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Species II
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| Year: |
1998
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Director: |
Peter Medak
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| Stars: |
Michael Madsen, Natasha Henstridge, Marg Helgenberger, Mykelti Williamson, Justin Lazard, George Dzundza, James Cromwell, Miriam Cyr, Peter Boyle
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| Genre: |
Horror, Sex, Trash, Science Fiction |
| Rating: |
  3 (from 4 votes) |
| Review: |
After returning from the first manned mission to Mars, two astronauts have been infected by an alien organism. The same alien organism that has created Eve (Natasha Henstridge), a half alien/half human hybrid that wants to mate with the lead astronaut (Justin Lazard) - but he's been busy impregnating women, with deadly effects...
Chris Brancato wrote this trashy follow-up to Species (the not very enjoyable alien-on-the-loose horror from 1995), where everything was made more extreme - more gore, more nudity, more idiocy - and the result is completely barmy. Sex equals death here, and the film seems to be saying, "Don't sleep around or it'll be the end of civilisation as we know it!"
The authority figures are not to be trusted, because they just want to preserve killer aliens for military purposes or, in the senator's case, he can't be seen to lose face and therefore is willing to let the carnage continue. So our heroes are hired gun Michael Madsen, who glides through the proceedings in a state of bemusement, Marg Helgenberger, the earnest lady scientist, and Mykelti Williamson, who acts more like Huggy Bear than a noble astronaut.
While Species II isn't, well, good in any way, it's nutty enough to be more enjoyable than the po-faced original; you can't accuse it of being boring. A good example of the lunacy on display is that Eve learns to drive a car by watching The Dukes of Hazzard on TV (she also seems to be a fan of The Incredible Hulk).
As with the original, HR Giger's designs aren't displayed to flattering effect; in fact, the monster at the end is one of the most cumbersome you'll ever see. The film is certainly crazier than any Alien sequel you could name, which is not necessarily a good thing, I'll grant you, but it's still stupidly entertaining. Also with: Peter Boyle appearing uncredited to do a "Fools! They should have listened to me!" act. Music by Ed Shearmur. Species III, anyone? No? Please yourselves...
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| Reviewer: |
Graeme Clark
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