Transmorphers: Fall of Man
Encyclopedia
Transmorphers: Fall of Man (previously known as Transmorphers 2) is a 2009 direct-to-DVD science fiction film produced by the American film studio The Asylum
. It is a prequel
to the 2007 film Transmorphers
.
As the title suggests, this film is a mockbuster
of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
. The plot, however, borrows from the 2007 Transformers film, Terminator Salvation
, and Maximum Overdrive
. Unlike Transformers, the film was released directly to DVD with an R-rating in the United States
and a 15 rating in the United Kingdom
.
, the film opens with a narrator telling the audience how the government knew what was happening, which everyone would come to know. The first action scene involves a woman in California driving recklessly while arguing over her cell phone. Police officer Ryan Hadley (Bruce Boxleitner
) pulls her over and gives her a warning. The man calls her back, but she tells him off and throws the phone down; the phone then transmorphs into a robotic spider and kills her.
At Edwards Air Force Base
, an NSA woman informs her superior about their interception of a signal. In Los Angeles
, a woman named Jo Summers complains about the lack of public transportation while buying a coffee. She is shocked to read of the death of the woman from the car in the newspaper. In the Kern County Morgue, the mayor and police are baffled by the wound that killed the driver. Madison arrives home to discover her television is out. A repairman named Jake is called to fix the television, who happens to be an old friend of Madison who hasn't seen her since he returned from the war. Jack is shocked when the satellite dish transmorphs into a robot. He runs inside to warn Madison and her family to leave, but when he goes out to check for the robot it is gone. Summers arrives to investigate the death of the driver. The NSA arrive and ask Summers to go with her. She advises Ryan to find the missing phone of the driver.
A man is driving a black SUV when his GPS warns him he has five seconds to exit the vehicle. It shoots him with a laser in the forehead and the body is dumped, the SUV driving off by itself. Ryan then arrives to find Madison and Ryan and hears their story. He takes them in his car to look for the cell phone. Ryan is then called to the scene of the SUV driver's body. A young boy tells Ryan that the empty car did it and drove away. Ryan picks up the first driver's cellular phone from the coroner's office. He then intercepts the SUV, which tries to ram him. When Ryan pulls the SUV over, they are jumped by the satellite robot. They drive away, but are chased by the SUV, who also transmorphs into a robot.
The machines invoke a cybernetic revolt
, using their advanced technology to destroy the opposition posed by the world armies and thus quickly seize control of the Earth. After surviving an assault an avoiding the destruction elsewhere on earth, the small group learn that the aliens are changing the water and the atmosphere to tend to their own needs. This is learned by a surviving soldier who claims that this information rose when Russia
captured and tortured one of the machines. They manage to salvage explosives and destroy one of the terraforming devices changing the Earth. However, this has a negative effect: releasing toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, giving birth to eternal night and storms to which the machines have adapted, and what is left of mankind takes refuge underground.
The narration begins again, revealing itself to be a message to a growing resistance against the invading aliens. Such a resistance appears in Transmorphers.
).
Scott Wheeler directs the film, replacing Transmorphers
director Leigh Scott
, and the film was also The Asylum
's first film to be released on Blu-ray disc
.
a positive review, said, "There are moments when Transmorphers 2 rises to the occasion and injects a sense of urgency to the proceedings, but it takes too long for anything to happen. It's one long stretch of boring with a few hits of excitement, but the cons drastically affect the pros."
.
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
. It is a prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to the 2007 film Transmorphers
Transmorphers
Transmorphers is a science fiction alien invasion film released direct-to-DVD on June 26, 2007. It was written and directed by Leigh Scott and produced by David Michael Latt and The Asylum. Transmorphers was developed as a mockbuster, intending to capitalize on Michael Bay's Transformers...
.
As the title suggests, this film is a mockbuster
Mockbuster
A mockbuster is a film created with the apparent intention of piggy-backing on the publicity of a major film with a similar title or theme and are often made with a low budget. Often these films are created to be released direct-to-video at the same time as the mainstream film reaches theaters or...
of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a 2009 American science fiction-action film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg. It is the sequel to the 2007 film Transformers and the second installment in the live-action Transformers series...
