The Species Problem

Speaking of Movie Maniacs figures, Sci Fi network premieres, straight-to-DVD releases for today, and such, Species: The Awakening is coming along as well.

Species came along in 1995 and brought with it Natasha Henstridge, who's worked solidly since, but whose IMDb page still lists under AKA heading The Chick from Species, and probably always will.

Its combination of reputable actors (the cast includes two Oscar winners in Ben Kingsley and Forest Whitaker), general silliness, H.R. Giger-designed lead, and unclothed bosoms made it a fair hit on home video and late-evening cable. Species did well enough for a 1998 theatrical sequel.

For Species II (working titles: Species II: Origins and Species II: Offspring), the talented Peter Medak took over directorial duties from Roger Donaldson. Though he directed a handful of episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street and other probably-good television shows, it's probably safe to say his best work is behind him. The Ruling Class is a long way back, but his work through the 1980s is still worth watching. Depending on your predilections, you might set the cutoff point in 1980 (The Changeling) or 1981 (Zorro, the Gay Blade); if anyone wants to argue 1986 (The Men's Club), well, I'll be surprised, but let me know.

Natasha Henstridge returned in II, but not as the bad guy (an infected astronaut). She appeared in III as well; this time, the dangerous alien was her daughter. Helmed by Brad Turner, a prolific TV director, Species III headed straight to video in 2004. Part IV , directed by Nick Lyon and scripted by Part III writer Ben Ripley, seems to take leave of the Henstridge storyline - apparently some scientist's niece turns out to contain some of the alien DNA. It's evidently based on a throwaway line from the first film, in which Ben Kingsley mentions a spare embryo or something, which turns out to be relevant three films down the line. Oh well.