Basilisk: The Serpent King (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

3.8/10   

Director:

Stephen Furst

Writers:

Wil McCarthy (writer)
Chase Parker (writer)

Release Date:

25 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

An Eclipse Awakens An Acient Monster Whose Gaze Turns Flesh To Stone...No One Knows How To Stop It...But One Woman Knows How To Control It

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Gore | Torso Bit In Half | Colorado | Stone | Shopping Mall

Cast

Jeremy London	...	Dr. Harrison 'Harry' McColl
Wendy Carter	...	Rachel Donegal
Cleavant Derricks	...	Colonel Douglas
Griff Furst	...	Rudy Skeeters
Sarah Skeeters	...	Sierra
Stephen Furst	...	Professor Carlton
Yancy Butler	...	Hannah
Doug Dearth	...	Brock
Bashar Rahal	...	Bedoin leader
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Daniel Ponsky	...	Guard (voice)

Runtime:

Brazil:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Goofs:

Continuity: After Yancy Butler's character is introduced, she's seen in during the auction wearing what appear to be black heels. After she fights with Sierra and knocks her down the stairs, you can see Yancy running away clearly wearing black sneakers.

My nomination for Best Screenplay

As a veteran aficionado of the SciFi originals, I had my usual expectations going into "Basilisk". Laughable special effects, transparent characters and formulaic situations clumsily stumbled into by unwitting victims of the CGI beast-du-jour; all comprising a solidly entertaining and heartily enjoyable experience. While "Basilisk" dutifully fulfilled many of my preconceptions, I have to say that it was a cut well above the standard Saturday night fare.

This creature flick can rightfully take its place among such greats as "Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy" (Jeffery Combs can't make a bad movie), "Frankenfish" and many of the other SciFi offerings but I have to put "Basilisk" into its own category all together. The effects are of the same caliber as its worthy cousins, but I think that what lifts this one for me is the script. It is witty without being contrived and never leaves a slow moment or the feeling of awkwardness that comes with so many screenplays that try too hard to be hip (see: Lucky Number Slevin. Actually, don't see it, it's terrible). Cleavant Derricks does an outstanding job as the weekend warrior Colonel and his bantering exchanges with Jeremy London are the stuff of high theatrical art.

So all in all, this one is not to be missed. Next time SciFi decides to air it, set the TiVo and prepare to be entertained. You will not be sorry.