Species IV - The Awakening (2007)

All the elements that make the Species franchise a favorite with horror and science fiction fans – a sexy young woman with alien DNA, and the mass slaughter she leaves in her wake as she searches for a mate – are present in the series' fourth entry. Lovely Swedish actress Helena Mattsson is the girl with the genes from outer space this time – she's a college professor suffering from blackouts who discovers that the source of her illness is the result of her scientist uncle (Ben Cross, lending a serious note to the proceedings), who created her from a mix of human DNA and the same alien soup that gave life to Syl (Natasha Henstridge, who does not appear in this film) from the first Species. From there, the pair head to Mexico to stop the rapid decline of Miranda's health; the cure, however, unleashes her voracious extraterrestrial side, which stops at nothing to find a partner for procreation. Budgetary issues are the main downfall of The Awakening – the basic premise delivers what the Species series promises, but both script and special effects are undercooked to the point of confusion and/or laughter. However, viewers who expect nothing more than the B-movie thrills of Species 3 should be amused by this picture's low-watt sex and violence. - Paul Gaita Amazon.com

It's okay

i just saw this movie on sci-fi(which meant no nudity)i'l admit it had it's good scenes and of course bad but all in all i give it a 7.5 and i will buy this movie soon,real soon. March 2, 2008

Species IV---The Awakening ( * 1/2)

SPECIES IV is undoubtedly the weakest of the four movies in the SPECIES canon, an unrated direct-to-video release that, like all one-a-half-star movies is both very good and very bad at the same time.

The lovely, luminescent and incredibly blonde Helena Mattsson plays Miranda, the half-human, half-alien creature. Ms. Mattson is far more reminiscent of Nicole Kidman than Natasha Henstridge from the original SPECIES. Her acting is fine, but not arrestingly good.

SPECIES 4 falls down simply because it's essentially a retread.

Miranda, a gifted college professor, is under the watchful eye of her Uncle Tom (Ben Cross), in reality the genetic scientist who created her from a mix of female creature DNA and human female DNA. He has never told her who and what she is. Miranda falls ill. Her illness causes her feral aspects to become dominant. Uncle Tom tries desperately to cure her, resorting to some very questionable tactics to do so. The ethical Miranda is outraged, but as her disease progresses, her humanity slips away and she becomes increasingly predatory, seeking to mate and kill. Not much else needs to be said. It's SPECIES redux.

SPECIES 4 is well-made but limited, an unremarkable film that nonetheless holds the viewer's attention and entertains despite it's predictability. December 14, 2007

Down and out

The Species series once again hits the direct to DVD market with Species IV: The Awakening, this time featuring uber-hottie Helena Mattsson as the sexy alien/human hybrid on the hunt for a mate, and leaves a bloody path of destruction in her path. Anyone who remembers when the Species series debuted will recall how much of an enjoyable guilty pleasure the first film was, which followed with a sub-par sequel. Species III would be the first of the series to direct to DVD, and was absolutely horrible, but Species IV takes the cake. It just seems here that no imagination at all was put into the film, and the film's formula of sexy alien killer isn't just tired at this point, it's just plain boring, which also sums up the whole movie. Mattsson is incredibly gorgeous, and it's good to see genre veteran Ben Cross here (he's the only actor here who actually seems to know what he's doing; big shock there), but nothing can make up for the yawn fest that develops once the film starts. Avoid. December 1, 2007

Sexy can't save this movie...

I've been a fan of Science Fiction for almost as long as I've been alive. It was my mother who got me started all those years ago with the original Star Trek series, and to this day, despite that I've grown to enjoy many other genre's, I still am a fan of science Fiction, and I will be until the day I pass on to the next life.

Also, due to a series of genetic defects that runs rampant in my bloodline, which fortunately for myself and my son, doesn't affect either of us, I've been quite interested in genetics and the human genome.

To top it off, for decades, SETI (the search for extraterrestrial intelligence) has been searching the skies for signs of non-human intelligence.

Back in 1995, a science fiction film starring a newcomer named Natasha Henstridge, and co-starring a list of popular actors (Ben Kingsley, Forrest Whitaker, Michael Madsen and Alfred Molina) hit the silver screen.

This film was called Species and put all three of these topics together in a sexy, scary, well crafted tale of the potential end of humanity as the dominant species on Earth.

To make things better, the legendary H. R. Geiger (who created the xenomorph that has become part of our popular culture, the original Alien), was contracted to create the alien hybrid of this movie, Sil.

The movie has since spawned three additional sequels, each getting worse and worse as the storyline progresses and this review is about the latest entry into the franchise called Species: The Awakening.

In one aspect, it's sort of a morality fable, about keeping secrets from those close to you, and that messing with things best left alone always has dire consequences.

But when it comes right down to it, this movie was simply a money grab from the studios.

Sadly, it barely fits the bill of science fiction, secondly, the whole genetic aspect was a joke, and finally - I don't think SETI was even mentioned in the movie.

To be sure, the main actress Helena Mattson was exceptionally attractive, although her acting skills left a great deal to be desired. Still, I've seen worse - from several of the supporting actor in the movie itself.

The movie, hell, the franchise sells itself on sex. Beautiful women, running around naked, trying to seduce men so that they can procreate and start an invasion of the planet.

That just doesn't cut it.

Most people, myself included, need a good plot and halfway decent acting, with some neat effects thrown in for good measure.

Ok the movie had some cool effects, as the alien hybrids were very well done, but the plot was, for the most part, non existent.

And what little plot there was had holes the size of our solar system. I mean, come on, using a combination of alien DNA to clone dead pets and loved ones for money? Alien hybrids running loose in a town in Mexico?

It was quite the joke, even if the writers did attempt to explain things by saying that the hybrid creations were sterile. And then only to have the main hybrid, Miranda, who had to take the genetic material from another woman to survive, suddenly `awaken' and become this alien monster who is now fertile and ready to being the invasion.

The slaughter of many innocent people was toned down, which is a good thing. I've never been a fan of gore for the sake of gore, and even the nudity was lacking compared to the other movies.

If the movie had one thing going for it, it was the effects. But, as many people know, good effects don't make for a good movie. And even now the effects were pretty blasé compared to major Hollywood productions. What do you expect for a direct to video shoe string movie though?

Not much, that's for damned sure.

Do yourself a favour, take my review for what it's worth. Don't waste your time on this movie unless you can see it for free, or can pick it up for cheap at your local rental store. Save your money for a real movie, or if you need to see the any of this franchise, rent or buy the original movie and watch it over again.

1 out of 5
November 26, 2007

It's not TERRIBLE. The actors are working very hard!

Ha! So it's a rotten movie. So what? I'd like to see YOU do as well as these fine actors with the rotten lines they've been handed. Particularly poor is the scene between the girl and her uncle when they pull over for a rest on the way to Mexico. The acting can't rescue such a ridiculous, awkward scene, but they do a fine job with the junk they've been handed. The scene is awkward, uncomfortable, but they really give it a go.

Remember, "I'm back," was just a line on a piece of paper until Arnold Schwarzenegger read the hell out of it. How many times have you said "I'm back," with as much feeling and sheer irony?

For another example of a movie almost saved by the acting is "Alien Vs. Predator." The movie stinks, but the acting's wonderful. November 12, 2007

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