Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Directed by William Shatner
- science fiction
- action
- adventure
- thriller
The story
A renegade Vulcan with a startling secret hijacks the U.S.S. Enterprise in order to find a mythical planet.
What it’s like
Bright, glossy 1980s studio science fiction: clean starship corridors lit in flat cool white, lens flares across the bridge, and wide desert and canyon vistas bathed in hard, sun-bleached daylight that gives way to moody blue-black space. Camera work is conventional and steady, with plenty of medium two-shots and sweeping establishing shots of the Enterprise against stars, and the score leans on brassy fanfare and synth swells that tip into campfire-style sentiment. The vibe is earnest, wry and a little goofy, with friendship warmth at its centre, the kind of comfort-watch you put on for a lazy Saturday or as easy background while folding laundry. Pacing is brisk in the action sequences and loose and chatty in the quieter character scenes. The emotional arc follows three old friends reckoning with loyalty, grief and a long-buried family wound, with humour cutting through the heavier beats. Intensity is moderate: there are phaser fights, some hostage peril and a brief, bloodless scuffle, but no gore and nothing graphic or frightening. Suited to fans of the franchise and anyone who wants gentle, nostalgic space adventure with a big heart and no real dread.
More films like Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
