Other meanings of Endangered species
Film
Endangered Species is a 2003 American science fiction action film directed by Kevin S. Tenney and starring Eric Roberts, Arnold Vosloo, and John Rhys-Davies. The plot follows a U.S. Marshal and a biologist who team up to stop a genetically engineered dinosaur-like creature that is terrorizing a small town. The film was released direct-to-video and received generally negative reviews from critics.
The film follows U.S. Marshal Jack Powell (Eric Roberts) and biologist Dr. Katie Spencer (Alexandra Paul) as they investigate a series of mysterious deaths in a remote Colorado town. They discover that the attacks are being carried out by a genetically engineered creature, a hybrid of dinosaur and reptile DNA, that was created in a secret government laboratory. The creature escapes and wreaks havoc, and the duo must stop it before it reaches a populated area. The plot involves themes of genetic engineering and government secrecy, but is primarily an action-horror film with a creature feature premise.1
The cast includes several well-known actors, with Eric Roberts and Arnold Vosloo having prominent roles in action and science fiction films.2
Endangered Species was directed by Kevin S. Tenney, known for his work on horror films such as Witchboard (1986). The film was produced by Nu Image and released directly to video in the United States on July 1, 2003. It was filmed in Bulgaria, a common location for low-budget action films at the time.3 The film's special effects were created by a team that used a mix of animatronics and CGI to bring the creature to life.
Critical reception for Endangered Species was largely negative. Reviewers criticized the film's derivative plot, poor special effects, and lack of originality. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 0% based on a small number of reviews, with an average rating of 3.5/10.4 Some reviewers noted that the film's premise was similar to other creature features like Jurassic Park and Carnosaur, but with less polish. Despite the negative reviews, the film has gained a small cult following among fans of B-movies and creature features.
One lesser-known fact is that the film's creature design was inspired by the extinct dinosaur Deinonychus, but with added reptilian features. The film also features a subplot involving a corrupt military official, which was intended to add depth but was largely ignored by critics. Additionally, the film was released in several international markets under different titles, including 'Project Viper' in some regions, which may cause confusion for collectors. The film's director, Kevin S. Tenney, has stated in interviews that he was not fully satisfied with the final cut due to studio interference, and that the original script had a more complex storyline involving a secret government program to create super-soldiers.5
This article is about the 2003 film. For the conservation status, see Endangered species.
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