DramaScience Fiction

Enemy Mine

- Enemies because they were taught to be. Allies because they had to be. Brothers because they dared to be.

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.

Release Date : 1985-12-12

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Bavaria FilmSLM Production GroupKings Road Entertainment20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Willis Davidge

Original Name : Dennis Quaid

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jeriba 'Jerry' Shigan

Original Name : Louis Gossett Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stubbs

Original Name : Brion James

Gender : Male

Character Name : Arnold

Original Name : Richard Marcus

Gender : Male

Character Name : Morse

Original Name : Carolyn McCormick

Gender : Female

Character Name : Joey Wooster

Original Name : Lance Kerwin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Zammis

Original Name : Bumper Robinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Old Drac

Original Name : Jim Mapp

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jonathan

Original Name : Scott Kraft

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wilson

Original Name : Lou Michaels

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bates

Original Name : Andy Geer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cates

Original Name : Henry Stolow

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wise Guy

Original Name : Danmar

Gender : Male

Character Name : 1st Medic

Original Name : Mandy Hausenberger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hopper

Original Name : Herb Andress

Gender : Male

Character Name : Drac Movement

Original Name : Jack Luceno

Gender : Male

Character Name : Huck

Original Name : Barry Stokes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Daggett

Original Name : Ulrich Günther

Gender : Male

Character Name : Simpson

Original Name : Emily Woods

Gender : Female

Character Name : Chavo

Original Name : Colin Gilder

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kranzer

Original Name : Charles M. Huber

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lump

Original Name : Frank Henson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scarbreath

Original Name : Jazzer Jeyes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Walker

Original Name : Doug Robinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hensler

Original Name : Mark McBride

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mills

Original Name : Menyhért René Balog-Dutombé

Gender : Male

Character Name : Special Drac

Original Name : Tony L. Moore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Narrator (voice)

Original Name : Tom Baker

Gender : Male

Reviews

Filipe Manuel Neto

@FilipeManuelNeto

2023-09-12

**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.