Species II 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Species II" by Shout Factory presents a notable enhancement over its previous Blu-ray edition, leveraging a new 4K restoration from the original camera negative. The Dolby Vision HDR treatment offers a significant upgrade in visual quality, delivering vividly enriched colors and excellent contrast. Skin details and alien characteristics are particularly well-rendered, with practical effects preserving their goopy and translucent textures flawlessly. Environments like labs and living spaces are presented with dimensionality that adds depth and openness, while exterior shots maintain considerable depth. Noteworthy areas include the meticulous rendering of bright primary colors in costumes, natural skin tones, profound blacks for shadow retention, and tasteful highlights.

Despite the superior detailing, some CGI sequences reveal their age under 4K scrutiny. Certain overlays exhibit a weightless quality, and the complexity of composite shots can introduce occasional softness. Nevertheless, practical effects, especially those depicting creatures and ghastly birth sequences, are portrayed with disturbing clarity. The notorious gunshot head sequence remains a slick late-90s CGI example, but the overall detailing effectively enhances textures and facial features. Grain is finely retained for a film-like appearance, and Dolby Vision excellently boosts color saturation, black levels, and contrast, further contributing to the film’s improved depth and dimensionality.

From robust reds representing blood to distinct greenery and metallic alien features, the color palette is alert and saturated without unnecessary blooming. Whites are crisp, contributing to the pronounced gore and viscera in visually intense scenes. While not aiming to be one of the greatest 4K releases, this edition of "Species II" provides a welcome upgrade for enthusiasts, delivering an immersive viewing experience that does justice to both practical and digital effects from the late '90s.

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix for the 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Species II" offers an immersive and dynamic listening experience. Dialogue remains crisp and clear, easily distinguishing between subtler performance choices and more intense exchanges. The film's score is well-supported by clear instrumentation and provides surround exploration that enhances immersion. Atmospherics maintain a consistent circular presence, particularly noticeable during lab and living space scenes. Sound effects demonstrate effective panning actions, particularly in sequences featuring helicopter flybys. The low-end is robust, delivering heft to space travel scenes and violent activities while also complementing the soundtrack beats effectively.

On revisiting the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix, the improved audio setup reveals an even more impressive performance in terms of low-end impact, dialog clarity, and effects disbursement throughout surround channels. Even during quieter sequences, background effects are sufficiently active to keep the surround channels engaged, maintaining an immersive auditory environment. Levels are perfectly calibrated, and the imaging offers a natural flow between channels. Utilizing the DTS Neural: X function on modern receivers can enhance the effects spread and LFE impact, making the audio experience even more satisfying. While the included DTS-HD MA 2.0 track is a commendable piece on its own, the 5.1 mix remains far superior, providing a much richer auditory experience.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Species II boasts a comprehensive collection of extras that thoroughly explore the film’s production. The director Peter Medak’s commentary offers insightful reflections on his direction and script involvement, making it a worthwhile listen. Actress Natasha Henstridge’s interview in "From Sil to Eve" is compelling as she shares her journey into acting and experiences during the film's shoot. The "Creature Creations" feature dives deep into the practical effects with key insights from industry veterans, including H.R. Giger’s influence. Screenwriter Chris Brancato provides a candid look at the film’s script development in "Alien Evolutions," delivering an engaging narrative of studio challenges. Additional content includes uncut footage, an EPK making-of featurette, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage, image galleries, and the original theatrical trailer, providing fans with a detailed exploration of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary: Director Peter Medak discusses film direction and script.
• From Sil to Eve: Natasha Henstridge reflects on acting and experiences on set.
• Creature Creations: A look at makeup and practical effects with industry experts.
• Alien Evolutions: Screenwriter Chris Brancato on script development and industry insights.
• Uncut Footage: Extended scenes of sex and violence.
• Eve of Destruction: Original EPK making-of featurette.
• Outtakes & Behind-the-Scenes Footage: Various takes from key scenes.
• Image Gallery #1: Collection of film stills, publicity shots, and design sketches.
• Image Gallery #2: Photos from special makeup effects, including H.R. Giger’s sketches.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promo trailer.

Peter Medak's "Species II," a sequel to the 1995 film, delves deeper into schlocky sci-fi horror territory. With a script by Chris Brancato, the film flips the original's premise, this time featuring a male alien. The narrative follows astronaut Patrick Ross (Justin Lazard) who, after a Mars mission, becomes infected with alien DNA, turning him into a hypersexual predator that leaves a trail of carnage. Despite some intriguing themes like paternal neglect and genetic experimentation, the film quickly abandons storytelling for exploitative scenes. Medak fails to balance the film's extremities, resulting in crudeness and uneven performances, particularly from Madsen and Lazard.

The allure of "Species II" lies in its unapologetic embrace of trashy exploitation elements. The film amplifies the graphic nature of its predecessor with elaborate practical effects and gruesome birthing sequences, which are both horrifying and hilariously over-the-top. Natasha Henstridge returns as Eve, a clone of the original alien-human hybrid Sil, and despite minimal character development, her performance brings some nuance to an otherwise shallow script. Marg Helgenberger and Michael Madsen seem to be going through the motions, their disengagement palpable in their lifeless performances. The sequel delivers on its promise of B-movie schlock but falls short of any meaningful depth or suspense.

"Species II" is an exercise in diminishing returns. It's unable to establish a consistent tone, awkwardly juggling moments of horror, unintentional comedy, and sexual exploitation. While the movie employs dated CGI effects, its practical creature designs remain commendable. The narrative's potential is squandered by repetitively placing Patrick into risqué scenes that end violently. Despite the movie's many flaws, it retains a certain charm as a guilty pleasure, appealing to fans of late '90s sci-fi horror. However, it's clear the franchise struggled to justify its continuation beyond this second installment.

"Species II" on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray brings a turbulent mix of visual and thematic elements that ultimately define its polarizing nature. The practical effects are commendable for their ambition, but they often clash awkwardly with dated CGI, creating a jarring viewing experience. Director Peter Medak struggles to replicate the tension and stylistic flair of the original "Species," resulting in a film that feels disjointed and lacking in coherent genre appreciation. Medak appears to be merely enduring the production rather than shaping it, leading to a sense of desperation that undermines the overall impact.

Despite its undeniable flaws, "Species II" has a certain appeal for fans of exploitation cinema. The film unabashedly amplifies its sex, gore, and shock elements, resulting in a chaotic spectacle that's hard to look away from. The notorious birth scene alone is testament to the film's unrestrained approach to horror and sci-fi sleaze. On the technical front, the 4K restoration and HDR grading significantly enhance the visual quality, making the gory details and alien grotesqueries more vivid than ever. The audio remains robust, supported by an array of supplementary features that enrich the home viewing experience.

In conclusion, "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.