Liquid Sky (1982)

March 21, 2022 7:31 PM

Invisible aliens in a tiny flying saucer come to Earth looking for heroin. They land on top of a New York apartment inhabited by a drug dealer and her female, androgynous, bisexual nymphomaniac lover, a fashion model.

I am tickled to death by the idea of Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner watching this film as children, moving to NYC thinking it was actually like this, and making NYC actually like this upon realization that it wasn’t.

posted by infinitewindow (10 comments total)

I do think it's important to note there's a pretty graphic (at least, that's how I remember it) rape scene fairly early on. No, the movie isn't about that and it's definitely about more than just that, but everyone sold me on this as a fun punk movie & that really pulled me out of the mood. I think some warning is definitely warranted.

(I was watching a bad YouTube copy because this was before it was on DVD/Blu-ray/streaming so the quality didn't help it, no.)

It is an interesting movie with a lot to say and the soundtrack is great! I just want people to not have the experience I had.
posted by edencosmic at 7:51 PM on March 21, 2022 [4 favorites]

ME
ME AND MY
...
ME AND MY RHYTHM BOX
posted by phooky at 7:52 PM on March 21, 2022 [8 favorites]

Beyond Liquid Sky's aliens, 1982 itself is another planet.
posted by fairmettle at 10:18 PM on March 21, 2022 [3 favorites]

The first time I saw it, in the theater, there was a point where one of the characters was looking out at the skyline, and I was suddenly “the buildings. They are all hypodermics.” It’s one of those images that’s never left me. I haven’t seen it for decades, so I’m a little afraid to watch it again and find it too in love with heroin.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:53 AM on March 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Previously on the blue.
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:28 AM on March 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

CLUCK. CLUCK.

I saw this when it was released or a year or so after, and, man, that was kinda mind blowing. I haven't seen it in forever, and I'm not sure it would be as awesome to 56-year old me now.
posted by rmd1023 at 8:47 AM on March 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

From the previous blue post: "Liquid Sky is one of the most visually ambitious films ever made about fashion, heroin, New Wave clubs, UFO saucers, ordering Chinese food and having them put it on your tab, the Empire State Building, androgyny, neon and tin foil. The 1982 cult classic may be the perfect embodiment of camp. "

Which is a lot like how I enjoy describing Dead Snow as "arguably" the best Nazi zombie film to ever come out of Norway.
posted by Naberius at 10:32 AM on March 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

my first 'art' film. I'll never forget it.
posted by j_curiouser at 7:08 PM on March 22, 2022 [3 favorites]

Worth noting that Anne Carlisle (who also co-wrote the screenplay) plays not only the main character, the fashion model Margaret, but also her nemesis, Jimmy.
posted by Gelatin at 7:45 AM on March 23, 2022 [1 favorite]

Is that what it's about??
posted by latkes at 5:26 PM on March 25, 2022 [1 favorite]