The policy of packaging dangerous intentions in a desirable body wrap has been used well in ‘Species’. A cross between ‘Alien’ and the slasher genre, the film provides a fresh approach to the alien expansionist approach, but ends up slipping into the realm of soft porn. It will be remembered for Natasha Henstridge’s asset-show rather than for the thrill of watching a predator plan and execute its kill.
The film revolves around ‘Sil’, a half-human(woman)/half-alien life form that has been created in a SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) program based on information received from an alien source. The creature grows rapidly and within 6 months is a fully grown adult. She escapes the high security defense facility and enters L.A. with a desire to mate and produce young that can carry on the good work. SETI puts together a diverse team comprising an anthropologist, molecular biologist, an empath and a bounty hunter to track her down and kill her before she can mate and produce offspring. Whether they are able to do it or not is what is to be seen.
The story has a fresh angle in the fact that we are now dealing with a species that can conceal its true intentions in human form. The fact that it is a beautiful woman lends additional dimensions to the predator-prey equation. The diverse nature of the response team could have led to more intelligent discussions on the motives of the creature. But, Dennis Feldman’s writing and Roger Donaldson’s direction does not elevate the story and ends us delivering predictable lines and predictable plots.
None of the actors seem comfortable in their roles. Ben Kingsley as the director of the SETI program looks like a deer caught in the headlights. I wonder if he is uncomfortable playing an American or the fast paced action/thriller genre does him in. The super-cool Michael Madsen gives us a couple of one-liners but ends up being the only stud in the group of academics, whose crown jewel is desired by the lady micro-biologist. The extremely talented Forrest Whitaker, an actor with a nervous style ends up looking like a psychic who feels so much of everyone all around that he’s about to burst.
‘Species’ has enormous potential as a story but ends up becoming a tacky shadow of what could have been a new dimension to science fiction films.
