‘Mating season begins…’
Species II is a 1998 American science fiction horror film directed by Peter Medak (Hannibal TV series; The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1997);The Changeling) from a screenplay by Chris Brancato (Hannibal TV series; The X-Files TV series). The movie stars Natasha Henstridge, Michael Madsen, and Marg Helgenberger, all of whom reprise their roles from Species.
Plot:
Having just returned from a mission to Mars, Commander Ross (Justin Lazard) isn’t exactly himself. He’s slowly becoming a terrifying alien entity with one goal — to procreate with human women.
When countless women suffer gruesome deaths after bearing half-alien offspring, scientist Laura Baker (Marg Helgenberger) and hired assassin Press Lennox (Michael Madsen) use Eve (Natasha Henstridge), a more tempered alien clone, to find Ross and his brood. Before long Eve escapes to mate with Ross…
Reviews:
” …what Species II really just wants to show you is boobs, boobs & blood. There is so much nudity that you’ll start to wonder if you’ve got the wrong film […] The body count is high here & no-one dies nicely. It’s nasty violence & while the effects don’t always hold up well it has got some nice gory moments…” Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life
” …the sex-change removes whatever minor charge that Species held – a primarily male audience watching a male multiply impregnating women has far less interesting a kick to it than watching a naked woman hunt men down […] The sole novelty Species II has is its makeup effects.” Moria
” …Species II is a perfect example of a poor sequel because of those behind it thought they could get away with just the basics which worked the first time around. It means if you are watching for anything more than special effects, nudity and Natasha Henstridge you are likely to be disappointed.” The Movie Scene
” …a monster’s fancy lethally turns to thoughts of lust. This thought, reduced to a level contemptuous of taste and reasonable intelligence, underlies Species II. The film is a blood-drenched, head-blasting, leaden-footed, logic-bashing sequel…” The New York Times
“Oh yes, this is stupidity in the form of cinema. But what an awesome trash movie this is! Really! From the beginning with the product placement in space to very bloody and juicy gore-scenes – this is a sequel that throws away all pretensions and aims for the quality-jugular!” Ninja Dixon
“Complete with cheesy special effects, bare breasts around every narrative corner, and dialogue capable of producing howls of laughter […] Director Peter Medak, a journeyman film-maker with a significant list of mediocre movies on his resume, has added another forgettable title…” Reel Views
Cast and characters:
Michael Madsen … Press
Natasha Henstridge … Eve
Marg Helgenberger … Dr Laura Baker
Mykelti Williamson … Dennis Gamble
George Dzundza … Colonel Carter Burgess Jr
James Cromwell … Senator Judson Ross
Justin Lazard … Patrick Ross
Myriam Cyr … Anne Sampas
Sarah Wynter … Melissa
Baxter Harris … Dr Orinsky
Scott Morgan … Harry Sampas
Nancy La Scala … Debutante
Raquel Gardner … Debutante’s Sister
Henderson Forsythe … Pentagon Personnel
Robert Hogan … Pentagon Personnel
Merchandise:
To coincide with the movie, McFarlane Toys released an Eve and Patrick (in their alien form) action figure as part of their inaugural series of Movie Maniacs action figures. Both action figures came with a replica of the film’s poster with skulls and bones base.
Novelisation:
As with the first film, Yvonne Navarro wrote a novelization based on the original screenplay which gives plot and character details not seen in the film.
Trailer:
