to be outdone, Earth sends a team of astronauts on a search and destroy mission.
Of course, the fact that it would be safer to leave them there, with the lunar gulf separating us is never mentioned! That would invalidate the whole movie, wouldn't it?
Jason & Ray (Koenig & Campbell) awaken a woman (Leigh Lombardi) in suspended animation whose role is wasted on a pointless T&A scene and the obligatory screams of fright. But don't despair, Koenig's real-life wife, Judy Levitt, shows up to save the plight of women on the screen by piloting a space shuttle, armed with missiles (did the producer have something against the peaceful uses of space?).
Most sad are the scientific errors which plague the script (be sure to click on the "goofs") and show that quick profits, not accuracy, were the driving force behind this flick.
Ironically enough, although the movie's a lost cause, the soundtrack by Joseph Lo Duca is superb, and a good premonition of his later work. Even more ironic is the fact that Lo Duca went on to write soundtracks for shows like Xena and Hercules, in which Bruce Campbell would have recurring roles.
Moontrap? Moon-trash would be a better title!
Err... okay. Lifeforce on a budget, and with robots!
Rob_Taylor19 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Well, this isn't going to be a classic! That said, it is clear they tried very hard with the resources they had available.
Although many will look at the weak model effects and scoff at them, they actually brought back fond memories for me of the time before CGI. When filmmakers had to use models and think of more imaginative ways to get the effects done.
I admit, I was drawn to it because of the presence of the two stars, Walter Koenig and Bruce Campbell. Chekov and Ash, in one film! Almost as much a surprise was the fact that Campbell out acted Koenig (who was not bad by any measurement!) I always did have the feeling that Bruce could have been a good actor, if he'd been given the chance. Movies like this prove that he can be more than just a comedy foil.
As far as the plot went, it was coherent and easily followed. Everything is dated, of course, and that is to be expected. But it holds up pretty well, especially for those of us who remember when movies couldn't show everything in glorious HD CGI.
SUMMARY: Cheesy '80's movie which is a tad more serious than it really needed to be. Enjoyable once, especially for the main pairing. Don't expect the kinds of production values and effects you find today and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Although many will look at the weak model effects and scoff at them, they actually brought back fond memories for me of the time before CGI. When filmmakers had to use models and think of more imaginative ways to get the effects done.
I admit, I was drawn to it because of the presence of the two stars, Walter Koenig and Bruce Campbell. Chekov and Ash, in one film! Almost as much a surprise was the fact that Campbell out acted Koenig (who was not bad by any measurement!) I always did have the feeling that Bruce could have been a good actor, if he'd been given the chance. Movies like this prove that he can be more than just a comedy foil.
As far as the plot went, it was coherent and easily followed. Everything is dated, of course, and that is to be expected. But it holds up pretty well, especially for those of us who remember when movies couldn't show everything in glorious HD CGI.
SUMMARY: Cheesy '80's movie which is a tad more serious than it really needed to be. Enjoyable once, especially for the main pairing. Don't expect the kinds of production values and effects you find today and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
full of plot holes, but considerable fun
myriamlenys23 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
To say that "Moontrap" suffers from some plot holes is an understatement : it comes close to being one king-size plot hole. It is also not unduly interested in logic and plausibility. Imagine NASA recovering two stunning, mysterious objects (one of them a mummified corpse and the other one a strange egg-shaped contraption, both of them of alien origin) and then leaving those objects in a non-secure environment without a permanent watch. In real life, objects such as these would be supervised, guarded and shielded just as closely as the heart of a nuclear reactor ; moreover, they would be treated according to stringent protocols.
There are also a lot of story strands which go nowhere. One of the astronauts, for instance, turns out to be divorced father with a friendly teenage son. A scene mentions the divorce and introduces the son, and that's it, both elements disappear into the Big Nowhere. The movie might just as well have told us that the astronaut likes Chinese poetry and has a deaf neighbour.
Yet "Moontrap" is not without qualities. It may have had a small budget but it has a lot of drive, heart, ambition. It also creates strong, striking images. There's many a million dollar sci-fi blockbuster that has less individual character.
