Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV Series) Space Vampire (1980) User Reviews

Buck and Wilma encounter a space-age vampire

[jefffisher65-708-541158 · 8/10 · 13 July 2013]

Space Vampire is Buck Rogers vs. Dracula, really, but done well, I think, with Nicholas Hormann doing a fine job as the Vorvon, a soul-draining vampire-like being from an alien world.

Arriving at space station Theta, Buck and Wilma are planning to leave Twikki there for some repairs when an out-of-control spacecraft crashes into the station ending up stuck there like a knife. Everyone aboard the craft seems to be dead with two odd bruise on their throat. Space Staion Commander Royko(Christopher Stone) is convinced it's all the result of a virus from a world the cargo ship has visited which can cause hallucinations. Buck, of course, realizes something much stranger, and creepier is going on but fails to convince the Commander.

Setting its sights on Wilma(Erin Gray is even sexier than usual in a nifty two-piece outfit which bares her fine midriff), it pursues her doggedly. Gray gets to show some genuine fear as she senses the creature closing in on her(as well as being able to see it when others cannot, a nice touch). Generally, Wilma is a fearless, strong lady, of course, so this was different. Finally, the Vorvon traps our heroine, and transforms her briefly into his space-vampire companion allowing Gray to become a wonderfully evil, seductive vampire. Buck, of course, saves the day in the end using a variation on a standard method of disposing of earthly vampires.

I recalled this one from my teen age years for a long time before seeing it again when a local independent station ran the series in repeats for a time circa late 1980s/early 1990s. It's good to have the series available on DVD now, of course, although some interviews, or commentaries would have been nice extras.

Buck Rogers: "Space Vampire"

[Wuchakk · 6/10 · 15 August 2017]

PLOT: After Buck & Wilma stop at a remote space station to service Twiki a freighter shockingly collides with the base. When the crew is discovered to be dead, presumably from a virus, the commander of the station (Christopher Stone) orders it under quarantine. Now a THING called a Vorvon (Nicholas Hormann) is loose on the locked-down base, picking off the crew one by one. Lincoln Kilpatrick appears as the station's doctor.

COMMENTARY: This is a serious segment and the only horror-themed one of the series. It contains elements of Star Trek episodes like "The Man Trap," "The Naked Time," "Wolf in the Fold," "Day of the Dove" and "The Lights of Zetar." Since there are no significant female guest stars, it gives Erin Gray some breathing room to really shine as Wilma in a flattering two-piece peach-colored outfit. The Vorvon is half-cartoony/half-frightful and the episode successfully creates a creepy ambiance. While certainly a memorable segment, it's also kinda dull IMHO.

This 'vampire' doesn't completely suck

[Fluke_Skywalker · 6/10 · 14 May 2016]

Plot; Buck and Wilma find themselves stalked by a vampire-like creature aboard a space station.

A title like "Space Vampire" pretty much says it all doesn't it? The bulk of the episode is high camp, with the titular vampire (or Vorvon) looking like a cross between Nosferatu and Sam the Eagle from 'The Muppet Show' as he skulks about the laughably bad sets of the "space station". We get to see Buck (Gil Gerard), whose tight-fitting spandex costume is cut so as to fully expose his chia pet-like chest hair, do some YMCA white belt level karate, but the real star here is the lovely (and I cannot emphasize the "lovely" enough) Wilma Deering (Erin Gray). Her performance in the episode's last act is quite good, as she shifts from terrified victim to vampy minion. I hope that future episodes (no pun intended) give her more to do than her heretofore standard stoic starbabe thing.

In the end this is a ludicrous, cheesy episode that nevertheless manages not to, uh, suck.

Creepy but camp entertainment

[velvetcaress · 9/10 · 18 June 2006]

I remember this as a boy and it scared the cr*p out of me. It was truly eerie, especially the way the victim could sense the vampire nearby by a cold death-like feeling, and the way the vampire moved around like an ectoplasmic blob of energy spying on his next target.

