The cast, and some of the top-notch names behind the camera somehow got involved in this messy sci-fi erotic thriller, that somehow spawned a series of sequels.

In front of the camera you have Ben Kingsley, Forest Whitaker, Michael Madsen, Alfred Molina Marg Helgenberger, a very young Michelle Williams and Natasha Henstridge in her first big-screen appearance. Behind the scenes you have Richard Edlund (visual effects), H.R. Giger designing the alien Sil, and Steven Johnson (creature designer).

A young girl (Williams) breaks out of a secret government facility run by Fitch (Kingsley). She’s not all she appears to be, but what is she exactly?

Fitch recruits a group of scientist, hunters and a psychic to help track her down. But she’ evolving, growing quickly… changing and growing into a strange alien adult, played by Henstridge. And she’s driven with one need, to mate. Something which could destroy us all.

Fitch reveals to his team, Press (Madsen), Aden (Molina), Dan (Whitaker), and Laura (Helgenberger) that they received a transmission from space containing a new string of DNA which can be melded with human DNA, the result was Sil (Williams/Henstridge).

Will Press and the rest of Fitch’s team be able to find and stop Sil before she is able to achieve her biological imperative?

The designs in the film are pretty cool, though some of the computer generated visual effects aren’t great, even then.

There’s some silly moments, some pretty cool practical effects, lots of blood, a healthy dash of nudity and even some sex, and then there’s Michael Madsen being an absolute bad ass. And, there’s Henstridge, of course, who is absolutely knock-down gorgeous in this one.

But the acting, despite the cast… is truly horrible. Choices and delivery are pretty bad across the board, and you have to wonder what the thought process was behind the cast’s performance. Was it just for a paycheck? Did they think they were making a different movie? All of them are solid actors, but holy crap you wouldn’t believe it watching this movie.

There is something that could have been both truly scary and sexy here, but the film never quite finds its balance, and ends up being nothing more than a b-movie with nudity and alien thrills. And the climax flounders because the visual effects are just horrible. There’s a lot to be said for practical suits and makeup effects.

Gotta say… didn’t love it. And watching this one, I can’t believe they made three sequels. I’m ready to pretend I never watched this one.