Enemy Mine, 1985. My Journey into Science Fiction Part 15.

 

Hello, and welcome back to my Journey into Science Fiction Part 15. Enemy Mine was directed by Wolfgang Petersen and is based on the novel of the same name by Barry B. Longyear. The movie began production in 1984, but after creative differences, Richard Loncraine stood down from directing duties to let Peterson take over and create his vision for the film. The budget for the film was originally set at seventeen million, but eventually cost over forty million. The film never made its money from the box office and was deemed a failure by the studio. However, Enemy Mine survived and has become a cult favourite amongst fans.

I have only watched Enemy Mine once or maybe twice in my lifetime, but it is a movie that stays with you. I remember it felt special, pretty unique and had a brilliant story. The film starts in the late 21st Century, mankind has achieved peace on Earth but is still at war. Only this time it’s in space, against a race of reptilian humanoids called the Dracs. Willis E. Davidge Dennis Quaid is a fighter pilot who spends his time living in a fortress in space and only remembers Earth as a precious memory. During a dogfight, Davidge is determined to kill his enemy. However, his anger only leaves him killing his co-pilot, and his spacecraft stranded on a remote planet, and he is not alone. 

The planet is called Fryine IV and is mysterious, desolate and lifeless. Davidge takes care of funeral arrangements for his dead friend and is ready for more retribution against a species he has never even set eyes on before. Jeriba, on the other hand, decides to have a dance in the rain and go for a swim, until Davidge tries to burn him alive. Jeriba captures Davidge and instead of killing him, ties him up instead. During an argument, they realise the real enemy is the planet and they both run for cover. Davidge wakes up next to Jeriba and finally has a clear chance to kill him, but changes his mind at the last moment, showing some compassion for his enemy. Davidge realises that if they are to survive they will have to work together and build a camp, and to Jeriba’s amusement, it falls to the ground in pieces. I have to say the character development by Louis Gossett, Jr in this scene is amazing and what a way to bring so much warmth to Jeriba and break the ice between him and Davidge.

Jeriba, now known as Jerry and Davidge, are talking to each other in English. However, there is still some hostility between the pair, until Jerry saves Davidge from an indigenous creature. Davidge acknowledges to Jerry that he could have let him die, and now their friendship has grown stronger. Davidge realises they can use shells from another creature to help protect their home from meteor showers, bringing some short-lasting harmony to the camp. One night, Davidge and Jerry struggle to get back home during yet another meteor shower, and Davidge accuses Jerry of becoming fat and lazy, resulting in them nearly killing each other. Davidge says they need to move on if they are to survive, but Jerry decides it’s safer to stay and they both go their separate ways. Davidge is left wandering the desolate planet for days until he finally finds something of significance.

Pepsi cans? Proving humans have been there recently, but he also sees the skull of a Drac. Davidge soon realises that it’s scavengers on the planet, and they are using Dracs as slaves for their mining facilities. Davidge returns to his friend and decides it’s better not to tell him about his grizzly discovery, but there is some even greater news to share, Jerry is pregnant. Davidge and Jerry really can’t catch a break as tragedy strikes again. The creature that nearly killed Davidge attacks them and destroys their home, forcing them to seek refuge in the mountains. Jerry asks Davidge to tell him about his family history, and in return, he will share his lineage with him. Jerry asks Davidge to return his child to the Drac homeworld and then share his and Jerry’s lineage with them. Jerry is in labour and is ready to die, but Davidge is having none of it and explains he has no experience of raising a child. After watching his friend die, Davidge is left to cut the baby from Jerry’s warm husk.

Jerry’s offspring, Zammis Bumper Robinson, grows a lot quicker than a human child, and he is soon running around. He is also becoming curious about his race and the difference between him and his uncle. Who, he has now created a strong bond with. The scavengers return to Fryine IV and Davidge warns Zammis to keep away from them without explaining the truth about their intentions. Ignoring his uncle and wanting to know more about the visitors, Zammis goes to the mining facility and is captured by the scavengers. Davidge is not far behind and manages to kill one of the scavengers, but he fails in trying to save his nehew and is left for dead on the planet. Thankfully, Davidge is found by a patrol ship and returned to the fortress he first came from. After a very impersonal funeral ceremony, he wakes up speaking Drac’s language and is saved by a medical team. Davidge is accused of working with the enemy, but that will not stop him from stealing a ship to go and help rescue Zammis from the scavengers. Davidge locates the mining facility on Fryine IV, and with the help of the Dracs who recognise him as “uncle” eventually finds Zammis. He also finds Stubbs, Brion James who points out that he killed his brother on their first encounter. The Drac slaves have an uprising against the scavengers, leaving Davidge to kill Stubbs. Davidge is finally reunited with his nephew as the crew from the fortress arrive, and the mining facility is shut down.

Davidge and Zammis return to the Drac homeworld for Zammis heritage ceremony. Just as he promised his old friend, Davidge recites the complete Jeriba ancestry before the Holy Council. And in the fullness of time, Zammis brought its own child before the Holy Council, the name of ‘Willis Davidge’ was added to the line of Jeriba.” I loved every second of revisiting the movie, and it fills me with joy to write about it. It’s a tale as old as time, and watching Davidge transform from a soldier to Jerry’s friend, and later Zammis uncle is quite extraordinary and makes you think about how people interact with each other in everyday life. This is what science fiction does best, it takes real-life issues and shows you how pointless hate is. The special effects look pretty dated, but it feels like a classic B movie, and it can get away with it. I guess the wonderful soundtrack by Maurice Jarre certainly helped create that feeling, as some of the music on this score took me back to some of the glorious black-and-white sci-fi shows of the past. Wolfgang Peterson, the cast and everyone involved created a great film, and one, I am glad I revisited because these kinds of stories should always be told. Well directed, wonderfully written, criminally underrated and a perfect example of how this genre can tell the truth without prejudice. 

So, where can I go next in My Journey into Science Fiction Part 16? I was thinking about watching Solar Crisis as Maurice Jarr wrote the score for that film. However, the winner is Dreamscape, 1984. The Movie stars Dennis Quaid, but also has a music composed by Maurice Jarre. I actually haven’t seen this film before, but I can’t wait to watch it.

Thank you for visiting today, it really is appreciated. If you enjoyed this review, please leave me a like or comment below. Also, if you would like to follow my journey on this site, please subscribe for future posts.

My Journey into Science Fiction Archives.

My Projects.