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In Nicholas Roeg’s 1976 adaptation of Walter Tevis’s novel, extraterrestrial space explorer Thomas Newton (David Bowie) journeys to Earth to find an alternative source of water for his drought-stricken home planet. Quickly seduced by the Earthly vices of power of money (and the material luxuries that they afford), Thomas loses sight of his original intentions, gradually drifting into a state of existential crisis.

Reflecting Bowie’s own personal circumstances following the turbulent Ziggy Stardust years, the star’s pale complexion, thin frame, and permanently dilated left eye (first noticed by Roeg in Alan Yentob’s 1975 documentary Cracked Actor) made him the perfect fit for the role, resulting in one of Bowie’s most memorable on-screen performances.

Bowie’s intentionally peculiar depiction of the Thomas Newton character coupled with California’s harsh desert landscape, are masterfully harnessed by Roeg, resulting in an uncanny distancing effect, making the audience feel like outsiders looking in.

R18+ | High impact nudity and sex