Enemy Mine (1985)

December 12, 1985 (US) • Drama, Science Fiction • 108m

Overview

A soldier from Earth crashlands on an alien world after sustaining battle damage. Eventually he encounters another survivor, but from the enemy species he was fighting; they band together to survive on this hostile world. In the end the human finds himself caring for his enemy in a completely unexpected way.

Director

Wolfgang Petersen

Writers

Edward Khmara, Barry Longyear

Top Billed

Dennis Quaid

Keywords

future friendship narration slavery space battle complicated birth alien space stranded racism planet slave reptilian severed ear

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Dennis Quaid

Willis Davidge

Louis Gossett Jr.

Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

Brion James

Stubbs

Richard Marcus

Arnold

Carolyn McCormick

Morse

Lance Kerwin

Joey Wooster

Bumper Robinson

Zammis

Jim Mapp

Old Drac

Scott Kraft

Jonathan

Lou Michaels

Wilson

Andy Geer

Bates

Henry Stolow

Cates

Danmar

Wise Guy

Mandy Hausenberger

1st Medic

Herb Andress

Hopper

Jack Luceno

Drac Movement

Barry Stokes

Huck

Ulrich Günther

Daggett

Emily Woods

Simpson

Colin Gilder

Chavo

Charles M. Huber

Kranzer

Frank Henson

Lump

Jazzer Jeyes

Scarbreath

Doug Robinson

Walker

Mark McBride

Hensler

Menyhért René Balog-Dutombé

Mills

Tony L. Moore

Special Drac

Tom Baker

Narrator (voice)

Crew

Stephen J. Friedman

Producer

Stanley O'Toole

Executive Producer

Wolfgang Petersen

Director

Edward Khmara

Screenplay

Tony Imi

Director of Photography

Hannes Nikel

Editor

Jane Feinberg

Casting

Mike Fenton

Casting

Troy Neighbors

Casting

Werner Achmann

Art Direction

Herbert Strabel

Art Direction

Rolf Zehetbauer

Set Decoration

Monika Bauert

Costume Design

Bernhard Neureiter

Construction Coordinator

Grahame Ménage

Scenic Artist

Gary Clayton

Dialogue Editor

Ron Pender

Dolby Consultant

Heiner Harss

Foley

Mel Kutbay

Foley

Mike Le Mare

Sound Designer

Scott Brose

Sound Editor

Alan Paley

Sound Editor

Bruce Walters

Animation Supervisor

Ellen E. Lichtwardt

Animation Supervisor

Dave Carson

Visual Effects Art Director

Christine Jahn

Visual Effects Editor

Don Dow

Visual Effects Supervisor

Martin Grace

Stunt Coordinator

Tony White

Camera Operator

Karl-Heinz Vogelmann

Still Photographer

Alfie Emmins

Gaffer

Micky Wilson

Gaffer

Robert Hathaway

Music Editor

Hunt Downs

Unit Publicist

Chris Walas

Creature Design

Maurice Jarre

Original Music Composer

Carol Walas

Creature Design

Bob MacDonald Jr.

Special Effects Supervisor

Barry Longyear

Story

Ariel Levy

Production Manager

Eddie Powell

Stunts

Bill Weston

Stunts

Terry Cade

Stunts

Daniel Parker

Makeup Designer

Chris Taylor

Key Hair Stylist

Brian Wade

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Chris Walas

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Rolf Zehetbauer

Production Design

Jan-Michael Brandt

Unit Manager

Dieter Meyer

Production Supervisor

Harry Nap

Production Manager

Walter Pucker

Production Manager

Scott Wodehouse

Production Manager

Bert Batt

First Assistant Director

Robert Hottarek

Third Assistant Director

Gerd Huber

Second Assistant Director

Hannes Nikel

Second Unit Director

Thomas Jauch

Second Unit First Assistant Director

Albrecht von Bethmann

Second Unit First Assistant Director

Peter Dürst

Property Master

Richard Eglseder

Property Master

Josef Farnbauer

Sculptor

Zoltán Horváth

Set Dresser

Michael Murchan

Construction Manager

Peter Bond

Sound Editor

Gary Clayton

Dialogue Editor

Stanley B. Gill

Sound Recordist

John Ireland

Dialogue Editor

Günther Ruckdeschel

Boom Operator

Karola Storr

Foley Editor

Markus Blunder

Second Assistant Camera

Jack Coggins

Electrician

Michel Gemmell

Underwater Director of Photography

Ray Gilberti

Assistant Camera

Bernie Grill

Best Boy Electric

Randy Jonsson

Assistant Camera

Clive Prior

Second Assistant Camera

Ellen Lichtwardt Goodchild

Animation Supervisor

Susan Fritz-Monahan

Production Coordinator

Kathy Sykes

Production Coordinator

Reviews

Filipe Manuel Neto

⭐ 3/10

September 12, 2023

**A very dated and unsatisfactory film, which carries a rather naive message about war and conflicts.**

This is one of those films that promises a lot when we read the synopsis, but ends up being disappointing: in its attempt to please different audiences, from sci-fi to drama and also action, it fails to satisfy anyone and I believe it was this feeling, more or less general, that led it straight to the oblivion bin where I found it.

Released in the golden age of sci-fi, when the genre experienced a very notable development and popularity, the film has a relatively warm story and begins with a war between humans and a reptilian alien species called “drac”. We follow the combat between two spaceships in a remote part of the universe until they both crash on the same planet. From here on, in order to survive, both will have to collaborate with each other, which opens the door to dialogue and mutual understanding.

I can understand what makes some people appreciate this film or want to see it: it has some good quality action that Wolfgang Petersen's solid direction emphasizes and enhances, and a script with a flowery and progressive message about prejudice and the importance of having a frank and open dialogue. That is, the film still comes in the aftermath of those ideas of peace and love from the 70s, where it seemed that all wars could end if there was a willingness to talk and understand whoever was on the opposite side.

However, neither the script nor the director are flawless: the film is excessively slow and has a variable and inconstant rhythm, we feel that it wastes time with a sentimentality worthy of a soap opera and injects a lot of melodrama without any advantage, like those people who stay for ten minutes talking before getting to what matters. With all this, the action, although good, is scarce and does not justify the film for fans of a good space fight. And the message of peace underlying the script forgets that all wars begin due to conflicts of interest, not exactly due to a lack of dialogue and mutual prejudices: I can understand my enemy very well and think that war is horrible, but decide to fight anyway if consider that I have a good chance of winning and, thus, have access to an advantage or gain that I would not be able to obtain otherwise.

Despite Dennis Quaid's sound and fame, the best actor in the film is Louis Gossett Jr., in an alien costume. The actor is not brilliant, he is average, but he manages to be incredible in the role, especially when he has an immature and charisma-free scoundrel like Quaid at his side. I've seen a few movies with him, and what he does here is essentially overact it and look stupid. Brion James deserves an honorable mention for the skillful villain he brought to life, but he adds little to the film.

Technically, it fits into the broad spectrum of mid-budget sci-fi films from the 80s: we have decent enough cinematography and some creatively invented aliens, to which must be added some good special effects. The general appearance is old: it is a visually very dated film and the sets and costumes, although effective, are unable to appear realistic. The sound isn't bad, but the soundtrack doesn't do much for the overall work.

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Ready Player One

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$40,000,000

Revenue

$12,300,000

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Enemy Mine (1985)

Edward Khmara, Barry Longyear

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Filipe Manuel Neto

Recommended Movies

Real Steel

Ready Player One

Blade Runner 2049

Dune

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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