Monday, Film4, 2:10am
When Cocoon hit cinemas in 1985, it seemed like a small sci-fi story tucked into a Reagan-era coming-of-age tapestry—but it had a life of its own, bolstered by a surprisingly touching narrative and an ambitious score by James Horner. Directed by Ron Howard, who was just stepping into his big Hollywood stride, Cocoon tells the story of a group of elderly residents in a Florida retirement community who stumble upon the secret of eternal youth in a nearby pool, courtesy of alien “antique dealers” from a planet called Antarea. Somehow, it’s both wistful and wonderfully whimsical—a film that smuggles meditations on aging and friendship into a sci-fi package, managing to be heartfelt without toppling into sentimentality, which, frankly, was no small feat for 1980s sci-fi cinema.
The soundtrack deserves special mention for how deftly it carries this mix of nostalgia and wonder. James Horner, who’d already been a genre staple after Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, brought a layered, almost sentimental quality to Cocoon’s music. His theme for the “lifeforce” pool is a sort of shimmering, hopeful melody—almost like sunlight on water—while the otherworldly elements give us hints of cosmic mystery without going full Close Encounters. Horner’s score is more understated than his later works, but there’s real beauty in that restraint. He understood that this wasn’t a film about aliens, per se; it was about what it means to keep growing, even when society expects you've outgrown the need for adventure.
Today, Cocoon might feel quaint next to CGI-laden blockbusters, but there’s something irresistibly human about its low-key effects and tender narrative. As sci-fi, it’s a reminder that not every story has to involve saving the world—sometimes, it’s just about finding your spark again. And in an odd way, it’s aged into its themes. For viewers now older than the film’s elderly heroes, it still resonates as a charming exploration of vitality and friendship, buoyed by Horner’s nostalgic score. We might not all find a pool with alien life force to dip into, but Cocoon leaves you with the impression that reinvention is always within reach, even if it's a tad extraterrestrial.
- Noel Chambers