. The plot, however, borrows from the 2007 Transformers film, Terminator Salvation
Terminator Salvation
Terminator Salvation is a 2009 American science fiction action film directed by McG and starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. The fourth installment in the Terminator series, the film is set in 2018 and focuses on the war between Skynet and humanity, with the human Resistance fighting...
, and Maximum Overdrive
Maximum Overdrive
Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 American action-horror-science fiction film written and directed by novelist Stephen King. The screenplay was inspired by and loosely based on King's short story, Trucks, which was included in King's first collection of short stories, Night Shift.Maximum Overdrive is...
. Unlike Transformers, the film was released directly to DVD with an R-rating in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and a 15 rating in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Plot
Taking place in 2009 - three hundred years prior to the events of the first filmTransmorphers
Transmorphers is a science fiction alien invasion film released direct-to-DVD on June 26, 2007. It was written and directed by Leigh Scott and produced by David Michael Latt and The Asylum. Transmorphers was developed as a mockbuster, intending to capitalize on Michael Bay's Transformers...
, the film opens with a narrator telling the audience how the government knew what was happening, which everyone would come to know. The first action scene involves a woman in California driving recklessly while arguing over her cell phone. Police officer Ryan Hadley (Bruce Boxleitner
Bruce Boxleitner
Bruce William Boxleitner is an American actor, and science fiction and suspense writer. He is known for his leading roles in the television series How the West Was Won, Bring 'Em Back Alive, Scarecrow and Mrs. King , and Babylon 5...
) pulls her over and gives her a warning. The man calls her back, but she tells him off and throws the phone down; the phone then transmorphs into a robotic spider and kills her.
At Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
, an NSA woman informs her superior about their interception of a signal. In Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, a woman named Jo Summers complains about the lack of public transportation while buying a coffee. She is shocked to read of the death of the woman from the car in the newspaper. In the Kern County Morgue, the mayor and police are baffled by the wound that killed the driver. Madison arrives home to discover her television is out. A repairman named Jake is called to fix the television, who happens to be an old friend of Madison who hasn't seen her since he returned from the war. Jack is shocked when the satellite dish transmorphs into a robot. He runs inside to warn Madison and her family to leave, but when he goes out to check for the robot it is gone. Summers arrives to investigate the death of the driver. The NSA arrive and ask Summers to go with her. She advises Ryan to find the missing phone of the driver.
A man is driving a black SUV when his GPS warns him he has five seconds to exit the vehicle. It shoots him with a laser in the forehead and the body is dumped, the SUV driving off by itself. Ryan then arrives to find Madison and Ryan and hears their story. He takes them in his car to look for the cell phone. Ryan is then called to the scene of the SUV driver's body. A young boy tells Ryan that the empty car did it and drove away. Ryan picks up the first driver's cellular phone from the coroner's office. He then intercepts the SUV, which tries to ram him. When Ryan pulls the SUV over, they are jumped by the satellite robot. They drive away, but are chased by the SUV, who also transmorphs into a robot.
The machines invoke a cybernetic revolt
Cybernetic revolt
Cybernetic revolt or robot uprising is a scenario in which an artificial intelligence decide that humans are a threat , are inferior, or are oppressors and try to destroy or to enslave them potentially leading to...
, using their advanced technology to destroy the opposition posed by the world armies and thus quickly seize control of the Earth. After surviving an assault an avoiding the destruction elsewhere on earth, the small group learn that the aliens are changing the water and the atmosphere to tend to their own needs. This is learned by a surviving soldier who claims that this information rose when Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
captured and tortured one of the machines. They manage to salvage explosives and destroy one of the terraforming devices changing the Earth. However, this has a negative effect: releasing toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, giving birth to eternal night and storms to which the machines have adapted, and what is left of mankind takes refuge underground.
