Species, Anachronistic to the Nineties Horror Scene

Species – A Breakout from Natasha Henstridge

When you think of 90’s horror, what comes to mind? Do you think of the many teen screams that carved out their niche with the likes of Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, or The Faculty? What about the already established players from the previous decade, like The Predator, Nightmare on Elm Street, or Alien sequels? Maybe you started to migrate toward edgier films from some hot young directors, namely Robert Rodriguez’ From Dusk Till Dawn or Alex Proyas’ The Crow. There’s no wrong answer. All of these films largely overshadow this fun, sexy, and honestly simple science fiction/horror film we call Species.

However, Species is the antithesis of the teen screams that would take off in the following year. There are no wholesome girls next door finding themselves running from danger in this one. Shots aren’t cut short to imply sensuality between our main characters. Species is unapologetic and, particularly, so is Natasha Henstridge. She’s hot and she will kill you.

On This Day in Horror Movie History

Turning 27 years old today, July 6, 2022, Species is a 1995 film about a seductive female alien who goes on a vicious killling spree, but not before going to Downtown Poundtown with her victims. In other words, giving men the honorable death we’ve always wanted. With a young Natasha Henstridge, what a way to go.

From comedies such as The Whole Nine Yards (2000) to action flicks like Ghosts of Mars (2001), Natasha has shown over the years she’s more than just a pretty face.

Theatrical Trailer

Species Trailer (1995)

Promotional Taglines

If you build it, they will come.

For three million years, the human race has been at the top of the evolutionary ladder. Nothing lasts forever

Men cannot resist her. Mankind may not survive her.

Two decades ago scientists sent a message to space… This… is the reply.

Our time is up.

Breakout Star

Natasha Henstridge as Sil in her first ever role and one that men across the galaxy will remember until the sun inevitably swallows us whole. Natasha is a native of Springdale, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Local lore tells tale of a ship captain who, along with his crew, was killed and decapitated by a group of Beothuk in the mid-18th century. Apparently, the heads of Captain Hall and his crewmen were found on top of wooden pikes stuck in the ground. So, this murderous rampage in Species isn’t THAT far from home for Natasha.
A self-admitted poor judge of scripts, Henstridge turned down roles in both Independence Day and Men In Black, thinking to herself, “What is this shit?”. She was also offered the role as Jill Valentine in Resident Evil: Apocalypse, but other work kept her busy. In spite of missing out on these parts, Natasha is the youngest actress to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Temecula Film Festival, and was additionally honored with the Queen Elizabeth II Award from her homeland of Canada.

Top Billed Cast

Michael Madsen as Preston Lennox – Madsen’s long career spans nearly 40 years and more than 170 films in which he has played memorable characters in myriad box office hits, including: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) Sin City (2005), Hell Ride (2008), Die Another Day (2002), Donnie Brasco (1997), Species (1995), The Getaway (1994), Thelma & Louise (1991), and Free Willy (1993). Michael is notably recognized for his role as Mr. Blonde, in Quentin Tarantino‘s Reservoir Dogs (1992). – IMDB

Ben Kingsley as Xavier Fitch – After his international fame for appearing in Gandhi (1982), Kingsley appeared in many other famous movies. His success as an actor continued. His performance as Itzhak Stern in the drama movie Schindler’s List (1993) earned him a BAFTA nomination for best supporting actor. Schindler’s List (1993) won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. During the late 1990s, Kingsley acted in many successful movies. He played Sweeney Todd in the television movie The Tale of Sweeney Todd (1997), for which he was nominated for the Screen Actors’ Guild Award. His other notable role was as Otto Frank in the television movie Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001), for which he won the Screen Actors’ Guild Award. – IMDB

