Monster Ark (2008) (TV)

User Rating:

3.8/10   

Director:

Declan O'Brien

Writer:

Declan O'Brien (writer)

Release Date:

9 August 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot Keywords:

Biblical Prophecy | Archeology | Iraq | Scroll | Monster

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 19

12:00 AM

SYFY

Cast

Renée O'Connor	...	Ava
Tim DeKay	...	Nicholas
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Gentry
Amanda Crew	...	Joanna
Carlos Leon	...	Belus
Richard Gnolfo	...	Wilson
Tommy Nohilly	...	Coles
Bill Parks	...	Russell
Velislav Pavlov	...	Laborer
Bashar Rahal	...	The Insurgein leader
Mike Straub	...	Hutch
Hristo Mitzkov	...	Belus' Lt
George Zlatarev	...	Iraqui Captain Backhar

Also Known As:

Genesis Code (USA) (working title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Sofia, Bulgaria

Company:

Ark Productions

Goofs:

Factual errors: Tiny Lister's character is repeatedly referred to as "Major" or "the Major" (O-4) even though he is wearing Sergeant Major rank (E-9) on his uniform.

Disappointing

Despite the presence of several veteran actors, Monster Ark amounts to little more than below-average horror shlock. The premise is mildly interesting - the recovery of an ancient manuscript suggesting that the Biblical Noah performed a prior task for God; constructing a previous Ark to serve as a prison for a monster unleashed by the Darkness (they don't go much into what exactly the Darkness was, because this is not a "thinking" movie). Needless to say, the monster is freed by the notably self-absorbed archaeologists to wreak havoc. All of this amounts to little more than a vehicle for a bad CGI-generated monster (who apparently has steak knives for forearms) to leap around hacking at people. It is also impervious to any man-made weapon, but often flees, anyway. Luckily, there is an ancient brotherhood created to protect us from this thing... though they seem pretty useless as far as the plot goes. The script deals with the numerous religious concepts raised by the usual half-hearted science-vs-religion lines, but nobody seems overly sorry about the fact that their mindless ambition has unloosed a killing machine - and possibly even the apocalypse- on an unsuspecting world. But this is supposed to be a horror film (not at all scary) with some action (not very exciting). But what do you expect from a film that supposedly takes place in Iraq but is shot in Bulgaria? Sure, there's a war on, but... A few brights spots - "Tiny" Lister stomping around snarling and shooting guns in an unintentionally funny role as a U.S. Army major, and the only two characters I didn't find annoying, Professor Nick's two students: lovely Amanda Crew and amusing Bill Parks (filling the token roles of young hottie and sarcastic nerd, respectively). It would have been more entertaining (and, oddly, more believable) as one of those teen-slasher films. Instead we get a ridiculous CGI creature leaping around the "desert" while a pack of idiots figures out what to do about it. It's nice to know Xena's side-kick can still get work, but do yourself a favor and pass on this one.