The 1965 film Mutiny in Outer Space features a wheel-like station designated X-7. After astronauts bring aboard a fungus in ice samples from lunar caves, well, it’s not a good situation…

Arguably most interesting external feature of X-7 is its central hub, which resembles an observatory with its dome and what appear to be telescopes protruding in a couple of places. Internally, we see a large control room with communication consoles, viewscreens and spacey chairs. There is also, notably, a botany lab in which one of the main characters works.

Film Review

As of writing this I have not been able to watch the whole thing, but my impression: Mutiny in Outer Space is a sturdy little picture. Reviews note the dimly-lit sets, but I find the overall look, while limited no doubt due to budgetary constraints, to be quite effective. This isn’t a movie that attempts to wow the viewer with flashy futurism; rather it presents life aboard a space station as more of a relatable, lived-in work environment. Think of it as an early precursor to The Expanse in that respect.

There are certainly elements of datedness on multiple levels, but on the whole I find Mutiny to be one of the more watchable science fiction films of its era. Its relatively grounded sense of setting provides a good foundation, once that environment is beset by a menacing space element. (Available to stream on Tubi in the US)

Think of the ice caves and have a good night! 🛰️