Supporting Cast

Alfred Molina as Dr. Stephen Arden – He made his film debut in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and got a good part in Letter to Brezhnev (1985) (as a Soviet sailor who spends a night in Liverpool), but his movie breakthrough came two years later when he played–superbly–Kenneth Halliwell, the tragic lover of playwright Joe Orton, in Stephen Frears‘ Prick Up Your Ears (1987). He was also outstanding in Enchanted April (1991), The Perez Family (1995) (as a Cuban immigrant), Anna Karenina (1997) (as Levin) and Chocolat (2000) (as the narrow-minded mayor of a small French town circa 1950s, who tries to shut down a chocolate shop). He was chosen to play Doc Ock after Spider-Man 2 (2004) director Sam Raimi and his wife watched Frida (2002). – IMDB

Forest Whitaker as Dan Smithson – He has packaged a king-size talent into his hulking 6′ 2″, 220 lb. frame. He won an Academy Award for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the film The Last King of Scotland (2006), and has also won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. He is the fourth African-American male to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, following in the footsteps of Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, and Jamie Foxx. – IMDB

Marg Helgenberger as Dr. Laura Baker – Helgenberger is most known for her TV role as a crime scene investigator in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000). She shared in CSI’s 2005 Screen Actors Guild award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series. In her personal life, Helgenberger is the daughter of a cancer survivor and is very active in supporting research for breast cancer. – IMDB

Synopsis

Sil is an alien/human hybrid. Actually, she’s what Alex Jones has been warning us about for years and she’s been on lockdown since her infancy. Adolescent Sil, played by a young Michelle Williams, escapes the laboratory where a team of clumsy scientists are decimated by the teenage-appearing Sil. She’s out on her own with accelerated aging in her makeup and before we know it, Sil is a full grown hammer of an alien seductress looking to reproduce her own little batch of killing machines.

Sil – played by a young Michelle Williams

Beast With Two Backs

On the hunt are government agents, played by Michael Madsen, Ben Kingsley, Marg Helgenberger, and company. They must stop her before she can lure an unsuspecting mate and, naturally, she’s considering all comers. Sil demonstrates superior alien wit. She quickly weeds out those with inferior baby batter and dispatches of them superior alien kills.

As usual, the agency is too far behind! Sil has changed her appearance and she just can’t be found! Hint: it’s just he hair color that changes

I don’t know if we should consider Alfred Molina the lucky one. He does get a man made of him with Sil, sparking the change she’s been looking for all this time. The “life begins at conception” crowd would have a field day with this one. Immediately after ejaculation, Sil can feel the little bundle of joy swimming around in her bloodthirsty womb. Can the government agents stop Sil and her offspring before we’re all wearing matching uniforms and being prodded like cattle? Watch and find out!

Filming and Box Office

Species received a wide theatrical release on July 7, 1995. Its opening weekend was $17.1 million. This was MGM’s biggest opening at the time and second in the box office ranking behind Apollo 13. Budgeted at $35 million, the film earned a total of $113 million worldwide ($201 million adjusted for inflation).

Audiences polled by CinemaScore during opening weekend gave the film an average grade of a B, justly. MGM Home Entertainment released the film on DVD in March 1997. The book contained a booklet with trivia and production notes, and on VHS in August 1999.

Where does Species fall as far as 90’s horror goes? Let us know on Twitter!

Trivia (via IMDB)

Hammer Award

To begin, I need to preface. This should not be taken too seriously.. We’re not here to objectify or degrade anyone. Growing up, I once heard my father refer Sophia Loren, as “an absolute hammer”. This award is merely to give a silly recognition to he or she whom we find in this film to be the “hottest” in the cast. At the end of the day, don’t take it too seriously. We don’t. With that said…..

Watch on TubiTV

You can watch Species on TubiTV for free with ads (possibly time sensitive link)

Wallpapers

Species-Mobile-Wallpaper Download

What are your Thoughts?

Be sure to let us know on SlasherSports.com. Slasher Sports is available Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

Slasher Drip

Get your Slasher Sports swag and show everyone you’re here to KILL the game! As always, choke up on the bat……..and stay alive!