Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Species II 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 19, 2024

1995’s “Species” wasn’t a massive hit, but its success took the industry by surprise. Director Roger Donaldson labored to turn B-movie material into a horror/sci-fi ride of violence and sexuality, ending up with a feature that developed a significant fan base and gave actress Natasha Henstridge a career. With profitability comes a sequel, and three years later, “Species II” was slapped together. However, Donaldson refused to return, with producers turning to Peter Medak to handle the revival of alien eroticism, hoping to class up the endeavor with a helmer known for his ways with dramatic efforts and the 1980 genre offering, “The Changeling.” However, Medak isn’t the person for the job, showing immediate signs of distress with this clunky, junky, and weirdly mean-spirited sequel that’s a poor imitation of the original picture.

Patrick (Justin Lazard) is the first man on Mars, joining astronauts Ann (Myriam Cyr) and Dennis (Mykelti Williamson) on a special mission to the Red Planet, tasked with collecting soil samples. Contained in the Martian dirt is alien life, which quickly infects the trio, finding Patrick a changed man when he returns to Earth. Set up for a charmed life, Patrick’s sex drive overtakes him, going on a tear of lustful experiences that destroys the women, who immediately produce alien offspring. In a lab, Dr. Laura (Marg Helgenberger) is working to prevent future monster attacks, experimenting on Eve (Natasha Henstridge), a clone of Sil. As Patrick continues his bloody breeding, Eve can tap into his thoughts, and the government is ready to collect the killer, bringing Preston (Michael Madsen) back to hunt the ghoul before he mates again.

Scripted by television writer Chris Brancato, “Species II” attempts to change the premise by introducing a male alien, with Patrick the oversexed main character in the sequel. He’s meant to be a tortured soul, unable to control himself after being in contact with Martian soil, while his father, a U.S. Senator (James Cromwell), does nothing to help, expecting his son to privately work through his problems. Daddy issues and a sense of powerlessness are certainly dramatic avenues to explore in the continuation, along with the development of Eve, a clone treated viciously by scientists, bred to be a guinea pig for military purposes. “Species II” has some promise, and a decent opening act that takes viewers to Mars and returns to Earth, where all is not well with Patrick and Eve, while Colonel Burgess (an awful George Dzundza) grows impatient with Laura, who’s trying to remain sensitive around her cloning project.

Soon enough, “Species II” detaches from storytelling, with Medak in charge of making a sequel that’s more of the same, putting Patrick in sexual situations that always result in a massacre of his partners, who give birth before exploding. There’s crudeness to everything in the feature, especially around Patrick and his carnal adventure, as the picture tends to revel in the horrors of his actions, which eventually turns to an attempt at a sexual assault in a grocery store parking lot. Medak doesn’t understand how to handle such extremity, often turning “Species II” into a softcore cable production, and one with rough acting from everyone involved. Brancato’s clumsy dialogue doesn’t help the cause, but the cast visibly struggles in the movie, with Madsen barely present during, offering dead-eyed line readings and limited physical movement. Lazard is also a blank as Patrick, lacking any sort of on-screen presence.

Species II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are collected from the Blu-ray

"Species II" was originally issued on Blu-ray in 2016, and Shout Factory returns to the title for a UHD release, listed as a "New 4K restoration from the original camera negative." The Dolby Vision viewing experience does well with detail, examining skin particulars on human and alien characters, retaining goopy and translucent textures on displays of practical effects. Lab visits are dimensional, capturing the enormity of the room, and living spaces are open for inspection, retaining decorative additions. Exteriors are deep. Colors are alert, with rich reds for blood, and the metallic greenness of alien activity is preserved. Costuming brings out brighter primaries, and greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Blacks are deep, handling shadowy interactions and space travel. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Species II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix delivers an active listening event for "Species II." Dialogue exchanges are crisp, balancing performance choices and more heated interactions. Scoring supports with clear instrumentation and surround exploration, offering immersion at times. Atmospherics also maintain a circular position with lab and living space visits. Sound effects enjoy movement, with panning action periodic, especially with helicopter flybys. Low-end delivers weight with space travel and violent activity, also finding a presence with soundtrack beats.

Species II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Peter Medak.

• "From Sil to Eve" (16:21, HD) is an interview with actress Natasha Henstridge, who explores her teen years, gaining work as a model after leaving home at a tender age. Finding her way to acting, Henstridge landed "Species," working hard to acquire the role, receiving help from a rival for the part of Sil. The interviewee discusses her experience on "Species," becoming the "new it-girl" after the movie's release, unsure where to head next, falling into terrible roles in low-budget endeavors. Henstridge was initially happy to join "Species II," but showed hesitance with the script's obsession with violence and sex. She shares praise for director Peter Medak and co-star Justin Lazard, bonding with her fellow actor over long days were nothing was accomplished. Henstridge also briefly details her cameo appearance in "Species III."

• "Creature Creations" (28:45, HD) is a look at the makeup achievements in "Species II," featuring interviews with transformation supervisor Joel Harlow, chrysalis effects supervisor William Bryan, creature and makeup FX creator Steve Johnson, and supervising cosmetic designer Leonard McDonald. Producer Frank Mancuso basically offered control of the production's visuals to Johnson, who mounted a major practical effects effort, trying to do so much without CGI assistance. Tales of H.R. Giger's involvement in the picture is detailed, with the artist fighting hard to protect his art and stick it to Mancuso. Many of the feature's tricks are examined, reinforcing the creative commitment of the crew to sell bizarre concepts in alien activity.

• "Alien Evolutions" (19:00, HD) is an interview with screenwriter Chris Brancato, who was initially drawn to moviemaking due to the industry's financial rewards, achieving some early success in the world of television. Eventually hired to write "Species II," Brancato's submission was actually one of two scripts developed for the project, with his idea winning in the end, though his take intentionally ignored the ending of "Species." The production experience is briefly detailed, with Brancato and director Peter Medak eventually caught up in studio politics, and the interviewee shares a lengthy anecdote about being trapped between terrible ideas for the film's final scene, forced to use both of them.

• Uncut Footage (8:02, SD) provides lengthier sex scenes and violent encounters, including Patrick's night with two women, his adventure picking up a transgender stripper at her club, and his oral attack on Laura at her lab.

• "Eve of Destruction" (11:53, SD) is the original EPK making-of for "Species II," featuring interviews with actors Natasha Henstridge, George Dzundza, Justin Lazard, Marg Helgenberger, and Michael Madsen. Characterization and story events are discussed, along with the production process. Some BTS footage is included.

• Outtakes & Behind-the-Scenes Footage (13:30, SD) offers various takes from the gory highlights of "Species II," with the production making multiple passes at perfecting body horror moments.

• Image Gallery #1 (7:22) collects film stills, publicity shots, BTS snaps, design sketches, poster art, lobby cards,

• Image Gallery #2 (6:17) collects photos from special makeup effects efforts on "Species II," including BTS snaps and design sketches from H.R. Giger.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:15, HD) is included.

Species II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Species II" does make an effort with practical effects. While Medak doesn't know how to shoot such horrific encounters, there's plenty of gore and alien activity in the sequel, though most of it doesn't blend with CGI offerings, making for an awkward mix of visuals. "Species II" starts with an idea and ends with a mess of noise and half-hearted filmmaking, with Medak unable to create a similar "Species" experience, lacking style and genre appreciation. He seems desperate to survive the movie, not out to shape it, and the general messiness of the endeavor quickly tanks the viewing experience.