So I'd say : invite a few friends over for beer and enjoy the movie, it's fun.
Finally it needs to be noted that one of the main premises of "Moontrap" may be eerily predictive. In the movie, mankind gets threatened by robots capable of adapting and repairing themselves by using a variety of metal, electronical and biological resources. A few years ago, it was said that the American army was developing a killer robot to be used on the battlefield. The robot was supposed to "feed" itself by feasting on new resources, which, presumably, included the remains of its victims. Now there's a thought to refresh the soul : a robot that kills, eats its prey, kills, eats its prey, kills, eats its prey, kills...
There are also a lot of story strands which go nowhere. One of the astronauts, for instance, turns out to be divorced father with a friendly teenage son. A scene mentions the divorce and introduces the son, and that's it, both elements disappear into the Big Nowhere. The movie might just as well have told us that the astronaut likes Chinese poetry and has a deaf neighbour.
Yet "Moontrap" is not without qualities. It may have had a small budget but it has a lot of drive, heart, ambition. It also creates strong, striking images. There's many a million dollar sci-fi blockbuster that has less individual character.
So I'd say : invite a few friends over for beer and enjoy the movie, it's fun.
Finally it needs to be noted that one of the main premises of "Moontrap" may be eerily predictive. In the movie, mankind gets threatened by robots capable of adapting and repairing themselves by using a variety of metal, electronical and biological resources. A few years ago, it was said that the American army was developing a killer robot to be used on the battlefield. The robot was supposed to "feed" itself by feasting on new resources, which, presumably, included the remains of its victims. Now there's a thought to refresh the soul : a robot that kills, eats its prey, kills, eats its prey, kills, eats its prey, kills...
Cheesy and boring...
paul_haakonsen1 May 2014
As much as I think Bruce Campbell is cool, then it was just difficult to fully get into this movie and be entertained by it. It was cheesy to the point of being painful to bear witness to.
The story is about astronauts Col. Jason Grant (played by Walter Koenig) and Ray Tanner (played by Bruce Campbell) who explore an abandoned space vessel and bringing back a several thousand year old corpse from space and a strange pod. The pod, however, contains a homicidal entity though and humans are such easy prey...
Storywise, then the movie was campy, cheesy and too much off a rip-off of other more famous Sci-Fi movies, such as "Alien" to mention just one.
For a movie of this particular caliber, then you know what you will get in terms of the acting talents and the script, and "Moontrap" does deliver what is expected of it.
"Moontrap" is boring, rather uneventful and not particularly enjoyable. And not even Bruce Campbell managed to save this train-wreck - or should I say space-wreck - of a movie.
The story is about astronauts Col. Jason Grant (played by Walter Koenig) and Ray Tanner (played by Bruce Campbell) who explore an abandoned space vessel and bringing back a several thousand year old corpse from space and a strange pod. The pod, however, contains a homicidal entity though and humans are such easy prey...
Storywise, then the movie was campy, cheesy and too much off a rip-off of other more famous Sci-Fi movies, such as "Alien" to mention just one.
For a movie of this particular caliber, then you know what you will get in terms of the acting talents and the script, and "Moontrap" does deliver what is expected of it.
"Moontrap" is boring, rather uneventful and not particularly enjoyable. And not even Bruce Campbell managed to save this train-wreck - or should I say space-wreck - of a movie.
One of the best B movies!
Samualt29 October 2004
This isn't a classic by any means. But it is fun to watch! It has a very good SciFi premise, the acting is good, and the cinematography is good. I really thought the special effects were outstanding for a small budget flick. The dialog suffers a little/lot here and there but is passable. While the movie itself doesn't make the "A List" there are two or three scenes that are kind of classic and make the whole thing worthwhile. If you like the B flicks then this one is a must! I would love to see a big budget remake. Grab some popcorn and load it up, you'll be glad you did!