The narration begins again, revealing itself to be a message to a growing resistance against the invading aliens. Such a resistance appears in Transmorphers.
Cast
- Bruce BoxleitnerBruce BoxleitnerBruce William Boxleitner is an American actor, and science fiction and suspense writer. He is known for his leading roles in the television series How the West Was Won, Bring 'Em Back Alive, Scarecrow and Mrs. King , and Babylon 5...
... Hadley Ryan - Jennifer Rubin ... Dr. Jo Summers
- Shane Van DykeShane Van DykeShane Van Dyke is an American television and film actor, best known for playing Dr. Alex Smith on the television series Diagnosis: Murder on CBS Television.-Background:...
... Jake Van Ryberg - Alana DiMaria ... Madison Ryan
- Russ KingstonRuss KingstonRuss Kingston is an American film and television actor, editor and filmmaker.Kingston is best known as an actor for such films as I Come with the Rain starring Josh Hartnett, Transmorphers: Fall of Man, Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus, Day of the Dead 2: Contagium and Guyver: Dark Hero.Kingston is...
... Stan Weston - Silvy Kas ... Officer Stevens
- Debra Harrison-Lowe ... Mary Jo
- Amy Van Horne ... Liz
- Benjamin W. Smith ... Guard
- Vana O'Brian ... Grandma
- Jay BeyersJay Beyers-Early life:Jay Beyers was raised in the rural community of North Liberty, Indiana by his mother Mary Ellen Smith until he moved with his father Jeff Beyers when he became a teenager.-Acting career:...
... Rocker Dude - Jason Yorrick ... Drake
- Londale Theus ... Mayor Ethan Holt
- Iona Thonger ... Dr. Collins
- Dana DiMatteo ... Lucius
- Hiram Gonzalez ... Clay
- Dean Kreyling ... Hank
- Cole Protzman ... Jeffrey
- Chad Vigil ... Tommy
- Aidan Bristow ... Commander
- D.T. Carney ... Airplane Mechanic
- Corinne Dutra ... Pacemaker
Production
Transmorphers: Fall of Man was released June 30, 2009 (less than a week after the premiere of Transformers: Revenge of the FallenTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a 2009 American science fiction-action film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg. It is the sequel to the 2007 film Transformers and the second installment in the live-action Transformers series...
).
Scott Wheeler directs the film, replacing Transmorphers
Transmorphers
Transmorphers is a science fiction alien invasion film released direct-to-DVD on June 26, 2007. It was written and directed by Leigh Scott and produced by David Michael Latt and The Asylum. Transmorphers was developed as a mockbuster, intending to capitalize on Michael Bay's Transformers...
director Leigh Scott
Leigh Scott
Leigh Scott is an American film director, writer, producer, actor and cinematographer.- Early life and career :...
, and the film was also The Asylum
The Asylum
The Asylum is an American film studio and distributor which focuses on producing low-budget, usually direct-to-video productions. The studio has produced titles that capitalize on productions by major studios; these titles have been dubbed "mockbusters" by the press.-History:The Asylum was founded...
's first film to be released on Blu-ray disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
.
Reception
Transmorphers: Fall of Man was met with a mixed critical reaction, and a considerably favorable one to its predecessor. Felix Vasquez Jr. of Cinema Crazed, who gave the original TransmorphersTransmorphers
Transmorphers is a science fiction alien invasion film released direct-to-DVD on June 26, 2007. It was written and directed by Leigh Scott and produced by David Michael Latt and The Asylum. Transmorphers was developed as a mockbuster, intending to capitalize on Michael Bay's Transformers...
a positive review, said, "There are moments when Transmorphers 2 rises to the occasion and injects a sense of urgency to the proceedings, but it takes too long for anything to happen. It's one long stretch of boring with a few hits of excitement, but the cons drastically affect the pros."
Continuity
Transmorphers: Fall of Man takes place in present day, approximately 300 years before TransmorphersTransmorphers
Transmorphers is a science fiction alien invasion film released direct-to-DVD on June 26, 2007. It was written and directed by Leigh Scott and produced by David Michael Latt and The Asylum. Transmorphers was developed as a mockbuster, intending to capitalize on Michael Bay's Transformers...
