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IMDbPro

Specimen

  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
4.1/10
552
YOUR RATING
Specimen (1996)
Home Video Trailer from Ardustry Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:14
1 Video
16 Photos
Sci-Fi

Searching for answers about his parents, a man with superhuman abilities travels to his mother's hometown and learns she was impregnated by an alien.Searching for answers about his parents, a man with superhuman abilities travels to his mother's hometown and learns she was impregnated by an alien.Searching for answers about his parents, a man with superhuman abilities travels to his mother's hometown and learns she was impregnated by an alien.

  • Director
    • John Bradshaw
  • Writers
    • John Bradshaw
    • Sheldon Inkol
    • Damian Lee
  • Stars
    • Mark-Paul Gosselaar
    • Douglas O'Keeffe
    • Ingrid Kavelaars
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.1/10
    552
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Bradshaw
    • Writers
      • John Bradshaw
      • Sheldon Inkol
      • Damian Lee
    • Stars
      • Mark-Paul Gosselaar
      • Douglas O'Keeffe
      • Ingrid Kavelaars
    • 15User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Specimen
    Trailer 1:14
    Specimen

    Photos16

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    Top cast21

    Edit
    Mark-Paul Gosselaar
    Mark-Paul Gosselaar
    • Mike Hillary
    • (as Mark Paul Gosselaar)
    Douglas O'Keeffe
    Douglas O'Keeffe
    • Eleven
    • (as Doug O'Keefe)
    Ingrid Kavelaars
    Ingrid Kavelaars
    • Jessica Randall
    Andrew Jackson
    Andrew Jackson
    • Sixty-Six
    David Nerman
    David Nerman
    • Sheriff Jimmy Masterson
    Michelle Johnson
    Michelle Johnson
    • Sarah
    Marc Donato
    Marc Donato
    • Mike Hillary - Age 8
    Carmelina Lamanna
    • Carol Hillary
    Mark Lutz
    Mark Lutz
    • Blaine Masterson
    Grant Nickalls
    Grant Nickalls
    • Scott
    Bryan J. Thomas
    • Manny
    Jared Durand
    • James
    Robert Weiss
    Robert Weiss
    • Deputy Larson
    Dennis O'Connor
    Dennis O'Connor
    • Grandpa Vern
    Jennifer Higgin
    Jennifer Higgin
    • Grandma June
    Kevin Zegers
    Kevin Zegers
    • Bart
    Peter Graham
    • Desk Clerk
    Tim MacMenamin
    • Firefighter #1
    • Director
      • John Bradshaw
    • Writers
      • John Bradshaw
      • Sheldon Inkol
      • Damian Lee
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    4.1552
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    10

    Featured reviews

    2movieman_kev

    Mark-Paul might be saved by the bell, but he needed to be saved by his agent

    A child of extraterrestrial origins is found walking through the fires of a burning building. He's promptly adopted, but still has questions about where he came from. Years later, the boy, now a young man (played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar of Saved by the Bell fame) can start fires with his mind and frequently dreams of his forgotten earlier life while he submerges himself in bathtub water. Another alien (Douglas O'Keeffe) wants to get the young man back.

    With shades of much better films (such as Firestarter, the Terminator, and even Starman), this movie can't help but epicly fail in comparison. It doesn't help that the film spots horrendous acting (especially by Gosselaar and O'Keeffe extremely sub-par special effects, and a plot that is a clichéd muddled mess. This is one movie that makes those that are made for the Sci-fi channel (I refuse to call it by the insanely stupid SyFy moniker, but that's another rant) look of Oscar-caliber. That's no hyperbole, this movie is just that bad.

    Eye Candy: Carmelina Lamanna gets fully nude

    My Grade:D-
    1waflynn

    Don't waste your money and time

    One of the worst movies ever made. At first I thought it was a made for TV movie since there a number of pauses where the movie goes to black (insert commercial here). However, since it has full frontal nudity (female) and full rear nudity (males), eliminates it as a made-for-TV-movie.

    It took the best of "Firestarter" and "Terminator" and created a rather anemic alien. If it looks like a Terminator, walks like a Termminator, talks like a Terminator, and creates fire (it's only weapon), then it must be "Termifirenator".

    Awful special effects, acting, plot line, and continuity. Definitely should be on the 100 worst movies ever made. Shining a search light on the water for the effect of landing aliens was a insult to the viewers.
    4SnoopyStyle

    sci-fi mashup

    Young Mike Hillary dreams of fire which kills his mother. He starts sleeping in a bath even as a young man (Mark-Paul Gosselaar). He returns to his mother's home town and uncovers his secret origins with his superpower.

    This is a mashup of various sci-fi premises. There is Firestarter, an X-Men, a Terminator, and a Close Encounter. All in all, it's a B-movie. It's not terrible. It tries but it doesn't have it.
    5CupidGrl

    It wasn't that bad...

    Ok, well, maybe it was! But don't be too hard on Mark Paul Gosselaar! He didn't do that bad of a job. I actually rented the movie because of him. I guess you would have to be a fan of his to enjoy the movie. It really dosen't make any sense. So, if you think he is cute, get it. I guess I am one of those people who actually liked Saved By The Bell. I like him as Zack better.
    5andrasta

    Mark-Paul's acting was just fine

    Oh, overall, this movie is very cheesy, and I wish the aliens had been something other than walking blocks of muscle, but the story was a good idea in its inception. I thought Mark-Paul's acting was just fine, actually. He took the role seriously, regardless of the movie's lower budget, which denotes him as a good actor. Granted, it's been a while since I've seen it, so I can't give a good take on the supporting actors, but aside from the villain's one-note plot motivation, I don't remember groaning too badly. :) The handling of some of our main character's heritage problems (the whole problem with starting fires while asleep) was a particularly nice touch. Considering the budget, I thought they did the best they could--I'd like to see it redone.

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    Related interests

    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

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    FAQ14

    • How long is Specimen?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 14, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Подопытный
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production company
      • Now Entertainment Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 25m(85 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo

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