A great sci fi idea hurt by low budget
me-1726 August 2000
This is a case of a movie where I found the premise to be quite interesting, but it just couldn't survive a very low budget, plot holes, poor special effects, and, I hate to say it, bad acting, even on the part of veteran Walter Koenig, who should have done better. The movie left me unsatisfied. Where did the ancient astronauts come from? Where they ancient egyptians? If so, Koenig's girlfreind didn't look very egyptian. How come the robots didn't kill the girl in stasis? Why did NASA even dream of using and obsolete Apollo capsule in the 1980's? As I say, quite a few plot holes. Still, the movie held my interest despite all this, so I give it a 6.
Bruce Campbell got a raw deal.
JeffG.5 October 1999
I only rented this movie because Bruce Campbell was in it. And boy did he get a raw deal here! A real chump role with all the dumb lines in the film. Not that the dialogue was all that great to begin with, of course. Bruce did the best with what he had been given. He still came off better than he did in "Maniac Cop." But I couldn't help but cringe occasionally at the sight of him being reduced to this. An actor of his talents certainly deserves better.
This movie also featured Walter Koeing. When a movie features a Star Trek actor, especially in the lead role, it's a pretty good indication that it's going to be bad. Koeing plays an arrogant know-it-all, who of course knows exactly what's going on and manages to upset the dimwits at the governmental facility he works at. He's almost as irritating at Bruce Willis in "Armageddon."
The story doesn't have much going for it either. This movie is sort of a lame combination of "Terminator," "Aliens," and any given Full Moon Entertainment production. A really bad James Cameron impersonation. The production values are decent, given the obviously low budget of the film. Which I can imagine must not have gotten much, if any, of a theatrical release.
In summary, this movie is a really bad direct-to-video stinker that may be good for some unintentional laughs. Not to mention some groans. But it's certainly no good as a peice of entertainment. Even Bruce Campbell doesn't come off with much dignity.
This movie also featured Walter Koeing. When a movie features a Star Trek actor, especially in the lead role, it's a pretty good indication that it's going to be bad. Koeing plays an arrogant know-it-all, who of course knows exactly what's going on and manages to upset the dimwits at the governmental facility he works at. He's almost as irritating at Bruce Willis in "Armageddon."
The story doesn't have much going for it either. This movie is sort of a lame combination of "Terminator," "Aliens," and any given Full Moon Entertainment production. A really bad James Cameron impersonation. The production values are decent, given the obviously low budget of the film. Which I can imagine must not have gotten much, if any, of a theatrical release.
In summary, this movie is a really bad direct-to-video stinker that may be good for some unintentional laughs. Not to mention some groans. But it's certainly no good as a peice of entertainment. Even Bruce Campbell doesn't come off with much dignity.
Space Slasher Film
degracia22 October 2000
Wacky, gory, and strangely humorous, "Moontrap" is one of those low budget films that forces its way into your heart. You just can't help but watch all of "Moontrap" once you accidentally run into it when channel surfing. Cheesy, and almost parodoxial of contemporary space action movies, "Moontrap" plays out into a required viewing B-movie for any one remotely interested in sci-fi. The plot is simple and standard issue: Walter Koenig is Col. Jason Grant (a.k.a., Pavel Chekov), a single-parent, astronaut burn-out who brings home an alien artifact. When NASA's computers find out that hostile alien life originated in the Moon's Prometheus Crater, Col. Grant is sent with a special team to eliminate an army of football-shaped alien eggs in stasis. One can pretty much guess what happens, and this basically makes "Moontrap" a space slasher film. All in all an incredibly stupid film, but well worth viewing. Very similar to "Virus" in some respects.
This film is amazing
Gez_Medinger2 November 2000
Well first let me qualify that statement slightly. This film is
amazingly....bad. But somehow it's also just... amazing.
By any standards of normal viewing, the acting is atrocious,
the special effects are...abysmal, the script..dreadful, and
the plot....well words fail me.
But somehow I kinda like it. I don't know why.
But if I were you I would be prepared to get to the end of the
film and get that strange feeling that you could have spent
the last 90 minutes more profitably. Like by banging your
head against a wall.
amazingly....bad. But somehow it's also just... amazing.
By any standards of normal viewing, the acting is atrocious,
the special effects are...abysmal, the script..dreadful, and
the plot....well words fail me.
But somehow I kinda like it. I don't know why.
