The planet Xeno is a frozen planet with two suns. A team of archaeologists are there researching the remnants of an ancient civilization. They find a complex cave system and a tomb. When they enter the tomb, they find some markings on the walls that could give them an insight to the culture that created them. They also find some unusual crystals. An explosion of some kind injures two of the explorers, Dean (Dominic Jephcott) and Ricky (David Baxt). Clutched in Dean’s hand are some of the crystals. Sharon (Heather Wright) determines that the crystals have some sort of energy force surrounding them.
The project head, Holly (Jennifer Ashley) doesn’t want anyone to go back into the tomb. Mitch (Trevor Thomas) has a theory that the extinct civilization was ruled by twins. The existence of the two suns enforces that theory. He also believes that the ancient civilization was controlled by a chemical intelligence of some kind. He wants to return to the tomb to explore his theory further.
Holly sends Kate (Stephanie Beacham) and Gail (Rosalind Lloyd) out to photograph the damage. The crystal that Ricky had been holding begins to glow and pulsate. It takes over Ricky’s mind. He goes crazy and attacks everyone. He puts on a space suit and goes out into the caves. He assaults Gail and her foot becomes trapped in some debris and her spacesuit is damaged. She tries to cut off he own foot and ends up freezing to death. Ricky attacks Kate. She shoots him before he can open the airlock to the base and release all the air.
The doctor, Karl (Barrie Houghton), thinks that the crystals may have something to do with Ricky going crazy. Mitch and Sandy (Judy Geeson) are sent out to collect more crystals for analysis. They are attacked by an alien creature. Mitch is killed and Sandy is artificially inseminated by the creature. When she is examined by Karl, he determines that she is pregnant. Her pregnancy grows at an accelerated rate. The alien intelligence takes over her mind and Sandy is sent on a mission to kill everyone on the base.
“Inseminoid” AKA “Horror Planet” was released in 1981 and was directed by Norman J. Warren. It is a British science fiction horror space opera. The special alien make-up effects were done by Nick Maley.
The so-called rape scene is actually Sandy being artificially inseminated. Many people mistake the plastic-like tube with a green substance flowing through it as an alien penis. The filmmakers were afraid that an actual alien rape scene would have been cut by the sensors. Still, it managed to get the point across. Bans and protests of the film due to its graphic insemination and birth scene made the film more popular.
Suffice it to say, this was one really strange movie. Other than Sandy and Mark snuggling in the lab next to some glowing crystals, any nude scenes are more gross than sexual.
Many assume that the film is a rip off of “Alien” 1979. 20th Century Fox, the producers of “Alien”, reviewed the film and declared that it was not a rip off and even gave the filmmakers their blessing.
Much of the movie was shot in Chislehurst Caves in Kent, England.