Species – Review

Okay, it’s best to usually start with the good, right? So, good casting, acting, alien design and story setup. So far, super solid! As a gigantic satellite dish SETI (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence) has been in operation for over 30 years, and it eventually receives a message in 1993. A couple years later and the Government Experimental Lab in Dugway, Utah is already cooking up some interesting results.

Scientists have done something to a young girl (Williams) to unknown results. Xavier Fitch (Kinglsey) watches the captive girl as she is in a clear bubble-type cage construction. Incoming cyanide tanks lugged in by hazmat suited lab techs signal the end of this experiment. Fitch mouths “I’m sorry” to the young girl as she cries out for help.

Certainly the gas will kill this girl and the movie will end. Oh wait, no? Kapow! The young girl is free, busting loose of the lab and running through the surrounding fields, chased by the army. Will she get away? What about when a crack team of experts are on the hunt?

Species is a really good Sci-Fi premise, with a decent opening and some continuing promising ideas, however overall, it is held back by a story that descends into an over-sexualized and simplified plot. Despite the trove of fine actors, the characters only have so many brain cells which seem to evaporate exponentially as the minutes roll on.

While it has some cool Sci-Fi and horror ideas and moments, ultimately Species is more of a frustrating letdown than anything else after the dope opening. It’s worth a watch for those wanting 90s thrills and some higher budget Sci-Fi sleaze. Unless you absolutely adore this flick, I would avoid all sequels, as even the 2^nd one is pretty rough.