Lizard (film)

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Movie
German title Lizard
Original title Metamorphosis
Country of production Italy , USA
original language English
Publishing year 1990
length 90 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director George Eastman
script George Eastman
production Donatella Donati
music Luigi Ceccarelli
camera Gianlorenzo Battaglia
cut Kathleen Stratton
occupation

Lizard , also Lizard - The total mutation (original title: Metamorphosis or DNA formula letale ) is an Italian-American horror film about a scientist who tries to stop human aging, but ultimately only seals his own doom. Directed by George Eastman . The production with Laura Gemser in a supporting role is Eastman's second and last directorial work after 2020 - Texas Gladiators .

The film first appeared in the United States on April 25, 1990; in Italy on August 7, 1990; in Germany it was first published on video on April 17, 1991; the German television premiere was on April 25, 1992 under the title Lizard - Die totale Mutation .

action

The aspiring scientist Dr. Peter Houseman is working on deciphering human DNA with the aim of stopping the aging of human cells. The University of Virginia gives the eccentric and rebellious geneticist a free hand, although he does not publish any results. Rather, the young genius strives for constant secrecy. This changes when a commission, including Sally Donnelly, who has traveled from New York, refuses to fund further studies.

For fear of losing his research assignment, Dr. Houseman to provide evidence for his revolutionary theory, which he achieved with gene experiments, some of which were forbidden. When his previous assistant was to be given the lead of the project, the criticized genetic researcher dared to try himself and spontaneously injected himself with a synthetic serum - with fatal consequences. Attacks of irrepressible aggressiveness with amnesia follow, which inevitably leads to difficulties.

At some point, Dr. Houseman admitted to hospital. The rapidly aging, degenerating body of the scientist is a mystery to the medical profession. The genetic researcher is already in an advanced stage of metamorphosis . Willy, Dr. Houseman's long-time friend and assistant consequently diagnosed that the person concerned was suffering from a retrograde evolution, and that the body would soon be transformed back into a prehistoric reptile .

A little later, Dr. Houseman - his outward appearance resembles that of a monster - from the clinic. Its destination is the university's research laboratory. Before that, however, he visits the single parent Sally, with whom he entered into a love affair at different times. With a sample of the serum that was in the possession of the city dweller, the reptilian creature reaches the scientific facility - with Sally's little son Tommy as a blind passenger. The situation is escalating on the university campus. Shots are fired. Dr. Houseman is hit by alerted police but remains unharmed. To the horror of those present - the worried child mother and Tommy, whose friend Dr. Lester and astonished police units - the victim disappears without a trace. Tommy, who leaves the US state with his mother in the open end of the film, discovers a little lizard at the scene of the horror , which he takes care of.

reception

The lexicon of international films compares the horror film with David Cronenberg's Die Fliege and states that Lizard “ largely dispenses with disgusting shock effects ” without achieving the “ tension and consistency of its role model ”.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Lizard. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used