As a child of the 90s, I can vividly recall the mesmerizing allure of late-night cable TV and the enchanting realm of sci-fi horror that captivated my imagination. Among the many gems that graced our screens during those magical hours, none was more iconic than the campy, seductive creature feature, “Species.
In the ’90s, sci-fi horror popcorn films thrived and reached their prime. This era saw low-budget B-movies being given A-movie financing, resulting in mainstream adoption of Roger Corman’s visually striking and campy style. Among the controversial movies of that period is Species – a creature feature with mixed reviews. Despite its imperfections, viewers are appreciating it more as it stands at #4 on Tubi’s rankings. This once popular cable staple has been rejuvenated on streaming platforms.
In the movie “Species,” the story kicks off with an intriguing concept – a mysterious alien message, deciphered from space, offers guidelines for blending human and extraterrestrial DNA. Given that all film scientists are geniuses but lack caution, they create Sil, an alien-human hybrid who is determined to reproduce and breaks free from her laboratory confinement. This sets off a covert hunt for the alien, leaving a path of attractive individuals or potential partners behind in Sil’s wake.
The film marked a groundbreaking first appearance for Natasha Henstridge, starring alongside Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, and Forest Whitaker – an impressive lineup from the ’90s. Regrettably, the movie with its alien female fatale character reinforces misogynistic stereotypes prevalent during that era, showing a lack of depth in its themes. However, the provocative, sex-centric horror genre managed to draw $113 million at the box office against a production budget of $35 million. Today, Species earns a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a dismal audience score of 31% on Popcornmeter.
The 90s Sci-Fi Horror Renaissance
The 1990s witnessed a remarkable surge in high-budget science fiction and horror movies that were once the domain of smaller B-movie studios. These films, characterized by their offbeat and intriguing plots, gained significant backing from major production companies and star power. This led to an impressive lineup of films such as “Event Horizon”, “Mimic”, “Sphere”, “Screamers”, and “Cube”. Given that horror often serves as a reflection of society’s fears and anxieties, the science fiction horror films from the 90s offer a glimpse into a culture rapidly embracing new technology. The film “Jurassic Park” in 1993 exemplifies this, as it portrays scientists conducting experiments because they could, without considering if they should, a theme that is echoed in nearly every movie mentioned above. In hindsight, this reactionary attitude seems quite pronounced. Furthermore, the fear of alien contact was pervasive during the 1990s, with many films featuring catastrophic outcomes due to extraterrestrial interferences.
Despite its cheesy special effects, plot inconsistencies, and exploitative elements, the movie “Species” is probably resonating with a new generation on streaming platforms, tapping into the nostalgia for the films of the same genre. Interestingly, this isn’t nostalgia for its initial release, but rather for the era of cable reruns. Older millennials, who grew up on a diet of Sci-Fi Channel edits and covert late-night titillation from Showtime/HBO, hold “Species” in a fond memory that often overshadows the film’s significant flaws.
Species finds itself among Tubi’s top 10 selections, boasting a number of ’90s treasures such as the tense survival drama The Edge and the timeless buddy cop tale Rush Hour.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-10 18:31