Directed by Alexander Whitelaw
Review by David Carter


Released by Mondo Macabro
Running Time: 85 minutes
Rating: NR
Color format: Color
Audio/Subtitles: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo English
Region Code: 1, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
16:9 Enhanced: No
Special Features: Interview with Director, Director’s audio commentary, Essay on the film by Pete Tombs
Trailer Online: No

TARAS BULBA producer Alexander Whitelaw made his first foray into directing with the complex 1974 film LIFESPAN. Containing elements of mystery, drama, and science-fiction, the film was almost impossible to classify due to the fact that it doesn’t fit neatly into any of those categories. The film’s curious nature and the presence of Klaus Kinski have led to it attaining a measure of cult status. When you also consider the fact that a controversial bondage scene was edited out of most prints, you have a film that ranked pretty high on most cult collectors’ “wanted” lists. Mondo Macabro is in the business of bringing cult classics to DVD for the first time, and they’ve made LIFESPAN their latest release.

Young American scientist Ben Land has been receiving a lot of attention for his advancements in the field of gerontology, the study of aging. Land is working on proving his controversial theory that the aging process can be stopped, and he has accepted an invitation to collaborate with Dr. Linden, a like-minded researcher. Land travels to Amsterdam to work with Linden and is surprised to find him cold and aloof. He travels to Linden’s apartment for a meeting only to find that he has hung himself from the rafters. Land becomes obsessed with finding the reason for Linden’s suicide. Unable to find Linden’s notes, he’s forced to attempt to discover the secrets of his research on his own. Land discovers that Linden was able to successfully prolong his lab rats’ lives to almost double the expected length, but he’s unable to determine how. Unbeknownst to Land, every move he makes is being carefully monitored by a mysterious man in the shadows.

In order to find out more of Linden’s secrets, Land begins a relationship with Linden’s mistress, Anna. Anna proves to be as much of an enigma as the Linden’s research, but Land is able to pick up on the subtle clues that she provides him. Through Anna, Linden meets the mysterious “Swiss Man”, the man who had been following him all along. He’s actually Nicolas Ulrich, a wealthy Swiss businessman obsessed with cheating death. Ulrich makes Land an offer to give him the secret formula that Linden possessed in exchange for granting Ulrich immortality once the drug is successful. Land is then torn between his desire for the secrets of immortality and his realization that everything that has happened to him may have been carefully orchestrated by Ulrich. On top of this, Land’s own sanity begins to come into question. Is the secret of eternal youth all a fantasy?

LIFESPAN is a complex and challenging film that still manages to be easy to follow. There are several ways to interpret what takes place in the film and it lends itself well to critical thought after you’ve finished watching it. You can look at the film in the very straightforward series of events detailing Dr. Land’s investigation into Linden’s death. However, the real beauty of the film comes from examining the smaller aspects of plot. Anna plays the role of a double-agent so to speak, working closely with Ulrich and yet having a relationship with Land. How you choose to interpret her true motivations can change the way you view her actions. The film also does an excellent job of making subtle references to both the Nazis and FAUST in regards to Ulrich, heavily implying that he is more than he appears to be on the surface.

Hiram Keller does well in his role as the “innocent” Dr. Land who is swept up in machinations beyond his control or understanding. The film allows Land’s own paranoia and distrust to guide the viewer’s assumptions somewhat, but leaves the ultimate decisions about reality in the often dreamlike plot up to the audience. Kinski delivers his usual outstanding performance as the enigmatic Ulrich. His role is relatively small in terms of screen time, but the character and Kinski’s performance add another dimension to the film.

Mondo Macabro never disappoints fans with their releases, and LIFESPAN more than lives up to the standards they’ve set for themselves. The film looks stunning despite its age, and is presented in anamorphic widescreen. In the way of extras Mondo Macabro has included some bonuses that will prove interesting for fans of the film. First there is a short essay on the history of the film by film historian and author Pete Tombs. Also included is an interview with director Whitelaw as well as feature-length commentary by him. The interview in particular gives insight into other interpretations of the film.

LIFESPAN is the type of movie that you’ll enjoy thinking about after it’s over as much as you’ll enjoy watching it. The dual mysteries of Linden’s death and his discovery will engage you right from the start. Though you may have seen this film classified as science fiction, or even more erroneously as horror, don’t let that color your opinion of the film before you see it. LIFESPAN is a densely layered film that transcends the boundaries of classification and is a true classic of seventies cinema.