Genetic Code (1997) ( DNA )

Genetic Code (1997) (DVD) (*)

Out of Stock

Original Title: DNA
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )

Product Origin/Format:
Germany ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
93 min

Aspect Ratio:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailer(s)
Uncut
Remastered

Movie filmed in 1997 and produced in:
Philippines ( India, Eastern Asia )
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
William Mesa

Written By:
Nick Davis

Actors:
Mark Dacascos ..... Dr. Ash Mattley
Jürgen Prochnow ..... Dr. Carl Wessinger
Robin McKee ..... Claire Sommers
Tom Taus ..... Matzu
Roger Aaron Brown ..... Loren Azenfeld
John H. Brennan ..... Hatton
Mark McCracken ..... Sergeant Reinhardt / Balacau
Joel Torre ..... Taka
Susan Africa ..... Nurse
Cris Aguilar ..... Kasala
Aniceto 'Chito' Fulminar ..... Fulminari Chief
Rudy Castillo ..... Headhunter Warrior #1
Jhun Sodela ..... Headhunter Warrior #2
Nash Espinosa ..... Fighting Warrior #1
Rudy Vic Del ..... Fighting Warrior #2

Synopsis:

This enjoyable sci-fi actioner from director William R. Mesa succeeds despite stealing items from nearly every monster movie of the last twenty years. The plot concerns an idealistic tribal doctor, Ash Mattley, who runs an underfunded provincial clinic in Sarawak, Borneo while trying to develop an immunity-boosting enzyme found only in certain rare beetles. Ash's plans are thwarted by mad scientist Carl Wessinger, who steals the doctor's discovery and uses it to reanimate a nasty alien skeleton named Balacau. Ash must team with a pretty CIA operative and a precocious native boy to stop Wessinger and his hired commandos from selling Balacau to the highest bidder for use as a biological weapon. The monster chases the cast through many dark slimy corridors like the titular beast in Alien (1979), which it also resembles. The monster occasionally uses the cloaking ability of Predator (1987), and there's also a self-sacrificing black computer pro who explodes like Joe Morton in Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991). Despite these and other obvious steals, the film is fast-moving, exciting, and manages to avoid many of the pitfalls which plagued dozens of similar efforts in the 1990s. John Hartigan's pyrotechnic effects are especially well-done, and one scene in which a speedboat is chased by a bazooka-firing helicopter is among the best of its type.

Deep in the heart of the jungle in North Borneo a group of scientists excavate the bones of a creature buried among the ruins of ancient and forgotten civilization. The expedition is lead by Dr. Carl Wessinger. He discovers how to extract DNA from the bones. They only need an enzyme to recreate the creature. Wessinger asks the help of Ash Mattley. Ash had done research on enzymes. He is double-crossed and two years later Claire Sommers, who works for the CIA, asks Ash for help after a number of mutilated bodies are found. Claire believes Wessinger is behind this because her 'company' has no contact anymore with the lab in the jungle. Wessinger who recreated the creature, wants to sell it to the highest bidder as a war machine, and it is on the loose in the jungle, killing everybody.

This enjoyable sci-fi actioner from director William R. Mesa succeeds despite stealing items from nearly every monster movie of the last twenty years. The plot concerns an idealistic tribal doctor, Ash Mattley (Mark Dacascos), who runs an underfunded provincial clinic in Sarawak, Borneo while trying to develop an immunity-boosting enzyme found only in certain rare beetles. Ash's plans are thwarted by mad scientist Carl Wessinger (Jurgen Prochnow), who steals the doctor's discovery and uses it to reanimate a nasty alien skeleton named Balacau. Ash must team with a pretty CIA operative (Robin McKee) and a precocious native boy (Thomas Taus, Jr.) to stop Wessinger and his hired commandos from selling Balacau to the highest bidder for use as a biological weapon. The monster chases the cast through many dark slimy corridors like the titular beast in Alien (1979), which it also resembles. The monster occasionally uses the cloaking ability of Predator (1987), and there's also a self-sacrificing black computer pro who explodes like Joe Morton in Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991). Despite these and other obvious steals, the film is fast-moving, exciting, and manages to avoid many of the pitfalls which plagued dozens of similar efforts in the 1990s. John Hartigan's pyrotechnic effects are especially well-done, and one scene in which a speedboat is chased by a bazooka-firing helicopter is among the best of its type.

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 19 June, 2023.