But if I were you I would be prepared to get to the end of the
film and get that strange feeling that you could have spent
the last 90 minutes more profitably. Like by banging your
head against a wall.
Almost retro-campy but not really that good
hhfarm-17 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This was made in 1989 but seems like an early-50s movie:
All this would be hilarious if it were John Agar and some of his pals. The robots are better than stunt men in shrimp-creature suits. But the dialogue is weak.
As a kid I was amazed that so many aliens had humanoid form. I hadn't yet learned about "the production costs for a getup like that? Not in this budget. Make her a human girl and get her blouse off ..."
Koenig thinks out loud in a deadpan and sarcastic tone. This was great on the bridge when they were boldly going, but here he just seems like a bored and tired TV actor.
Some OK special effects. Worth a watch if you can FF and skip ahead.
- 2 Astronauts find some alien stuff in damaged spaceship.
- It's exactly 14000 years old.
- They bring it back to earth. It becomes a robot. They kill it.
- They go to the moon where it came from and
- Find an alien base and a cryo alien woman 14K years old
- Who thaws to look like us (and has incredible breasts),
- And engages in sex exactly as humans do
- Including touching and hugging after
All this would be hilarious if it were John Agar and some of his pals. The robots are better than stunt men in shrimp-creature suits. But the dialogue is weak.
As a kid I was amazed that so many aliens had humanoid form. I hadn't yet learned about "the production costs for a getup like that? Not in this budget. Make her a human girl and get her blouse off ..."
Koenig thinks out loud in a deadpan and sarcastic tone. This was great on the bridge when they were boldly going, but here he just seems like a bored and tired TV actor.
Some OK special effects. Worth a watch if you can FF and skip ahead.
The magic of Moontrap...
ludo7512 February 1999
Some time ago I saw Moontrap on video. I feel compelled to comment on this cineastic experience. I was amazed at how a movie can make you want to vomit at the same time as it makes you want to see it again! I guess that when a movie gets awful enough you sort of enjoy it at the same time, in some perverse way.
Moontrap
Scarecrow-8819 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
NASA astronauts Koenig and Campbell encounter damaged alien space craft, with a torn hull, while orbiting moon in their shuttle, Chamelot. Discovering a mysterious self-contained alloy shell inside the ship, Koenig also finds the skeletal remains of an actual humanoid, carbon dated at 14000 years old! The shell actually houses a hostile "robotic species" with an incredible intellect..as we soon learn, it uses "spare parts" from whatever junk is lying around to create a body for which will allow it to move about. Returning to Cape Canaveral, the robotic monster goes on a rampage, laser blasting military personnel and anyone else, despite peaceful attempts to see what it wants. After finally "subduing" the machine, the government sends Koenig and Campbell to the moon to see if there's in fact any other signs of life which might exist. Once there, Koenig and Campbell do find the remains of a once thriving alien civilization, skeletons, weapons, and buildings, reduced to rubble or buried in the dust. What Koenig and his colleagues do not realize is that the species which left the humanoids dead so long ago have waited for the right kind of parts needed to juice up their ship, an attack on Earth imminent. It'll be up to Koenig to stop them or else. Koenig and Campbell also find an actual female of that civilization alive, kept sealed in a chamber from harm. Getting off the moon will be especially difficult when they find their lunar lander missing, commandeered by the robotoid species.
Plenty of intriguing ideas and admirable use of limited resources, Moontrap is a fine example of creating something out of nothing. The robot monsters are rather nifty little creations, not to mention you get action on the moon and within an alien space craft. Impressive recreations of various equipment associated with NASA. How the filmmakers accomplished so much with so little is a testament to what you can do with ingenuity and creativity.
Nice star vehicle for Star Trek's Walter Koenig(..which was initially what drew me to it in the video rental store as a kid)with able support from wise-cracking Bruce Campbell as his partner.
