Mandrake (TV 2010)

An expedition led by adventurer DARREN McCALL and funded by the wealthy Harry Vargas braves the impenetrable jungle to retrieve a fabled bejeweled dagger from an ancient burial ground. But ... See full summary »

Director:

Tripp Reed

Writer:

David Ray

Stars:

Max Martini, Betsy Russell, Benito Martinez

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Max Martini	...	Sgt. McCall
Betsy Russell	...	Felicia
Benito Martinez	...	Harry Vargas
Jon Mack	...	Carla Manning
Nick Gomez	...	Santiago Zavala
Wayne Pére	...	Lin (as Wayne Pere)
Freddie Joe Farnsworth	...	Camp Boss
Alex Livinalli	...	Beast Warrior
Monica Peña	...	Old Yamballi Woman (as Monica Pena)
J. LaRose	...	Shaman
Wanetah Walmsley	...	Dr. Emma Kirpatrick
Marcus DeAnda	...	Senior Body Guard
Sam Medina	...	Beast Warrior
Diego J. Martinez	...	Customs Agent
Mark Yawn	...	Camp Guard #1

Storyline

An expedition led by adventurer DARREN McCALL and funded by the wealthy Harry Vargas braves the impenetrable jungle to retrieve a fabled bejeweled dagger from an ancient burial ground. But pulling the dagger from its rightful resting place awakens the long-dormant plant creature - part plant, part animal, and all bloodthirsty -- and sends it on a feeding frenzy from which there seems scant hope of survival or escape...

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Unearthed

Filming Locations:

Shreveport, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandrake Botanical Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

At the airport when Harry Vargas arrives with his car the cameraman and some crew members are reflected in the side of the car.

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Connections

References Casablanca (1942)

User Reviews

An Ecellent Sci Fi Channel Production

"Mandrake" (a ridiculous title, about as ridiculous as SyFy, and no more so than IMDb's "Top Billed Cast") is such a superior Sci Fi Channel production as to make me doubt that being the origin. The lead actors, despite the aforementioned "Top Billed Cast" are Max Martini (from "The Unit) as McCall, Jon Mack as Carla Manning, Nick Gomez as Santiago, and Benito Martinez (from lotsa shows, including "The Shield" and "Saving Grace") as Harry Vargas. Basically the plot has Vargas sending Manning and others, including Santiago as guide and McCall as bodyguard, to recover an ancestral artifact from some place in a Central or South American jungle. Mayhem obtains as natives and a "protective" entity object to the recovery. The players, including the females, are attractive, but not gorgeous, get with the action in a reasonable, human -- not superhero -- fashion, get dirty, and in some cases dead. I found the movie superior for the genre, and as I said, excellent, for a Sci Fi Channel production -- if in fact it was.