- Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor
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Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor 
Directed by Glenn Takajian Produced by Ted A. Bohus
Scott Morette
Ron Giannotto
Tony GraziaWritten by Glenn Takajian Starring Matt Kulis
Patrick Barnes
Tara LeighMusic by John Gray Cinematography John Corso Editing by Janice Keuhnelian Studio Movie Moguls Inc.
Petrified Films Inc.
Ted A. Bohus and Scott Morette ProductionsDistributed by CMV Laservision
Trimark Pictures
Vidmark EntertainmentRelease date(s) November 5, 1990 Running time 98 mins Country United States Language English Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor is a 1990 science fiction horror film written and directed by Glenn Takajian and produced by Ted A. Bohus.[1][2][3]
Contents
Background
Following on the moderate success of 1983's The Deadly Spawn, Ted A. Bohus and partner Dr. Ron Giannotto chose to surpass this success with a sequel, but the storyline evolved into something different. Having a slightly larger budget than for 'Spawn', Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor began production in an abandoned Jersey City warehouse with exterior and some interior shots in a Hackensack office building using childhood friends and New Jersey and New York locals.[4]
Synopsis
An alien from outer space bites a bio-researcher and turns him into a monster. Its first victim is the guard at the laboratory he's working in. The guard's daughters are getting worried that their father hasn't called them and they go to the lab, where they meet their worst nightmare.
Partial cast
- Matt Kulis as John Griffen
- Patrick Barnes as Brian
- Tara Leigh as Sherry Griffen
- Dianna Flaherty as Kim Griffen
- Katherine Romaine as Nancy Kane
- Marcus Powell as Dr. Viallini
- Allen Lewis Rickman as Dr. Elliot Stein
- George G. Colucci as Dr. Michael Foster (as George Gerard)
- Tony Gigante as Mitchell
- Greg Sullivan as Jarrett
Reception
TV Guide reviewed the film with its 1993 USA home video release, finding the film to be an "unusually vivid and accomplished low-budget horror film". Noting that the film was conceived as a sequel to Bohus' The Deadly Spawn, they remark how the sequel has nothing to do with the previous, and that the film made a "quantum leap" in visual effects. By limiting cast and location costs, production was able to concentrate efforts on effects, and that the monsters and stop-motion remain convincing and scary throughout the film. They praised how director Takajian sustained the suspense and tension throughout the film, pacing the progress so everything comes to a head in the final reels for maximum effect. The also note that the effects overcome earlier weak acting, and the growing intensity of the story and the more confident acting as the film progresses allow one to "forget the shakiness of what has preceded it".[2] In agreement, Cavett Binion of All Movie Guide felt that the film made excellent use of a limited budget. Noting that the film was intense, well-written and sported some spectacular monster effects.[3]
Release
The film was first screened at Cannes in May 1990, with a German VHS premiere on November 5, 1990. The USA home video premiere was December 15, 1993. In 2003, Lions Gate Home Entertainment released the film onto DVD.
Additional reading
- The stop-motion filmography by Neil Pettigrew ISBN 0786404469[5]
References
- ^ Lentz, Harris M. (2000). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Filmography (2, revised ed.). McFarland,. pp. 2227. ISBN 0786409517, 9780786409518. http://books.google.com/books?id=a21ZAAAAMAAJ&q=Bohus,+Takakjian,+Metamorphosis&dq=Bohus,+Takakjian,+Metamorphosis&ei=DDr5SeHGEJvIkAT2qKDHBA&pgis=1.
- ^ a b "Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor (1993)". tvguide.com. TV Guide. http://movies.tvguide.com/metamorphosis-alien-factor/129663. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ a b Binion, Cavett. "Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor". allmovie.com. All Movie Guide. http://www.allmovie.com/work/metamorphosis-the-alien-factor-32349. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ Parisi, Albert J. (June 23, 1991). "Monster Movies: Humans Always Win". nytimes.com (New York Times). http://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/23/nyregion/monster-movies-humans-always-win.html. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ Pettigrew, Neil (McFarland). The stop-motion filmography: a critical guide to 297 features using puppet animation. 1999 (illustrated ed.). p. 446. ISBN 0786404469, 9780786404469. http://books.google.com/books?id=RuZTAAAAMAAJ&q=Bohus,+Takakjian,+Metamorphosis&dq=Bohus,+Takakjian,+Metamorphosis&ei=DDr5SeHGEJvIkAT2qKDHBA&pgis=1.
External links
Categories:- 1990 films
- American films
- English-language films
- American science fiction horror films
- 1990s horror films
- 1990s science fiction films
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