I imagine there are those who could balk at certain aspects regarding flawed science, such as the scenes on the moon where bodies and the robot creatures move fast where gravity is a problem. The whole scenario involving 14000 year old human life on the moon might cause eye-rolling as well, but I thought it was certainly original, which is something in itself. Also rather creepy are the robot monsters which not only use junk parts from whatever metal might be lying around, but from actual human beings as well! You can actually see such things as a spine, various bones(..even the head of a victim!), and other human parts melded in with mechanical pieces. The shell opens and a robot head appears, with thin, strand-like tentacles which reach for the parts necessary for building it a body.
A criticism early on one might could use is how the first robot monster withstands the bullet-fire of a military arsenal despite the fact that it basically used metal in a laboratory..highly doubtful that such material, for the creation of legs and arms with claws, could remain insusceptible to a constant barrage of gunfire. Leigh Lombardi is the humanoid, Mera, discovered by the astronauts in the chamber on the moon.
Plenty of intriguing ideas and admirable use of limited resources, Moontrap is a fine example of creating something out of nothing. The robot monsters are rather nifty little creations, not to mention you get action on the moon and within an alien space craft. Impressive recreations of various equipment associated with NASA. How the filmmakers accomplished so much with so little is a testament to what you can do with ingenuity and creativity.
Nice star vehicle for Star Trek's Walter Koenig(..which was initially what drew me to it in the video rental store as a kid)with able support from wise-cracking Bruce Campbell as his partner.
I imagine there are those who could balk at certain aspects regarding flawed science, such as the scenes on the moon where bodies and the robot creatures move fast where gravity is a problem. The whole scenario involving 14000 year old human life on the moon might cause eye-rolling as well, but I thought it was certainly original, which is something in itself. Also rather creepy are the robot monsters which not only use junk parts from whatever metal might be lying around, but from actual human beings as well! You can actually see such things as a spine, various bones(..even the head of a victim!), and other human parts melded in with mechanical pieces. The shell opens and a robot head appears, with thin, strand-like tentacles which reach for the parts necessary for building it a body.
A criticism early on one might could use is how the first robot monster withstands the bullet-fire of a military arsenal despite the fact that it basically used metal in a laboratory..highly doubtful that such material, for the creation of legs and arms with claws, could remain insusceptible to a constant barrage of gunfire. Leigh Lombardi is the humanoid, Mera, discovered by the astronauts in the chamber on the moon.
Shocking
Gez_Medinger20 August 2001
I actually have no idea why I'm commenting on this film again, as I already did about 10 months ago. Maybe its because I tried to watch it again after a lengthy session on the beers, but I had to abort after it threatened to evaporate what brain cells I had left. Trust me, if you read the comments on this page that say this film is good. Don't believe them. Its not.
OK, I'll be kind now. I gave it 2 out of 10 rather than 1 because it does have something ridiculously cheesy about it. But what it says on the back of the box about having the spectacle of Star Wars combined with the thrill of Aliens?
No. It doesn't.
The Sci-Fi event of 1989?
No. It isn't.
I think someone called Mr Cameron spent more than 50p on a movie that year. What was it called?.... The Ab... The Aby... No, its gone.
OK, I'll be kind now. I gave it 2 out of 10 rather than 1 because it does have something ridiculously cheesy about it. But what it says on the back of the box about having the spectacle of Star Wars combined with the thrill of Aliens?
No. It doesn't.
The Sci-Fi event of 1989?
No. It isn't.
I think someone called Mr Cameron spent more than 50p on a movie that year. What was it called?.... The Ab... The Aby... No, its gone.
Delightfully aweful
mrburhans24 November 2019
No redeeming features
matthewsjsmith22 August 2014
This is bad; not "so bad it is good" , just bad. Script, plot, acting, effects, timing; all unforgivably bad. It's like a parody of the kind of movie that an actor who is already famous does, where they want to play the lead, after gaining fame being a supporting actor. Walter's agent must have hated him for letting do this turkey. Why all the pauses before lines? Was the sheer awkwardness of the script giving them pause for thought or had the director just read it in a book? This movie might come in useful if you work for the secret service of your country and you need to torture information out of a suspect. Forget about thumbscrews, electricity and water boarding; this should do the trick. I should imagine you won't even need to wait until the credits; they will tell you what you want to know much sooner than that; although subtitles will help....
