Habitat (1997)

Planet Earth's worst nightmares have come true. When a brilliant but obsessed scientist, Hank Symes moves to a new town, his radical biology experiments transform a suburban house into a terrifying living creature. His plans for accelerated evolution spiral out of control and Symes and his family mutate as their house begins breathing, oozing and threatening anyone who enters. Mother Nature has never been so lethal as she takes revenge on the people who abuse her. Welcome to their living hell.

We Put The FUN In FUNgus...

Yes, it's finally happened. We've wiped out the ozone layer, causing the earth to become a scorched, blasted wasteland. Thankfully, mankind has adjusted by wearing funny hats and carrying umbrellas around. Meanwhile, a scientist named Hank Symes (Tcheky karyo) is working on a solution through strange botanical experiments. He is developing plants and fungi that could replenish the planet. One such experiment has already led to death and destruction, forcing Symes, his wife (Alice Krige from Ghost Story, Star Trek: First Contact, and Sleepwalkers), and their teenage son (Balthazar Getty from Feast) to relocate to the small town of Pleasanton, USA. They've barely settled in before dad starts his wild experiments again, leading to an accident. Symes is turned into a cloud of flying, sentient spores, and the new homestead mutates into a jungle full of unheard of plant species'! This all sounds fascinating, but the execution is a bit clunky and the cheeze is quite pungeant at times, especially when we are introduced to young Symes' highschool, and the movie takes a turn toward KARATE KID-land. Teen-Symes is surrounded by homicidal jock types in his gym class. His coach is a sadistic, brain-free neanderthal. All of these idiots conspire to make this kid's life miserable (and shorter). Back at home, the house's interior is now a tropical paradise for mum to wander through. Of course, the town fascists can't just leave well enough alone, and soon plot the annihilation of all things green. This leads to a finalé that isn't very breathtaking. HABITAT has it's moments, but not many. Alice Krige is as eerily alluring as ever, and even sheds her clothing! Laura Harris follows suit! Still, there's something missing from this story. Tension? Mystery? Suspense?? Perhaps all three... May 14, 2008

Creepy, Weird, "A different type of Horror"

Very interesting, well written, sensual, and very well directed.
Gives a take on the environment and how nature can take control of humans.

Very enjoyable in very weird sort of way!

Enjoy!

John February 6, 2007

ALICE IN FUNGILAND

It amazes me that so many reviewers rate a movie on how much T&A and/or nudity there is. If it's not relevant to the plot, it's merely padding for a usually dull movie. Alice Krige is a beautiful woman, and a mesmerizing actress. However, Alice is lost in this ludicrously staged movie. Also, why do they constantly get actors with thick accents (like Tcheky Karyo) to reveal important plot points. You need to turn on your subtitles just to see what they're saying.
Balthazar Getty is very ineffective in his leading role, not much better than a high school thespian in their first role; Laura Harris (The Calling) is okay in her first role, but she's not really given that much to do; Kenneth Welsh tries to act like Vincent Price in his role as the coach, but can't achieve the flashy overacting he so obviously intended; Brad Austin as the somewhat studly Blaine comes on like a young Travolta, but can't match the intensity; the special effects which basically consist of a bunch of flashing dots is mundane. The plot about the ultimate evolution is so incoherent, it doesn't truly make sense, and the ending is flat.
Not the classic some people suggest; merely a waste of time. September 4, 2004

Be Careful of Growing Things Indoors

I had a pleasant surprise after seeing the video Habitat. The surprise was that it was quite well done (no pun intended) and rather uplifting. I have since had to add the DVD to my collection.

The Earth's ozone layer has been completely destroyed. People stay indoors and only dare to venture out at night. But one scientist is looking to bring back the greenery, but indoors. Combining fungi and various plants, the scientist hopes to create a new ecosystem. Runaway failures have forced him and his family to be on the run. At his latest location an underground pocket of water causes a disaster in the basement lab and the organisms mutate and spread through the house. The scientist becomes infected with the new organisms and dies (or so it seems).

As the new ecosystem gains more control of the house, it is learned that the scientist is not dead, but has been transformed into an energy-like state. In this state he is able to attack people and make them immune to the sun's burning rays. But eventually the authorities catch up and try to stop the ecosystem. While they manage to destroy quite a bit, they are unsuccessful at stopping this new hope for the world. Man will no longer have to huddle in the dark and rely on artificial foods.

I really enjoyed this one. I was expecting some fun schlock but found higher quality lurking in the cheesy box. The necessity of camera angles and visibility make the sun shades look rather inefficient but all in all quite well done. June 28, 2004

Intelligent Sci-Fi

Okay, here's my theory of why so many people don't like this movie: Perhaps someone hears about the three nude scenes (don't forget the science lady who's clothes get ripped up just right)plus some nice see-through outfits. So they're thinking, Hey! there's no good T&A flicks on Cinemax tonight, so let's go get that movie! They go rent it, and lo and behold, it actually has this really deep story that lays on the science pretty heavily, where you have to be very alert and somewhat intelligent to understand everything the characters are talking about. Well, if you're just watching it for a few nude scenes, then you're going to be really upset and disappointed with the rest of it!
This movie is very well thought out, the special effects are very convincing (the house really does give you the creeps), the script is beautifully written,and the actors pull it off splendidly. I love some of the lines in this movie, such as when Clarissa (Alice Krige) tells the bully that comes into the plant-infested house, "Young man, you don't go barging into the animal den. You may end up on the wrong side of the food chain." Another favorite line is "Through the bonds of matrimony, copulation is no longer fornification. It's procreation." These aren't direct quotes-I'm going from memory. Anyway, this is indeed one of those forgotten gems in which a small budget was used to make a great piece of work, much like The Wraith or Sleepwalkers (another with Alice Klige at her best). Give this movie a try when you're in the movie for some serious, yet highly entertaining sci-fi that really makes you think. April 24, 2004

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