"Battle Beyond the Stars" - More than Just a "Seven Samurai" Rip-Off?

Okay, let's talk about "Battle Beyond the Stars." Yes, yes, I know it's basically "Seven Samurai" or "The Magnificent Seven" in space. No points for originality there. But I've been chewing on something, and I think there's a bit more going on beneath the surface than a straight-up homage/rip-off (delete as applicable, depending on your mood!). Hear me out. Specifically, I'm intrigued by Gelt. Richard Thomas (John-Boy Walton in space, LOL) is fine as Shad, the innocent farmboy turned reluctant hero, but Gelt, played by Robert Vaughn (who also played one of the Magnificent Seven, talk about meta), is far more compelling. He's clearly haunted by something in his past – a sort of intergalactic PTSD. And it's never explicitly spelled out, but the way he reacts to threats, the almost nihilistic acceptance of danger, suggests to me he's seen some truly horrific stuff. He's not just a mercenary; he's a survivor. I think they really undersold his character. He could have carried a whole other movie on his own. Here's my theory: Gelt's backstory actually explains the bizarre, almost cartoonish violence that pervades the film. We're seeing the events through his jaded, traumatized eyes. Everything is heightened, exaggerated because that's how he perceives the universe. The villains are cartoonishly evil because, to Gelt, even the run-of-the-mill bad guys represent the cosmic horror he's been fighting for years. The "Stinger" ship chase with the weird breast-like guns? Purely a manifestation of Gelt's repressed anxieties. Okay, maybe I'm reaching a bit there, but you get my point. The film's tone reflects his psychological state. Also, Sybil Danning... pure brilliance, but maybe her character's motivations are even stranger if you see them through Gelt's eyes. Maybe I'm giving the filmmakers too much credit, and it's all just cheesy 80s sci-fi. But that doesn't make it less of a fun watch. And I think my theory adds a layer of depth (whether intentional or not) that elevates it above your average space opera. Let me know what you think. Am I crazy, or is there something to this? And does anyone know the real director? Every source I've seen says it's unknown.