Species II

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Reviewed by: Angus Wolfe Murray

Species II
"The slimy creature effects package (guts explosion) is becoming increasingly yukky."

It seems there are only two things that can happen in space. Either you get lost, or become infected by a quick growth alien organism that bursts out of your guts. There is a more ethereal alternative, preferred by serious directors at the posh end of the market (2001: A Space Odyssey, Contact), concerning mind-altering trippy stuff, an excuse to have fun with David Lynch visuals, and frankly a bore.

The slimy creature effects package (guts explosion) is becoming increasingly yukky. In fact, the yuk factor in Species II makes it barely watchable. What turns it into a turkey sandwich, however, is Chris Brancato's script and Michael Madsen's comatose performance.

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A trip to Mars results in two of the astronauts being invaded by the make up dept. Sex is definitely off limits, as unsuspecting lurve partners find themselves being raped by a monster, or, within hours, giving birth through the stomach wall to something unmentionable, after which a Midwitch Cuckoo child is seen wandering about in workhouse garb, looking for a shed in which to be cocooned. Shades of Bodysnatchers? The authorities - in this case an obese, half-blind, reactionary army colonel (George Dzundza) - take charge. They employ Press Lennox (Madsen), a private security dude in "Men In Black" shades, to track down the alien invasion. Press must be on something, he's so slow, stupid and out-to-lunch.

In addition to this nonsense, there's more in the form of Natasha Henstridge, who played the man-eating space nympho in the original Species. Now she's called Eve, half human, half extra terrestrial, artifically cloned and kept in a glass cage in the lab, wearing few clothes. Dr Laura Baker (Marg Helgenberger) acts as her minder, deeply sympathetic and ineffectual. Eve has telepathetic powers and lusts after the monster-in-the-astronaut. Sigh...! The braindead are amongst us. Peter (The Krays) Medak is one of them.

Reviewed on: 19 Jan 2001
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Astronauts come a cropper with nymphomaniac aliens while on a trip to Mars.
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Director: Peter Medak

Writer: Chris Brancato

Starring: Michael Madsen, Natasha Henstridge, Marg Helgenberger, Mykelti Williamson, George Dzundza, James Cromwell, Justin Lazard, Myriam Cyr, Sarah Wynter, Baxter Harris, Scott Morgan

Year: 1998

Runtime: 89 minutes

BBFC: 18 - Age Restricted

Country: US

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