Retro Film Review: Proteus (1995)

Films should be not only judged, but also advertised by their own merit. Whenever the producers try to advertise their films by comparing them to other, presumably successful, films, that is usually the indicator of their low quality. Same practices were adopted by my country's video distributors. They often tend to make bold claims that some of their latest offerings are better than certain undisputed masterpieces. When the offering in question is totally obscure, any experienced movie fan has good reasons to be sceptical. One of such examples was Proteus, 1995 British science fiction horror film directed by Bob Keen. My country's film distributors actually dared to call this film better than Scott's Alien or Carpenter's The Thing.

Screenwriter Harry Alan Smith based the plot on his novel Slimer. It all begins when couple of British heroin smugglers and their girlfriends have their yacht blown up by Chinese triads. They manage to survive by getting to lifeboat and spend time drifting in South China Sea before they are able to get to find some kind of shelter at the abandoned oil rig. Soon it turns out that the rig was nothing more than a cover for super-secret biotechnology lab, specialised for experiments with genetic manipulations. The result of such experiments is "Charlie", genetically altered shark that gained ability to consume its victims' intelligence and take their appearance. The new visitors haven't got a chance against this super-monster until they discover its bizarre weakness – heroin addiction.

Although it uses old horror cliche - group of protagonist stuck in isolated setting and facing unstoppable monster - Proteus could have been at least marginally interesting film, due to some bizarre details of the plot. Unfortunately, the characters are totally dislikeable and the ending quite predictable, despite screenwriter's lame attempts at some "surprise" plot twists. The only thing that works in this film are the special effects, and it shouldn't surprise anyone, since it used to be director's specialty. Yet, even some of his efforts fail miserably - at times, the monster look like it was used as prop in Games Without Frontiers (European game show, quite popular in 1970s). This, together with other details (including the scientist with clearly English name and heavy East European accent) turn Proteus into another proof that the film advertising should never be taken seriously.

RATING: 2/10 (-)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on November 25th 2002)

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