Species (1995)

A message from outer space contains instructions on how to modify human DNA.

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writer:

Dennis Feldman

Stars:

Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, Alfred Molina

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Kingsley	...	Xavier Fitch
Michael Madsen	...	Preston Lennox
Alfred Molina	...	Dr. Stephen Arden
Forest Whitaker	...	Dan Smithson
Marg Helgenberger	...	Dr. Laura Baker
Natasha Henstridge	...	Sil
Michelle Williams	...	Young Sil
Jordan Lund	...	Aide
Don Fischer	...	Aide
Scott McKenna	...	Train Hobo
Virginia Morris	...	Mother
Jayne Luke	...	Snack Shop Clerk
David K. Schroeder	...	German Tourist
David Jensen	...	Conductor
Esther Scott	...	Female Conductor

Storyline

In 1993, the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence Project receives a transmission detailing an alien DNA structure, along with instructions on how to splice it with human DNA. The result is Sil, a sensual but deadly creature who can change from a beautiful woman to an armour-plated killing machine in the blink of an eye. Government agent Xavier Fitch assembles a team of scientists and mercenaries to locate and destroy Sil before she manages to find a mate and breed.

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Plot Keywords:

dna | alien | seti | scientist | science | 

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Taglines:

Our time is up

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sci-fi violence, strong sexuality and some language

Details

Official Sites:

MGM-UA

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 July 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Especies

Filming Locations:

Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

£3,323,230 (UK) (17 November 1995)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film debut of Natasha Henstridge.

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Goofs

Shadow, on the train compartment, above Dan's head.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Xavier Fitch: I'm sorry.
Young Sil: [mouthing] I'm sorry.

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Connections

Referenced in 'Species III': Set Invasion (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Enchanted"
Written by Mojoe Nicosia and Dana Nicosia
Performed by Enchanted
Courtesy of RCA Records label of BMG Music

User Reviews

Amusing Alien Sleaze

Let's face it, SPECIES is a B movie with an A list cast & production design to match. It's a deceptive entertainment that finally shows it's hand during the boring, silly showdown in the sewer level from Quake II where you have to find the red key & beat the boss monster without the quad damage. I'd always drown before I could find the biosuit. Why this was never made into an adults oriented video game is beyond me, other than the obvious problem with marketing it to teenagers.

The whole SPECIES franchise was meant to cash in on the success of the ALIEN films, obviously, and go straight for the amniotic fluid in the reproductive cycle at the expense of logic, probability, and science. It's probably a better movie than it had to be and I'm sure that multiple viewings will bring out more nuances, though that's probably not the idea they had in mind when making it. Once will suffice for most viewers.

I enjoyed seeing Natasha Henstridge naked, however, and the H.R. Giger creature designs are fabulous as always. In fact I wondered, is the whole film really a contrivance just to get to see Giger's aliens mating with humans? Why yes, it probably is. And for some people that's enough to warrant watching it regardless of whom the lead body actress is. Giger's designs were sexually suggestive to begin with and with this movie he finally got to see them doing the nasty. I trust he was well paid.

In any event it's a wildly popular film for reasons that have nothing to do with the professionalism of the cast & crew. Which by the way someone should have told them before prodding us with their serious, emotive performances that serve as buffer zones between the sex & ooze scenes. Only Michael Madsen seems to be aware that it was essentially an exploitation film and acts accordingly. He's spoken of his pride in the work and it shows, especially when considering that he turned up for SPECIES 2 with it's bonus deathmatch levels and Capture The Flag mod.

6/10