The Vorvon's black nails were pretty darned evil as well.....except for when he began to press them into Wilma's throat and they started to bend like cheap plastic. LOL!

Fond memories.

Also, Wilma made a very sexy, and sultry seductress as a 'poisoned' victim - she always had that quality as a potential in her character, and this episode just brought it out more. "Buck......it felt so goooooooooood!" :-D

Ol' red eyes is back.

[BA_Harrison · 24 November 2007]

With its silly titular monster, this episode of Buck Rogers is almost impossible not to enjoy.

Buck (Gil Gerard) and Wilma (Erin Gray, in a sexy two-piece outfit) are on their way to the planet Genesia for a vacation, but stop at Theta Station on the way, to drop off Twiki, who needs repairs. While they are there, a craft appears from a nearby star gate and crashes into the space station.

After searching the vessel and discovering that the entire crew were already dead before the crash, Space Station Commander Royko places Theta under quarantine, believing a virus, EL-7 (which causes fever and hallucinations before death), to be responsible for their demise.

But the real cause of death is a Vorvon: a space vampire that drains the soul from the living. And he's got the hots for Wilma ('I want you', he tells her. 'Oh yeah...well get to the back of the queue, Vorvon... I saw her first!', says I).

Sporting a massive forehead, giant pointy ears, long nails, glowing red eyes, purple lips and huge fangs (even though he doesn't need them), the Vorvon is one of the series' most memorable creations. His victims become soul-less zombies that do his bidding, and even Wilma eventually falls under his power (becoming a slutty space vampire babe).

Fortunately, Buck saves the day when he realises that a huge blast of energy will destroy the creature, and programs the station's escape craft (which the Vorvon will inevitably take, of course) to fly into a sun!

Apart from the freaky monster (and Wilma, of course), my favourite part of this episode is when Buck and Twiki watch a video recording in which a victim is killed by the (invisible to the camera) Vorvon; the guy throws himself energetically around the room, putting in a bravura performance, before finally falling to the floor dead. Hilarious!

Between Life and Death

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 24 November 2023]

Buck Rogers and Wilma fly to Theta Station to leave Twiki helping to fix the computerized system while they spend five days in Genesis invited by Hieronymous Fox. They arrive at the station where Commander Royko is an old friend of Wilma. Out of the blue, a freighter crashes the station and Royko, Buck and Wilma find all the crew dead. After listening to the records, they believe that a lethal virus has attacked the crew and now is released in the station. However, Dr. Ecbar notes that the freighter's crew is neither alive nor dead, and proceeds his exams of the bodies. But soon he is attacked by an alien creature and also dies. Buck Rogers and Twiki retrieve the information stored in a robot that belonged to the passenger of the freighter, and he learns that a creature named Vorvon is the responsible for turning humans into zombies. But Commander Royko does not believe him and believes he is having hallucinations, and Buck is arrested. But soon Wilma is possessed by the Vorvon, and Buck Rogers cannot protect her.

"Space Vampire" is a highly entertaining episode of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". Vampire stories are always captivating, and this episode is no exception to the rule. The conclusion is rushed and could be better, but is among one of the best. Good also to see Christopher Stone, in the role of Commander Royko, who certainly have a past with Wilma Deering. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Space Vampire"

Very frightening to a young boy

[sgspires-89-442591 · 10/10 · 25 October 2013]

I saw this one when it aired, first Buck Rogers of the 1980s. I remember I was recovering from a cold and the space vampires particular way of draining a victim - fingers to the neck - was very frightful. Had an awful fever dream about it that night, and went around the next day rubbing my fingers and neck. Aside from just having very fond, if not frustrating, memories of Wilma Deering's wardrobe (probably only second to Diana Rigg as Emma Peel), this episode of Buck Rogers is the one that pops in my mind some 34 years later. The sets were restrictive and evoked a certain claustrophobia, also. And the fact that their weapons didn't work added to the tension; the technological marvel of "advanced" civilizations probably will not work on everything when our own kind starts exploring other worlds. Twiggy was scary in a different way.

