DVD review (region 2)
Directed by Nick Lyon
Starring Helena Mattsson, Ben Cross, Dominic Keating
Release date 2 June 2008

Another half human half alien hybrid is on the loose, this time in Mexico…

The BBFC warning on the DVD box says that Species IV “contains strong bloody violence… and moderate sex”. The problem with The Awakening is that while the Species films should certainly have the former, they should also have bloody strong sex – and this one doesn’t.

The first two films boasted strong casts that occasionally rose above the material, while The Awakening sees Sarek-to-be Ben Cross displaying his running abilities and Star Trek: Enterprise’s Dominic Keating using a transcontinental Australian accent. No Nastasha Henstridge this time round – even Species III had a few seconds of her in it – but Helena Mattisson makes an adequate replacement.

The Torchwood take on this theme (season 1’s Day One) sensibly put the sex side of the story up front first, then added the science in to the mix. The Awakening blinds us with pseudo-science and a couple of gore scenes for the first hour before the creature is born in all her nymphomaniac glory.

Apart from adding a shortened lifetime to the hybrids’ problems, Species IV doesn’t add to the series mythos. Paul Simpson

VERDICT: 3/10
Even if you’re a fan of the franchise, frankly this is missable.