Species Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Scientists create an alien babe who’s just trying to find a good lay, but a team of buzzkills keeps getting in the way, because interspecies mating is apparently a problem.

🍿 Species: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Experiment

In 1974, Earth sends a message into space as part of the SETI program. Two decades later, they receive a reply containing instructions to combine alien DNA with human DNA. Dr. Xavier Fitch (Ben Kingsley) leads a team that successfully creates a hybrid female, named Sil.

Sil’s Escape and Transformation

Sil (Michelle Williams as a child) grows rapidly, exhibiting violent tendencies. When the team attempts to terminate her, she escapes the lab. While on the run, she undergoes a rapid metamorphosis inside a cocoon, emerging as a beautiful adult woman (Natasha Henstridge).

The Hunt Begins

Fitch assembles a team to track down and eliminate Sil before she can reproduce. The team includes mercenary Preston Lennox (Michael Madsen), anthropologist Dr. Stephen Arden (Alfred Molina), biologist Dr. Laura Baker (Marg Helgenberger), and empath Dan Smithson (Forest Whitaker). They discover Sil’s primary goal is to find a mate and continue her species.

Sil’s Pursuit of a Mate

Sil attempts to mate with several men, killing them after deeming them unsuitable. The team struggles to keep up with her, hindered by her intelligence, strength, and ability to regenerate. She leaves a trail of bodies in her wake as she desperately seeks a compatible partner.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Sil (Natasha Henstridge): A genetically engineered human-alien hybrid who escapes and seeks to reproduce, posing a deadly threat to humanity.
• Xavier Fitch (Ben Kingsley): The government agent and scientist who leads the team tasked with tracking down and eliminating Sil.
• Preston Lennox (Michael Madsen): A hardened mercenary and member of the team, skilled in combat and tracking, assigned to neutralize Sil.
• Dr. Stephen Arden (Alfred Molina): An anthropologist and member of the team who becomes vulnerable to Sil’s seductive manipulation.
• Dan Smithson (Forest Whitaker): An empath and member of the team whose psychic abilities help to track and understand Sil’s motives.
• Dr. Laura Baker (Marg Helgenberger): A molecular biologist and member of the team, contributing scientific expertise to the hunt for Sil.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Xavier Fitch: “We decided to make it female so it would be more docile and controllable.” – Fitch explains the rationale behind creating a female alien hybrid, a statement dripping with irony given Sil’s subsequent actions.
• Preston Lennox: “More docile and controllable, eh? You guys don’t get out much.” – Lennox responds sarcastically to Fitch’s statement, highlighting the scientists’ naive expectations about controlling an alien life form.
• Sil: “What am I?” – Sil asks this as a form of existential question as she struggles to understand her purpose and nature.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $35,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $60,074,103
• Worldwide Gross: $113,374,103

💥 Species Reviews

Personal Review

Alright, look, ‘Species’ isn’t winning any awards for deep storytelling, but it’s a total blast! I remember being so freaked out by Sil’s transformations as a kid. Natasha Henstridge is stunning, and the creature design by H.R. Giger is seriously nightmare-inducing. I watched it recently and still got a kick out of the ridiculousness of the plot and the over-the-top gore. Plus, the cast is amazing! It’s just a fun, cheesy sci-fi flick to watch with friends and some popcorn.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of sci-fi horror movies”
  • “Viewers interested in creature features”
  • “Those who enjoy suspenseful thrillers”
  • “Adults comfortable with mature themes and graphic content”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Nudity”
  • “Sexual content”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Disturbing imagery”

Professional Reviews

• Film Stories: “Film Stories highlights Species’ surprising impact, exploring how its creature design and themes of genetic engineering resonate even today. It’s a reminder that even monster movies can offer something to chew on beyond the surface scares.
• bloody-disgusting.com: “Bloody Disgusting references Species in their ‘Virus’ retrospective. It mentions how ‘Species’ pushed the boundaries of creature features and body horror. It is a good comparison of how bad ‘Virus’ actually is.
• N/A: “Species is a fun and gruesome sci-fi horror flick with awesome special effects and the beautiful Natasha Henstridge. A secret group of scientists try to track and capture the killer alien seductress, Sil, before she successfully breeds with a human. It’s well-written and is a must-watch for all horror fans!

Audience Reactions

The combination of horror, sci-fi, and the introduction of Natasha Henstridge made this a memorable movie.: Viewers praise the movie for its blend of horror and sci-fi elements, especially the introduction of Natasha Henstridge as the captivating and deadly Sil.

The special effects, while dated by today’s standards, were awesome in the 90s and added to the overall creepy atmosphere.: Fans appreciated the practical effects and creature design by H.R. Giger, which created a terrifying and unique monster.

Overall Consensus: A campy but fun sci-fi horror flick with memorable creature design and a killer cast, but might not be for viewers expecting a serious horror experience.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “H.R. Giger, known for his work on ‘Alien,’ designed Sil’s alien form, adding a unique and disturbing visual element to the film.”
• “During production, MGM was hesitant to finance the ‘nightmare train’ sequence. H.R. Giger was so passionate about the scene that he used $100,000 of his own money to finance the sequence.”
• “The film’s premise of receiving alien DNA instructions via a space transmission bears a resemblance to the 1961 British TV series ‘A for Andromeda’.”

🖥️ How to Watch Species?

Species is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options. Physical copies (DVD, Blu-ray) can be purchased from major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Species, you might like these similar films:

• Alien (1979): Direct comparison; features a deadly alien creature hunting down a human crew in a claustrophobic setting, with similar horror and sci-fi elements.
• Lifeforce (1985): Thematic Similar; another sci-fi horror film involving a beautiful, dangerous alien woman who threatens humanity.
• The Hidden (1987): Thematic Similar; an alien entity inhabits human hosts and commits violent acts while trying to reproduce, similar to Sil’s motivations.
• Ex Machina (2014): Modern Equivalent; explores the creation of artificial intelligence with human-like qualities and the potential dangers of playing God.

🛒 Species Related Products

• Species – The Ultimate Collection [Blu-ray]: Features all four Species movies in high definition, with bonus content. A must-have for fans who want the complete experience.
• HR Giger’s Species Designs: A book showcasing HR Giger’s amazing designs for the movie, with sketches and concept art.
• Alien Facehugger Plush Toy: The perfect way to display love and appreciation for science fiction horror films and the Xenomorph movies.
• NECA Alien vs Predator Arcade Appearance – 7″ Scale Action Figures – Video Game Appearance 2-Pack: This incredible 2-pack recreates the classic Aliens vs Predator arcade game. These figures stand nearly 8″ tall and have over 30 points of articulation.

🎧 Soundtrack

Species features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Say You’re Gonna Stay” – performed by Darryl D’Bonneau

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Species(Movie)

Discover fascinating behind-the-scenes trivia and lesser-known facts about the iconic movie Species in this engaging video. It’s a must-watch for fans seeking deeper insights into the making of this sci-fi classic.

Species Movie’s Tentacled Creatures Explained – H.R Giger’s Bio-Tentacled Monstrosity!

Prepare to be amazed as this video takes you on a journey to explore the intricate design and backstory behind Sil, the iconic alien creature from Species. From its creation to its deadly impact, this analysis will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the film’s creature design.

✨ Rate