Species
SPECIES (18)
D: Roger Donaldson
MGM (Fred Mancuso, Jr. & Dennis
Feldman)
US 1995
108 mins
Science Fiction/Thriller
W: Dennis Feldman
DP: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Ed: Conrad Buff
Mus: Christopher Young
Natasha Henstridge (Sil), Ben Kingsley (Xavier Fitch),
Michael Madsen (Preston Lennox), Alfred Molina (Dr. Stephen Arden), Forest Whitaker (Dan Smithson), Marg Helgenberger (Dr. Laura Baker)
With H.R. Giger as the creative brains in the special
effects crew, it's little surprise how much this rips off his creature design for 1979's Alien, despite his specific instructions not to do so.
Natasha Henstridge plays an intergalactic beasty
masquerading as a voluptuous beauty. Her plan is to be impregnated by some Earth man so her seed can eventually conquer the planet. The only thing that stands in her way is a team of
scientists who allowed her to break loose in the first place.
There are some good moments of tension in this science
fiction-thriller and, in parts, some good visual effects. The film falls apart in the final act however when some truly awful CGI effects take over in place of a satisfying
climax.
4/10
SPECIES II (18)
D: Peter Medak
Universal/MGM (Fred Mancuso, Jr.)
US 1998
93 mins
Science Fiction/Thriller
W: Chris Brancato
DP: Matthew F. Leonetti
Ed: Richard Nord
Mus: Edward Shearmur
Michael Madsen (Preston Lennox), Natasha Henstridge (Eve),
Marg Helgenberger (Dr. Laura Baker), Mykelti Williamson (Dennis Gamble), James Cromwell (Sen. Judson Ross)
Boring retread of the first film, with a few members from
the original returning to go through the exact same motions. The story makes little sense in comparison to the first film and is little more than an excuse for main actress Natasha Henstridge
to participate in more kit-offery.
Even the CGI is worse with these sloppy seconds, taking
even more stock from the Alien movies and H.R. Giger's sexually-influenced designs.
Two more sequels followed, both released direct to the
home video market.
3/10