Superior episode

[Woodyanders · 9/10 · 19 April 2011]

Theta Station gets put under quarantine after a space shuttle full of dead crew members crashes into it. The source of said deaths is energy-draining space vampire the Vorvon (a genuinely creepy portrayal by Nicholas Hormann), who plans on making Wilma Deering (Erin Gray doing some fine acting and looking as sexy as ever) his next victim. However, only Buck Rogers (the always affable Gil Gerard) is convinced that the Vorvon exists. Director Larry Stewart relates the cool story at a brisk pace and ably creates a good deal of suspense and eerie atmosphere. The crafty script by David Wise and Kathleen Barnes offers a nifty blend of horror and sci-fi elements. The sturdy acting by the tip-top guest cast rates as another substantial asset: Christopher Stone as the no-nonsense Commander Ryko, Lincoln Kilpatrick as the pragmatic Dr. Ecbar, and Jeannie Fitzsimmons as the ill-fated space shuttle captain. Lee Frost B-flick regular Phil Hoover has a nice minor role as one of the Vorvon's victims. With his bald round head, black fingernails, fangs, glowing red eyes, pointy ears, and pasty complexion, the Vorvon makes for a wonderfully freaky and frightening monster. The tense and exciting conclusion likewise seriously smokes. Better still, Wilma briefly becomes a hot panting vampire slut after the Vorvon puts the whammy on her. One of the crowning achievements of the first season.

Bram Stoker in the 25th Century

[robbenn69 · 2/10 · 30 November 2021]

This is the most ridiculous episode in a ridiculous show. It's like the producers gave up on creating a legitimate sci-fi action show for a campy sci-fi parody in the style of 60s TV show "Batman." The Vorvon aka vampire isn't scary, but comical with the worst unibrow ever and fangs that are apparently for show, because it drains blood through its fingers on a person's neck. Wilma is Mina, Buck is Jonathan Harkness, and the audience is incredulous. Only his victims can see the vampire until the end of the show when everyone can see him in order to fight him. And of course, Wilm completely cured of being a vampire. Such a disappointment from the beginning of the season.

I vivdly recall watching this as a child of 5 or 6.

[garyvines-01290 · 10/10 · 6 June 2023]

I probablly shouldn't have been watching this at such a young age, but it was such an interesting take on the vapire mythology and I recall being both terrified for Wilma and thrilled at the idea of it for some reason. I don't remember any other episode as vividly as this one so maybe it actually scarred me in some way. Anyway, I loved this show as a kid and enjoyed watching it, but his episdoe still, all these 45 years later stands out to me.

I think I'll go back and watch the old episodes on netfilx or something to refresh my memory. All I remember about this show was Wilma, the vampire and the Hawk dude.

Buck takes on the creepy space Nosferatu

[amesmonde · 9 October 2013]

A space craft crashes into the space station where Twiki is getting repairs and Buck and co. try to figure out what happened to the ship's crew.

Directed by Larry Stewart and written by Kathleen Barnes and David Wise- Space Vampire is a homage of sorts to Nosferatu, Dracula and a possible nod to Romero's zombie films. The concept was debatably borrowed later by Lifeforce (1985).

This is one of the most eerie and the only horror toned episode of the first series. Should the makeup design of Nicholas Hormann as the spine-chilling Vorvon had been better designed this could have been the most rounded of all the episodes. Drained bodies, the morgue like environments, a ghost ship, the victims coming back to life it's all good tawdry horror sci-fi stuff.

Wilma Deering gets more to do in this episode as she begins to see things and is subjected to entranced states. Here Erin Grey gets to show some range and not just her infamous tight outfits.

Hightlights also include Buck and Twiki watching a recordings of the invisible (to the camera) assailant killing its victim. Buck's investigation and him taking on the tranced hordes is also a blast. Notable is Christopher Stone as a doubting Space Station Commander, Royko who would later appear in the Howling (1981).

One of the stronger and more memorable episodes.