Genetic experimentation has always been fertile ground for horror because it is both possible, and provides a reasonably believable scenario where real life monstrosities could be unleashed upon the world.
With SPLICE coming out with it’s high profile casting and serious vibe, it looks like the genetic lotto is getting another spin in one of the more promising looks at the issue in some time.
So this week let’s take a look at the best of the movies that give us some good ole DNA smoothies. Now if you want to get heavy, spit bullets about your opinion on the real life issue of genetic manipulation. Or just throw out your fav flick with a mad mixing vibe.
WARNING – SCIENCE RUN AMOK BELOW!
10. FRANKENHOOKER
The entire Frankenstein mythos had to make an appearance on this list, but the real question became which one to include. Thanks to JimmyO for reminding me about this awesome cheesefest exploring exploding hookers, love gone wrong, and all the gratuitous nudity (in the unrated version) you could want. Good times await if you’ve never checked this one out.
9. BLACK SHEEP
While it’s never clear exactly why you would want to genetically engineer uber-aggressive sheep, the results are used to fun and graphic effect in this New Zealand horror comedy that harkens back to the early days of Peter Jackson. There’s just something inherently satisfying about watching typically chill things go f*cking homicidal. Kinda like when you try to take Ammon’s Miller High Life away.
8. ALIEN RESURRECTION
The genetic orgy going on in this semi-successful ALIEN sequel is near Caligulian in proportion. You’ve got Ripley (and all her failed early clones), mixed with a little Xenomorph DNA. Plus she ultimately gets it on with the Alien Queen and they pop out a hybrid that is as disturbing as it should be. Most of this movie really plays hard on the ick factor of genetic experimentation, but it’s interesting and hard to look away none-the-less.
7. MIMIC
It’s not hard to see why Guillermo del Toro wasn’t thrilled with the final product here, but the monsters in it are pretty great. The Judas Breed are specially designed bugs created to deal with a cockroach problem, but as with many experiments, when you expose them to nature they begin to adapt. In the case of the Judas Breed they learn to mimic humans and start to prey on them. Throw in the NY subway system as the hunting ground and you’ve got one fun as hell descent into madness.
6. DEEP BLUE SEA
JAWS pretty much topped out how scary you can make a Great White Shark, and since it’s the biggest shark currently known alive, that more or less closes any serious attempt at the sub genre – unless of course you are Renny Harlin and feel like making super sharks. Then you just engineer some Mako sharks (mean motherf*ckers anyway), and make them bigger and smarter. No longer mindless killing machines, now we’re dealing with sharks that are like Special Forces in a perfect underwater predator’s body. Not good.
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2!