Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Icon Below!
Title:
Syngenor: Synthesized Genetic Organism
Region:
One
Stars: Starr
Andreeff, Mitchell Laurence, David Gale, Riva Spier, Jeff Doucette, Bill Gratton,
Lewis Arquette, John Korkes, and Melanie Shatner
Writer: Brent V.
Friedman
Based On A Story
By: Michael Camody
Director: George
Elanjian Jr.
Feature length: 98 minutes
Extras: Actress,
Writer, and Producer Commentary Track, Featurettes, Trailers, Photo and
Publicity Gallery, Filmographies
Languages: English
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and English, French, and Spanish Language
Stereo Sound
Subtitles: N/A
Packaging: Keep
Case
Chapter Stops: 24
Sound: Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo Sound
Year of Theatrical
Release: 1990/DVD Release: 2003
Home Video
Distributor: Elite Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Reviewer: Mark A.
Rivera
Genre film fans will forever
remember David Gale for his deliciously villainous role in “H.P. Lovecraft’s
Re-Animator” and the straight-to-video sequel “H.P. Lovecraft’s Bride Of
Re-Animator” so it is a treat to see his supporting role in “Syngenor: Synthesized Genetic Organism” just to see
him act in what is considered “his lost film.” The film itself is just a low
budget sci-fi horror Saturday night rental that happens to have some very good
visual effects by Robert and Dennis Skotak, who created visual effects for
“Aliens” and “The Abyss” and creature design by William Malone “House
On Haunted Hill.” The creatures themselves look like something H.R. Giger
would create. The design for the creatures are actually based on the same one
used for the 1980 film “Scared To Death” that was directed by Bill Malone. I
remember seeing photos from that film in monster magazines when I was a kid and
when I first saw the cover for this DVD I thought this was that same film under
a different title. “Syngenor: Synthesized Genetic Organism “ is not exactly
a remake or a sequel though since I have never seen the first film, I might be
wrong. I just got the impression that it was just another film that had the same
beings in it, but was not necessarily meant to have any real continuity with the
other picture. While the creature effects are very good, the matter in which
they are lighted and photographed often spoils the illusion that these are
biomechanical killing machines thus they look like a bunch of guys in expensive
Halloween costumes. However, for 1990 I suppose they are great and just to see
another over-the-top performance by David Gale, Elite Entertainment’s
“Syngenor: Synthesized Genetic Organism “ is definitely worth a look for the
fans.
The
picture and sound have been digitally remastered for this DVD with an anamorphic
widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio presentation as well as an English Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack. The picture quality is clean and free of
anomalies while the new soundtrack mix is definitely an improvement over the
English Stereo Soundtrack that is included as well, but not terribly discrete. A
French and a Spanish Language Dubbed Stereo Soundtrack are also encoded as
options.
Writer
Brent Friedman (Dark Skies) and Producer Jack E. Murphy and lead Actress Riva
Spier provide a thoughtful feature length audio commentary for the DVD too.
Extra features include a still gallery of production photos and publicity
materials, cast and filmmaker filmographies, and four featurettes with David
Gale at Tokyo Fantastic Film Festival (8:34), the publicity photo shoot (1:56),
a look at Doug Beswick’s Creature Shop (2:25), and an electrifying audition
tape by David Gale for the film (1:43). There is an Easter egg hidden within the
DVD though I neglected to find it. The featurettes can be viewed collectively or
individually as are the bonus trailers that feature other titles available on
DVD-Video from Elite Entertainment that include “Syngenor: Synthesized Genetic
Organism”, “Dark Forces”, “Strange Behavior”, “Thirst”, “and
“Patrick” (9:02).
The
interactive menus are fully animated with motion transitions and scene
selections and all are easy to navigate. “Syngenor: Synthesized Genetic
Organism” is available on DVD-Video now at retailers on and offline from Elite
Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Icon Below!