Species (1995)
Starring Natasha Henstridge in her debut role as Sil, a hybrid of alien and human DNA created in a lab by researchers, who when created escapes and goes on the run in Los Angeles looking for a mate.
A cracking science fiction / horror thriller from director Roger Donaldson seemingly inspired by H.R. Giger's Alien - he created the Sil creature - and the body horror of David Cronenberg. In a way this is a typical direct to video B-movie creature / chase film but an excellent cast (Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, Forest Whittaker, Alfred Molina and Marg Helgenberger) and some creative and gruesome special effects keep this firmly in the A-List category despite it's many exploitative elements, many of which catapulted the then unknown Henstridge to near superstar status at the time. Film fans will notice a pre-fame Michelle Williams plays the young Sil in the films early sequences.
I'm sure Species is pretty flawed if you think about it and very much of it's time - Hell, Madsen is super cool in it, which wasn't something that lasted an awful long time movie career wise - but on the surface it's a fast paced thrill ride which I've always had a soft spot for after seeing it at the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on the first night of a weeks holiday.It was a pretty f*cking sensational first night, having only arrived in LA that lunchtime, as we were given complimentary tickets to the world premier of Steven Seagal's
Under Siege 2 for the evening after as well as tickets to the then action superstar's handprint ceremony too.
The film as featured in the 88 Films box set from a couple of years ago sounds and looks great and i look forward to wading through the plethora of extras during November, especially wanting to hear if Kim Newman shuts up or his voice squeaks on the commentary during Natasha's many nude sequences.
Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)
Probably my favourite Hammer vampire film - it vies with the original 1958 film as my favourite. Gone are the subtle sexual subtexts, this is a revenge horror film where the sins of the father might be far greater than the sins of the vampire.
Christopher Lee is once again in fine form, oozing menace in what is a near silent portrayal. Despite the fact Lee doesn't enter proceedings until the fiftieth minute, thanks to an intelligent and certainly different script, fine direction from Peter Sasdy and an accomplished support cast including Ralph Bates, Geoffrey Keen, Linda Hayden, Isla Blair, Peter Sallis and Roy Kinnear, you never really care.
A brilliant night's entertainment.