When will there ever be a Moontrap II or Moontrap I revised?... .
hfcrooijackers5 November 2006
Although the Romans already stated "de gustibus non disputandum" (you cannot argue about taste), I liked this movie very much! It has the kind of atmosphere I am longing for in a SciFi movie! A lot of mysteries (we are fully kept in the dark about the origins of the moon base and the mysterious old spaceship, which the space shuttles encounters in orbit) and presented as such in a way, that my fantasy can jump with giant leaps during the entire movie! I even don't WANT to know where they came from!!! The "human slashing" is a bit overdone for my taste, but then again...it depends on what you are looking for - I guess. The special effects could be better, but they don't disturb me at all: as a matter of fact they are indeed more accurate than in other comparable movies! At the time it really was timed perfectly: a lot of conspiracy theories were posted about Apollo astronauts hiding secrets from us (secret alien moon bases, UFOs, etc.), which made this film even more believable than normal.
It really is the kind of movie, which deserves a sequel: maybe we can then get more insight into the origins of the unknown people - or even better: run into new mysteries. Of course Walter Koenig is now a bit too old, but a SERIOUS remake of Moontrap - followed by an equally SERIOUS sequel! - would make me very happy indeed!
It really is the kind of movie, which deserves a sequel: maybe we can then get more insight into the origins of the unknown people - or even better: run into new mysteries. Of course Walter Koenig is now a bit too old, but a SERIOUS remake of Moontrap - followed by an equally SERIOUS sequel! - would make me very happy indeed!
Would have been better if Campbell had been the star.
Aaron137525 January 2004
This one has a strange alien race once again trying to take over the Earth. It is like a robot and it uses what is around it to make itself bigger and stronger it can even use human parts. Starts out on Earth, but once they realize it came from the moon they go. And boy do they go. One scene they are on Earth, the next they are on the moon, when I first saw it I thought it was a dream sequence. All in all an okay movie even though the science it suspect. I just don't see setting up a tent on the moon. And couldn't the guys fighting the super robots get better weapons than Uzi's? Bruce Campbell is in this, but he isn't the main character, I wish they had made him the main guy cause then the movie would have been better. On the plus side it is short and fast moving so it is over before you know it. Of course a little explanation could have helped. It is kind of a low budget version of that one Jamie Lee Curtis was in.
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeese
baldrick2dogs9 October 2005
What the heck was that! To quote from a few other reviews:
"the cinematography is good" Do what!? maybe it was the awful copy I saw but the camera work was shaky to say the least. "I really thought the special effects were outstanding" You must have seen a different film to me. When the orbiter is attacked you could almost picture the string being cut on the model!
Leigh Lombardi gets naked
"strangely humorous", yes I smiled openly at how far fetched things got.
Leigh Lombardi gets her kit off
"You just can't help but watch all of "Moontrap"." Must agree wholeheartedly here, I carried on watching in case it got better - it didn't!
Leigh Lombardi disrobed
"Cheesy", Yes, you got that right, it's cheesier than a cheesy thing made out of 100% solid Cheddar!
Leigh Lombardi in the buff
what a waste of 92 minutes of my life - still, I put the laundry on and sorted my socks so my time wasn't entirely wasted.
By the way, did I mention - Leigh Lombardi? Hence 2* and not 1*
"the cinematography is good" Do what!? maybe it was the awful copy I saw but the camera work was shaky to say the least. "I really thought the special effects were outstanding" You must have seen a different film to me. When the orbiter is attacked you could almost picture the string being cut on the model!
Leigh Lombardi gets naked
"strangely humorous", yes I smiled openly at how far fetched things got.
Leigh Lombardi gets her kit off
"You just can't help but watch all of "Moontrap"." Must agree wholeheartedly here, I carried on watching in case it got better - it didn't!
Leigh Lombardi disrobed
"Cheesy", Yes, you got that right, it's cheesier than a cheesy thing made out of 100% solid Cheddar!
Leigh Lombardi in the buff
what a waste of 92 minutes of my life - still, I put the laundry on and sorted my socks so my time wasn't entirely wasted.
By the way, did I mention - Leigh Lombardi? Hence 2* and not 1*
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
