Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor
Encyclopedia
Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor is a 1990 science fiction
horror film
written and directed by Glenn Takajian and produced by Ted A. Bohus
.
, 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.
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". 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.
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.
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
written and directed by Glenn Takajian and produced by Ted A. Bohus
Ted A. Bohus
Ted A. Bohus is an American film director, producer, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in low-budget independent films, most often in the horror genre.His first film work was with the 1980s horror title Fiend where he acted as producer...
.
Background
Following on the moderate success of 1983's The Deadly SpawnThe Deadly Spawn
The Deadly Spawn is a 1983 horror film directed by Douglas McKeown and starring Charles George Hildebrandt.It follows the story of a crash-landed alien that finds refuge in the basement of a house and grows to monstrous proportions, eating those unlucky enough to venture down...
, 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
Hackensack
-Communities:*Hackensack, Minnesota*Hackensack, New Jersey*South Hackensack, New Jersey*New Hackensack, New York-Train stations:*New Bridge Landing *Anderson Street in Haceknsack, New Jersey...
office building using childhood friends and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
locals.
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 GuideTV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
reviewed the film with its 1993 USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
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
The Deadly Spawn
The Deadly Spawn is a 1983 horror film directed by Douglas McKeown and starring Charles George Hildebrandt.It follows the story of a crash-landed alien that finds refuge in the basement of a house and grows to monstrous proportions, eating those unlucky enough to venture down...
, 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". In agreement, Cavett Binion of All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
Allrovi is a commercial database launched by the Rovi Corporation in 2011. It compiles information about music and movies from the former services Allmovie and Allmusic.-Content:...
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.
Release
The film was first screened at CannesCannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
in May 1990, with a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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.