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Species

year 1995decade 90sdirector Roger Donaldsongenre Science fiction horror

108 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Michelle Williams Young Sil
Ben Kingsley Xavier Fitch
Michael Madsen Preston "Press" Lennox
Alfred Molina Dr. Stephen Arden
Forest Whitaker Dan Smithson
Marg Helgenberger Dr. Laura Baker
Whip Hubley John Carey
Anthony Guidera Robbie Llywelyn

Species | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Van Lathanproducer Jack Sanders
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Half-Assed Internet Research

The budget is stated as $35 million and the gross as $113.3 million, described as a hit.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:47Read transcript
  • The budget is stated as $35 million and the gross as $113.3 million, described as a hit.
  • The kiss is said to have won the 1996 MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss and to have been recreated at the ceremony.
  • Giger is identified as Sil’s designer and reportedly objected to reused alien-film ideas, prompting a different headshot ending.
  • The Id club was reportedly constructed inside the Pantages Theatre.
  • Molina reportedly eased Henstridge’s first-sex-scene nerves by joking that his own prior experience had been with a man.

Roger Ebert's review

2 stars (scale not stated)

The episode states that Roger Ebert gave Species two stars and criticized its treatment of intelligent human and alien characters.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:24:58Read transcript
  • The episode states that Roger Ebert gave Species two stars and criticized its treatment of intelligent human and alien characters.
  • The answer that the movie never tells her prompts the reply to relax and have some fun.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Sil’s rapid familiarity with showers, money, and American behavior is questioned; the diabetes rejection is mocked.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:33:09Read transcript
  • Sil’s rapid familiarity with showers, money, and American behavior is questioned; the diabetes rejection is mocked.
  • The discussion asks where Dan works and whether his empath abilities require certification.
  • Whether being an empath constitutes a job and how the CIA located Dan are questioned.
  • Sil’s aging rate is questioned, including whether she would become elderly within a week.
  • A comic hypothetical asks whether Sean Marks would draft the species if eligible.
  • Whether the originating aliens monitor or approve Sil’s progress is debated; her behavior is interpreted as reflecting a predatory human society.
  • Suggested places to find a mate include the South Bay strand, a USC party, and wine country; the range of suitable adult men and locations is debated.
  • Disney World, a Lakers game, Eagle Rock, and meeting Gretzky are imagined as further Sil encounters.

Picking Nits

The team’s failure to suspect that the intelligent alien staged the apparent death is criticized.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:35:40Read transcript
  • The team’s failure to suspect that the intelligent alien staged the apparent death is criticized.
  • The Palisades man’s reluctance is mocked, but his reaction to the abrupt demand for a baby is defended as reasonable.
  • The tough guy handing a cat to a sitter is mocked, but defended because dogs need more care when someone travels.
  • Sil leaving a bloody scene in the porter’s clean, perfectly fitting clothes is challenged.
  • The team locating Robbie’s house from the club is questioned, especially the assumption that a doorman knows his address.
  • Testing the hot-tub water for semen within roughly ten minutes is questioned.
  • The unusually helpful motel manager and lack of stronger reactions to Sil’s appearance are criticized; making a microbiologist a combatant is reiterated.
  • Fitch sending the team home to sleep while Sil remains loose is criticized.

Casting What-Ifs

Brosnan was reportedly offered a role but unavailable because of GoldenEye; the proposed identification of the role as Kingsley’s is speculative.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:39Read transcript
  • Brosnan was reportedly offered a role but unavailable because of GoldenEye; the proposed identification of the role as Kingsley’s is speculative.
  • Schwarzenegger’s reported interest is explicitly uncertain, and Lennox is guessed as the intended part; casting him as the empath is a separate joke.

Producer review

The invited response calls the film not good but extremely enjoyable, respects the premise, and regards its nudity as justified rather than gratuitous.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:48Read transcript
  • The invited response calls the film not good but extremely enjoyable, respects the premise, and regards its nudity as justified rather than gratuitous.