Review of Species (1995) by Steven V — 09 Dec 2010

This movie is one of the best Sci-Fi movies from the '90's due to its approach and handling of a really unoriginal concept and story. It's perhaps its horror that makes this movie work out so well.

The movie is not just a Sci-Fi movie about an alien on the loose but truly knows to create a dark moody atmosphere as well and puts in a couple of true great and effective horror moments, which makes the movie tense and in a way also unpredictable to watch, also since the movie is not too afraid to kill off its main characters.

There is also some gore in the movie that is good looking, with its often graphic killings. Also the make-up effects are great and the movie uses some early special effects, that especially for 1995 standards seem like pretty good ones, even though the movie itself somewhat feels and looks like a low budget production.

The movie makes a choice not to only follow the team that is called in to hunt down the alien but also shows things from the perspective of the alien herself. She's constantly learning things, which she uses to adapt and blend in and to eventually get what she wants.

This approach gives Species a nice extra dimension. It's like The Day the Earth Stood Still, only with a not so friendly alien.