Species (1995)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writer (WGA):

Dennis Feldman (written by)

Release Date:

7 July 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

If you build it, they will come.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Scientist | Killing | Seti | Human Alien

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Ben Kingsley	...	Xavier Fitch
Michael Madsen	...	Preston Lennox
Alfred Molina	...	Dr. Stephen Arden
Forest Whitaker	...	Dan Smithson, Empath
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

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Canada:18A (Alberta) (1999) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 (w) | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo, Puerto Rico

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Despite being conceived in the traditional manner, Sil's baby is born by being pushed out of her chest cavity, not her abdomen. This is reminiscent of another H.R. Giger creation, the alien from Alien (1979), who was 'born' by bursting violently out of a character's chest.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Shadow, on the train compartment, above Dan's head.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Strictly Background (2007)

Soundtrack:

Enchanted

Silly, trashy, but fun b-grade exploitation. If you loved 'Lifeforce' you'll enjoy 'Species'.

Is 'Species' a groundbreaking, visionary SF movie? No, of course not. Is it silly, trashy, but FUN b-grade exploitation SF in the tradition of Tobe Hooper's 'Lifeforce'? You bet! It isn't quite as entertaining as 'Lifeforce', the original naked space chick movie, but it's a still pretty good way to waste an hour and a half of your life. Why it gets slammed so much is beyond me. Maybe people just don't have a sense of humour. The opening of the movie is terrific. In a lab we see a cold scientist (Ben Kingsley) overseeing the murder of a young girl (Michelle Williams), imprisoned in a glass case. Only she escapes by showing some super human strength. She is immediately pursued by dozens of soldiers, but manages to elude them. We then learn she is in fact a genetic experiment, a mixing of extraterrestrial and human DNA. Kingsley heads up a task force consisting of Michael Madsen, Alfred Molina, Marg Helgenberger and Forest Whitaker, each a specialist in a different field. Pretty soon our alien fugitive mutates into a gorgeous blonde (Natasha Henstridge), who spends most of her time topless. Kingsley and company face a race against time, they must capture the horny alien girl before she screws guys to death(?) or something... Who knows. Henstridge is great to look at and the above average cast give it their best shot with the lame dialogue and cliched scenes. Whitaker's empath character quickly irritates with his constant stating the bleedin' obvious, but I always get a kick out of watching Madsen, here in stereotypical tough guy mode. 'Species' is big dumb fun.