SPECIES

US, 1995, 108 minutes, Colour.
Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, Alfred Molina, Forest Whitaker, Marg Helgenberger, Natasha Henstridge, Michelle Williams.
Directed by Roger Donaldson.


Species has scientists going beyond limits, this time creating a monster from DNA from an alien. The alien grows rapidly into an attractive female determined to mate and reproduce. The scientists spend the film pursuing her to destroy her.

So, it is related to the Aliens series. It has its scary moments, but it is more of an action chase movie. The strong cast makes the pursuers more interesting than usual and the screenplay has more wit than the more slambang versions of this kind of science-fiction.

The plot and treatment are for adults rather than merely matinee material. Chase the alien!

1. Science fiction of the 1990s? Looking back to the past, stories of alien contacts, close encounters, Roswell?

2. The blend of science-fiction with touches of horror? Pursuing a monster? Blood and gore?

3. The reputation of the director, the strong cast?

4. The title, the focus on the creature, information about messages from space, the answers, DNA, combination with human DNA, the production of the creature?

5. The girl in the cage, audience sympathy, Fitch watching her, his decision, the cyanide, the effect, her getting out, running away, over the fence, to the railway yards, onto the train, the beginning of her killings? The food, getting the cash, the guard and her kindness, destroying her? The rapid growth? The food, the effect on her metabolism? The appearance of the tentacles, the cocoon in the carriage?

6. The team, gathered together, Fitch in charge, Press as a hunter, ruthless? Laura, science background? Stephen, lecturer, issues of culture? Dan, his insights, the seer, detecting emotions? The interaction?

7. Forming a team, Fitch and his explanations, motivations, the detective work, going to the train and seeing the destruction, going to the club, to the house of the man took Sil home? The next house and the pool, the dead body? Going underground? The worker killed, the chase, the finale in the sewers, the successive deaths?

8. Sil as child, rapid growth into an adult, her beauty, going to the hotel, charming people, the credit card? Buying the dress in the shop, wearing it? Going to the club, flirting? Picking up the man, going home? Her urge to mate, to become pregnant? The attempted sex, his saying no, Sil resisting, his being diabetic and taking the insulin, killing him? Taking the car, the terrified woman and her being tied up, crashing into the pole? The man helping at the hospital, paying the bill, taking her home, taking the photo, in the pool, her aggressiveness, his resistance, his being killed? Going into the sewers, killing the guard?

9. The hotel, Laura and Press getting on well and the sexual encounter, Stephen and his staying in the bar, going to his room, Sil and her being in the corridor, her disguise with her hair? The sexual encounter, her becoming pregnant? Killing him?

10. The sewers, the birth of the child, the little boy, the group and the chase, the flamethrower, Fitch and his being killed, Dan and the child, the gun, hanging on, the monster grabbing him, his death? Press and Laura and surviving?

11. The scenario of the pregnancy, giving birth, the boy, the potential for more eggs and creatures, domination?