Dead Space Movie: 11 Movies To Watch If You Like Dead Space

Updated:

14 Apr 2017

Looking for a good Dead Space movie?

The Dead Space franchise has taken on a life of its own in recent years. The fan base has turned into a virtual fan-verse and in the Dead Space universe there are a number of related movies that fans absolutely must see. Here I have compiled a list of must see films for lovers of Dead Space listed in order of lowest rated to top rated films. I’ll give a synopsis of the film, I promise no real spoilers, and give you an idea of why these films relate to Dead Space fans. So sit back and enjoy the countdown!

11. Alien: Covenant (2017)

Alien: Covenant Official Trailer

Directed by Ridley Scott, Alien: The Covenant is rumored to answer some of the questions left behind by Alien Resurrection. The Covenant is a colony ship that is exploring the galaxy and happens upon what its believes to be an uncharted paradise, but in all actuality is a dark, desolate world inhabited by one android named David who survived the Prometheus Expedition.

Alien: Covenant Movie Poster

Leaked still of an alien from the film

10. Last Days On Mars

The Last Days On Mars - Official Trailer

Directed by Ruairi Robinson, this intense thriller is a must see for Dead Space fans. On the last day of a very long manned mission to Mars the crew of the Tantalus Base are a bit disheartened by not having much to show for their time exploring the red planet. However, at the last minute they discover something astounding; fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew get all the glory, one member of the team disobeys a direct order to collect the samples. But his hubris will cost the crew more than just time.

Unlike Dead Space this film takes place on mars, nowhere near Jupiter. There is significantly less gore putting this film firmly in the thriller category. Like Dead Space there are some stark psychological changes that occur with the crew as the story progresses. There is also an infection that causes human beings to behave violently; sound familiar? This infections ability to infiltrate the human body and warp the mind is reminiscent of the effects the Marker had on humans in Dead Space. Fans of the series will find that this film does not disappoint.

The movie soundtrack definitely sets an ominous atmosphere throughout the entire film and the visuals make this film a delight for the senses. You can expect plenty of jump scares to make up for the lack of gore. All in all I give this film a solid 7 out of 10.

Official Movie Poster

Marco, a member of the Tantalus crew, has become a zombie

9. Harbinger Down (2015

Trailer

Written and directed by Alec Gillis, this film is definitely reminiscent of Dead Space. When a group of grad students book passage on a crabbing vessel bound for the frozen Bering Sea they quickly find the discovery of a lifetime. A Soviet space ship frozen for over 3 decades. Not only that, but the ship contains a mutated experiment that has survived the harsh conditions of space and the Antic. What happens next, is more than any of the crew were prepared to deal with.

After recovering a relic of the Soviet Union, the overzealous student rushes to investigate and Inadvertently unleash a mutated parasite on the crew. A parasite that kills its host and mutates them into something else. It manipulates its host’s DNA to create twisted visages. The grad student is quickly regretting having thawed this creature out in the first place. But it’s too late for regrets as the creature hops from host to host on a bloodthirsty rampage that will definitely satisfy Dead Space fans. There is a slight psychological component to this film as you never know who is next and plenty of action to keep you engaged in the plot. The start is admittedly slow, but once it gets going it’s a roller coaster to be sure. The visuals and score are well formulated to produce a great cinematic experience that you won’t forget. All in all I give this film a 7 out of 10

Official Movie Poster

Grotesque alien changing forms

8. The Thing (2011)

Movie Trailer

This remake of the 1982 classic is a refreshing take on story. Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., the story fallows paleontologist Kate Lloyd who goes on an expedition to Antic. Her find promises to advance the knowledge of her particular field. But some things are better left undiscovered. Quickly she finds herself fighting for her life against an alien presence that could mimic anyone at anytime.

