| 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 | |
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Scott McKenna | ... | Train Hobo |
| Virginia Morris | ... | Mother | |
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Jayne Luke | ... | Snack Shop Clerk |
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David K. Schroeder | ... | German Tourist |
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David Jensen | ... | Conductor |
| Esther Scott | ... | Female Conductor | |
In 1993, a search for extraterrestrial life, a transmission's received, 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 armor-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. Written by Amazon
Admittedly you would either need to be 50 plus with a good memory, or to be a well-versed student of older sci-fi but in 1961 Miss Julie Christie made her screen debut in the British TV Sci-fi serial A FOR ANDROMEDA. The plot? Signals are received from deep-space seemingly the blue-print for the creation of human life. Scientists of course find the opportunity way too tempting and before you can say "Told you that was a dumb move!" we have a genetically engineered, rather stunning young blonde walking around the lab, causing all sorts of political and scientific unrest.....sound familiar?
Yep, SPECIES was a total conceptual rip-off and to my knowledge, either no-one has ever noticed the fact OR has failed to put such view into print. Certainly not a solitary film critic worldwide that I read at the time was aware of the fact! That said, SPECIES wasn't a total flopperoo although Ben Kingsley looked majorly uncomfortable, if not stunned for the greater part of the flick, as the head science honcho really wanting his creation (the delectable and statuesque Miss Henstridge) dead on sight....a task he bequeathes to Mr Madsen who always enjoys work of this sort!
Never really scales the heights. Neither a major gore-fest or a jaw-dropping ALIEN-wannabe. It labors on beneath its own mediocrity and when it finally finishes, about the only emotion left to the viewer is.."Hmmmmm, OK, now I've seen SPECIES....what's for dinner?" Compared to its sequel however, it remains a rare masterpiece!