REVIEW: Specimen – chosen by Jeff

Tagline: Be very quiet, they might want you…

Suggested replacement tagline: Be very quiet, they might want you to watch this film…

Theme: Saved by the bell end.

Plot Overview:

Twenty four years ago, Carol Hillary was abducted by a mysterious alien presence at the remote Spruce Lake, near Thornbury in up - state New York. Six weeks later, she discovered she was pregnant. But this was to be no ordinary child. As an eight-year old under the influence of an alien power that he could not control, Mark Hillary created an inferno in his own home, which claimed the life of his mother.
Now at the age of twenty four, Mark is determined to find his roots. His search brings him to quiet Thornbury where he discovers the town Sheriff was a childhood friend of his mother, but the Sheriff denies any knowledge of Mark's roots. As he sets about a new life in this quiet town, the stillness of nearby Spruce Lake is broken once again.

Rudi’s ramblings:

After his success as Zak in Saved by the bell Mark-Paul Gosselaar showed he wasn’t just a one trick pony in this fascinating piece of quality Sci-fi tosh. Gosselaar plays Mark the bastard offspring of some floozy and an alien.
Of course he is not aware of this fact and doesn’t think it strange that he has to sleep in a bath of water to stop himself from burning down the house.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar is superb in the title role, showing a full repertoire of facial expressions including: Whiny American kid, Stroppy American Kid, Angry American kid. He is offered fine support by the rest of the useless cast particularly by the bloke who thinks he’s a terminator. “Wear a leather jacket and walk around like you’ve got a pole up your arse” seems to have been the director’s instructions to this pathetic beef cake. Fortunately he redeems himself by performing a selection of sound effect deaths.
There are few specific highlights but none the less this film is quite entertaining. Entertaining if you enjoy films starring ex-Saved by the bell actors such as A Crack in the floor or Show Girls, that is.

Overall percentage: 70%