Deep Space 1988

On a U.S. military satellite project, head scientist Dr. Forsyth, James Booth, oversees a high-stakes operation. When control is lost, the team cannot prevent a crash within two hours. Upon impact, the capsule cracks open, revealing a dormant biological weapon — a sentient creature nicknamed Sentar. Forsyth informs General Randolph, Norman Burton, that the payload is a new kind of weapon; the General wants it destroyed via a remote emergency system, but Forsyth remains cautious, arguing there is little risk that it will wake. A careless disturbance by a passing couple wakes the creature and sets it loose, sending it toward Los Angeles.

Across Los Angeles, veteran police lieutenant Ian McLemore, Charles Napier, is paired with Carla Sandbourn, Ann Turkel, a newly transferred officer. Their boss, Captain Robertson, Bo Svenson, tries to steer them away from danger due to McLemore’s notorious luck. The pair are contacted by a psychic calling Lady Elaine Wentworth, Julie Newmar, who hints at knowledge of the events. McLemore and Sandbourn head to Innsmouth Road, where a double homicide is discovered with a large, organic pod at the scene and several smaller ones. They and their partner Jerry Merris, Ron Glass, decide to take two smaller pods back to the lab for study, fearing a possible cover-up.

The large pod is brought to the local forensics lab, where Dr. Rogers, Anthony Eisley, is killed by an unseen force. Testing reveals fragments of an unknown metal that don’t match anything known. When McLemore and Merris try to return, Military Police block their entry, led by a mysterious suited officer. The same man is seen leaving Robertson’s office, who soon informs them the deaths are ruled accidental despite the obvious evidence. Back home, McLemore receives another call from the psychic. Lady Elaine Wentworth claims to know more about the events.

McLemore and Sandbourn visit an entomologist they know, drilling into one pod; a creature bursts out and attacks the entomologist and Sandbourn. The creature is destroyed in a terrarium filled with gas. Merris’ pod hatches back at his house and Merris is killed; a chase follows and the second creature is killed. Lady Elaine directs them to the location of the original creature, and Sandbourn calls for backup. The final confrontation sees the creature fight McLemore; Robertson arrives, and the distraction allows McLemore to decapitate the creature with a chainsaw.