Like Harbinger down this film is seat on Earth and in the Antic. We have a group of eager researchers investigating a once in a lifetime discovery. It’s a clear case of an alien presence being unleashed. Much like Harbinger Down, some things are better off remaining frozen. Dead space fans will notice some parallels with this film to the game. You have an eager, yet unsuspecting crew taking on more than they bargained for. In this case, an alien being with the ability to infiltrate the human body distorting it into grotesque forms reminiscent of necromorphs. Hubris leads to disaster and you can’t help feeling that some of the deaths that occur are a result of karma. The alien’s ability to absorb and imitate the human form on a cellular level means the alien can be anyone at anytime adding a whole other level of terror for the crew. The visuals are a huge upgrade from the 1982 classic, but still maintain the character of the original film. There isn’t a lot of gore in this film, but there is plenty of action and a bit of a psychological horror component that endures throughout the film.

This story is one of survival in the face of a cunning creature and a bit of a cautionary tale about fools rushing in. If you love the story of men against alien that was Dead Space you’ll love this film. I give this film an 8 out of 10

Official Movie Poster

Alien twisting the human form

7. Aliens (1986)

Movie Trailer

This classic film had no trouble making this list. Despite its age it’s definitely a must see for Dead Space fans. For those who have never seen the film, it’s a sequel to the 1979 Aliens film. Directed by legendary film director James Cameron, creator of the blockbuster film Avatar, this film takes place on the planet from the first film. It has now been colonized, but the colony has suddenly fell out of radio contact. Fearing the worst a rescue team is dispatched to investigate. Ripley, survivor of the first encounter, is sent with a team of battle tested space marines to investigate the colony; taking the Marine ship called the Sulaco. As they fly to the planet LV-426 Ripley recounts her experiences from the first film and her encounter with the Alien presence though no one seems to take her seriously and her warnings fall on deaf ears. What they find will change everyone’s minds and it’s up to Ripley to lead them to survival.

Fans of the Dead Space series will find plenty to keep them interested in this film. The way it was shot puts this film ahead of its time and makes it relevant even today. So what are the similarities? Well, let’ have a look. Like Dead Space, we have a crew following a distress beacon to an unknown fate. The antagonist is an alien presence with the ability to infiltrate the human body leading to the death of its host. The classic film clearly influenced others on this list such as Prometheus, both Alien films and Event Horizon. There isn’t quite as much of a psychological component in this film, but what it lacks in this area it makes up for with plenty of human vs alien action. The action scenes are well constructed, though the weapons definitely portray the age of the film.

All in all this is a dynamic, ageless film that Dead Space fans will definitely enjoy. I give this film an 8 out of 10

Official Movie Poster

Ripley having nightmare of an alien bursting out of her stomach

6. Alien: Resurrection (1997)

Trailer

Set 200 years from the conclusion of Alien, this story centers around a clone of Ripley. The scientists decide to clone Ripley so they can get the alien from her. They have it locked down in a secure facility. However, one specimen escapes and all hell breaks loose on Auriga and to make matters worse, this ship that is now filled with aliens, is on a direct course to Earth. It’s up to Ripley to defeat the alien menace.

Dead space fans will notice there isn’t much of a psychological component to this film. This is okay, because the action more than makes up for it. You can expect a number of jump scares and the score goes well with the visuals. You have to keep in mind that this film is from the 90’s so the effects are a bit outdated. However, the experience is one that transcends time and is still relevant today. When you take into account the similarities between Dead Space and this film you can’t help, but give it an 8 out of 10.

Alien: Resurrection Poster

Alien creature staring down a crew member

5. Howl (2015)

Trailer

Directed by Paul Hyett, this story centers around a group of passengers on a train who are besieged upon by a menacing creature. Now they must combine their talents in an effort to survive this creature’s onslaught until the morning light breaks.

This film is a deviation from Dead Space in that it takes place on Earth. Though you could draw some parallels between this film and Dead Space. For example, you have an infection that twists man into something else. Couple that with the ambiance and you may be getting some flashbacks. The film itself isn’t so much sci-fi as it is a pure thriller. The plot of a group of people who can’t escape a supernatural force is a well trodden path, however howl gives you plenty of jump scares and we all love those. While it’s not getting any points for originality, it is definitely a film worth seeing if you are a Dead Space fan. I give it 8 out of 10.

Howl Movie Poster

A werewolf from the film

4. Pandorum (2009)

Trailer

In this film two crew members awake from cryo-sleep to find that they have no memory of why they are there or what their mission is. Slowly they realize they are not alone and as Cpl. Bower ventures out to explore the ship with Lt. Payton as his guide. Directed by Christian Alvart, this is a must see for Dead Space fans.

