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Lunch » Tags » Movies » Reviews » Shapeshifter

Shapeshifter

1 rating: -3.0

A movie directed by Gregory Lemkin

The Russian Mafia has created a shape-shifting monster to send after its enemies, one of whom happens to be incarcerated in the prison where Ginny Lyndon (Jennifer Lee Wiggins) is starting a new job as a guard. When a new inmate (Vaz Andreas) begins … see full wiki

Tags: Movies, Horror, Suspense, Horror Movies

Director: Gregory Lemkin

Release Date: 2005

MPAA Rating: R

1 review about Shapeshifter

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Shapeshifter - 2005

Apr 6, 2009

by SusiDee34
posted in Movie Hype

Rating:

-3

Pros: not a dang thing

Cons: 81 minutes of film

The Bottom Line:
"What was shall be again
though in a different form
erased and blank
I enter life"
~Dismember

Made in 2005, Shapeshifter suffers from identity crisis. With all that is available in filmmaking, if you are so ashamed of your critter, why bother making the dang movie in the first place? The only clear shots you get of this creature is of the top of its head as it burrows in the innards of its victim. It has two massive horns poking out of its skull, not like regular horns do, but in a vertical line instead of horizontal. To top it off, they quiver, letting you know they are made from some weak grade rubber. Poor excuse of a critter is my thought. The rest of the time they hide it in shadows or blur the lenses so you can’t get a good shot - just in case you wanted to.

Apparently this is a follow up type of film the movie studio The Asylum, using the same sets and most of the same actors. Poor things, they must have signed one sick contract. This is again shot inside a prison only, if you can believe it, the Russian Mafia has sent this dude to break ’one of its own’ out of prison. This is no normal dude, he is a shape shifter. In his human form he is quite attractive but once you have seen his human disguise, you must be killed. And he lives off the blood of his victims, very vampirish, but first he has to tear them apart - his choice I guess.

Overseeing the prisoners is Ginny Lyndon, newly hired, ex-soldier that received just above an dishonorable discharge from the service. One of her new inmates speaks no English and, as it turns out, is the demon in his human form. Once he chews his own arm open to remove the amulet hidden there, he is able to transform into this creature. It isn’t pretty, the chewing part I mean. The transformation, not so bad since you never get a decent look anyway but it appears to be bright orange and hairy.

After it eats her back-up officers, Ginny is locked in the ward with her prisoners while the creature, reverting to human form, tries to figure out how to work the locks on the gates so he can get to his dinner and his buddy that he is trying to break out. By the time Ginny and her ragtag band of warriors reach the end of the movie you are rooting for the creature because you could give a flying flip for her or her group.

Add the fact that they continually repeat several scenes - creature eating [the same scene shown at least 8 times], people creeping about [shown at least a dozen times], attack scenes. It simply becomes boring and mundane.

This little goodie was directed by Gregory Lemkin who also co-wrote the script with A. Everett Howe. Put away the ball gown, not even a Razzie for this schlep. Do I bother mention it is rated R for violence, gore, language, and sexual content.

DVD extras include: Trailer for this and 5 other Asylum releases; deleted scenes; Ode to Shapeshifter reel; behind the scenes featurette; commentary track by Lemkin and cast members. Don’t waste your time on the extras, not worth it.

Speaking of not worth it, Jennifer Lee Wiggins limped through the part of Ginny Lydon while poor Thomas Downey struggled through in that horrible beast costume. Poor guy.

I have only myself to blame,
Susi

This is my submission to the April 2009 Write for the Good of a Charity Promotion which supports three charities: Autism Speaks entered by shantel1575, The Cancer Research Institute entered by AliventiAsylum, and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children entered by ::blush:: me.

Recommended:
No

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