.
- In the first half of the film, the antagonist is a single Machine with the ability to "Transmorph" into a satellite dish, a human-sized "attack droid" and an SUV. It's appearance and method of Transmorphing is similar to a typical TransformersTransformersA transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling.Transformer may also refer to:* ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, an Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet computer manufacturer by Asus...
action figure. The robots that appear during an invasion of earth later in the film bear more similarity with the Machines seen in the preceding film, and they pilot ships of the same design of those in the preceding film. - Fall of Man reveals that the aliens did not invade immediately as imagined in Transmorphers. They found the earth when one of their vessels crash landed in Roswell, New MexicoRoswell, New MexicoRoswell is a city in and the county seat of Chaves County in the southeastern quarter of the state of New Mexico, United States. The population was 48,366 at the 2010 census. It is a center for irrigation farming, dairying, ranching, manufacturing, distribution, and petroleum production. It is also...
, clearly indicating the Roswell UFO incidentRoswell UFO incidentThe Roswell UFO Incident was the recovery of an object that crashed in the general vicinity of Roswell, New Mexico, in June or July 1947, allegedly an extra-terrestrial spacecraft and its alien occupants. Since the late 1970s the incident has been the subject of intense controversy and of...
of 1947. The technology salvaged from the robot wreckage provided the building of all modern technology (cellphones, internet, etc.). This itself is another thing similar to the plot of Transformers; in said film, modern technology is based on studying the antagonist Megatron who similarly crashed on Earth. - In Transmorphers, the human Resistance finds out that the Machines are cybernetic life-forms in the final day of the war. Therefore, in Fall of Man, the characters have no knowledge that the Machines are the alien menace, though neither do they give a thought that they are being controlled by biological aliens.
- In the final moments of the film, Jack is heard recording a message for a growing Resistance, of which he is the leader. This Resistance is still present in Transmorphers, at this time with the aid of futuristic technology.
Errors
Transmorphers: Fall of Man has a number of continuity errors within its plot.- In the title sequence of the preceding film, the narrator describes how humanity first made contact with the robots. He says that humanity sent a message of peace through space which the Machines detected, but they only saw it as an opportunity to exterminate the humans. In Fall of Man, it is revealed that the Machines have already been on Earth since the Roswell UFO incidentRoswell UFO incidentThe Roswell UFO Incident was the recovery of an object that crashed in the general vicinity of Roswell, New Mexico, in June or July 1947, allegedly an extra-terrestrial spacecraft and its alien occupants. Since the late 1970s the incident has been the subject of intense controversy and of...
of 1947. A lone Transmorpher sends the coodinates of Earth to its kind to begin the invasion in present day. - In Transmorphers, the narrator states that the world is in eternal night because the Machines made it that way to serve their biological needs from their own planet. In Fall of Man, this is not the case, and that state of the Earth is the work of humans after the protagonists destroy one of the Transmorphers' transmitters, which releases radioactive material into the Earth's atmosphere.
See also
- TransmorphersTransmorphersTransmorphers is a science fiction alien invasion film released direct-to-DVD on June 26, 2007. It was written and directed by Leigh Scott and produced by David Michael Latt and The Asylum. Transmorphers was developed as a mockbuster, intending to capitalize on Michael Bay's Transformers...
- The first film of the series by The Asylum - The Day the Earth StoppedThe Day the Earth StoppedThe Day the Earth Stopped is a 2008 direct-to-DVD science fiction film made by American studio The Asylum, directed by and starring C. Thomas Howell...
- Another alien invasion film by The Asylum - Resistance: Fall of ManResistance: Fall of ManResistance: Fall of Man is a first-person shooter video game for the PlayStation 3. It was developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game is set in an alternate history 1951, and follows Sgt...
- A Playstation 3PlayStation 3The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
video game with the same subtitle.