This film is definitely a psychological thriller worthy of the Dead Space fan-verse. From the first scene with Cpl. Bower waking from cryo-sleep frantic and disoriented, this film draws a number of parallels with the game. There is a ship with a crew that’s been ravaged by Pandorum, space madness, causing people to resort to canabalism. There is a psychological component that airs on the side of a thriller, but there is plenty of violence to make Dead Space fans cringe. I can’t help, but give points for originality. The plot is one you wouldn’t normally encounter in a horror movie and is one most will have never encountered before. The plot arch is like nothing I’ve ever seen before and it’s this originality that makes Pandorum an instant cult classic. I give it 9 out of 10.

Pandorum Movie Poster

Cpl. Bower waking up from hyper-sleep

3. Sector 7 (2011)

Trailer

Directed by Kim Ji-hoon, this film centers around the crew of an oil rig operating off the southern tip of Jeju Island, South Korea. While they are chasing oil, what they find is something much more sinister. Soon the crew is fighting for their lives surrounded by the sea.

This film is definitely embodies an element of humor which is ubiquitous through out Korean cinema. The characters tend to crack jokes and there is a bit of over acting that comes off as humorous. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t bring the horror. The story of hubris leading to destruction is one that transcends international boundaries. In this film the desire to pioneer a new kind of fuel lead to the deaths of many people. It’s a sort of cautionary tale highlighting the depths that man will go to advance science and turn a profit. The visuals in this film are stunning and the score definitely compliments them. I have to give this film a 9 out of 10.

Movie Poster

The alien roars with fury make

2. Prometheus (2012)

Trailer

Directed by Ridley Scott, this film is heavily influenced by Alien. Following a series of clues left behind by what they only identify as the Engineers of mankind, two researches lead a multi trillion dollar expedition to the planet to meet their creators. However, they quickly find that they are not alone on this planet and these “creators” may not be the benevolent beings they were expecting.

This film has everything we’re looking for. It has a deep psychological component coupled with some awesome action that keeps the viewer engaged. If you are looking for jump scares you’ll find them, but they are hard to predict. That ads to the charm of this film. You get the alien presence that warps the human form like in Dead Space along with some dynamic plot archs. This film has all the appeal of Alien with a modern twist that makes it relevant. I can’t help hoping for a sequel to resolve that cliff hanger, though. All in all I give this film a 10 out of 10

Official Movie Poster

The Engineer killing David

1. Event Horizon (1997)

Movie Trailer

Topping off the list is the 1997 title Event Horizon directed by Paul Ws. Anderson. It takes place in the year 2047. After the mysterious disappearance of the star-ship Event Horizon on its maiden voyage it mysteriously reappears. The rescue ship Lewis and Clark commanded by Capt. Miller is dispatched to investigate. What they find on this ship can best be described as a living Hell. Will the crew get out with their lives and their sanity?

This film has some stunning visuals and the very construction of the ships is reminiscent of the USG Ishimaru. Those who like Dead Space will appreciate the deep psychological component that endures throughout the film. There’s also some parallels that could be drawn between the film and game. There’s an alien intelligence that has sinister intentions for our unsuspecting crew. Like Dead Space the crew quickly encounters blood splattered rooms and dismembered corpses alluding to the fate of the previous crew. Crew members also experience some form of hallucinations, much like victims of the Marker, and one even commits suicide.

There isn’t a terribly high production, but the way it was shot makes it hard to notice the budget. The plot is extremely original and is like nothing we are used to seeing from the sci-fi/horror genre. It combines psychological elements with visceral violence and jump scares to make a truly unique viewing experience. This is a must see for Dead Space fans. I give this film a 10 out of 10.

So there is my list. There are many other movies that Dead Space fans may enjoy, but when It comes to the best of the best these movies are at the top of the list. Whether you love Dead Space for the psychological thrills that send shivers down your spine and keep you guessing or the action packed fight sequences this list has something for you. Check them out and let me know what you think about the movies on this list!