Alright, fellow tapeheads, settle in. Remember those Friday nights spent scanning the shelves of the local video store, the plastic clamshell cases promising untold thrills? Sometimes you’d bypass the big new releases, drawn instead to a cover that screamed “Adventure! Monsters! Questionable Science!” That’s exactly the vibe radiating from 1997’s DNA, a slice of glorious jungle-creature-feature cheese starring the ever-agile Mark Dacascos. Finding this one felt like unearthing a minor treasure, the kind of movie perfect for a late-night viewing session with the tracking slightly off.
### Jungle Heat and Genetic Freaks
The setup is pure 90s B-movie gold: Deep in the Borneo rainforest, Dr. Ash Mattley (Dacascos) is trying to help indigenous tribes while haunted by a past tragedy. Nearby, the enigmatic Dr. Carl Wessinger (Jürgen Prochnow) is mucking about with ancient enzymes found in a mystical beetle, ostensibly to cure diseases. But come on, we know where this is going, right? Wessinger isn’t just brewing up jungle juice; he’s resurrected Balacau, a terrifyingly hostile creature based on dormant alien DNA, believed by the locals to be an ancient jungle demon. Naturally, it escapes. It’s Jurassic Park meets Predator on a shoestring, and honestly, isn't that kind of awesome?
What makes DNA pop, especially watching it now, is its commitment to the bit. This isn't some self-aware wink-fest; it plays its pulpy premise relatively straight, letting the inherent absurdity provide the entertainment. Dacascos, already known for showcasing his incredible martial arts skills in films like Only the Strong (1993), brings a focused physicality to Ash. He’s believable as the reluctant hero forced into action, leaping, kicking, and scrambling through the jungle with convincing energy. It's the kind of performance that elevates the material – you buy him as a guy who could actually survive this nightmare.
### Creature Feature Craftsmanship
Let's talk about Balacau, the main event. Forget polished pixels and seamless CGI – this beast is a triumph of practical effects, a glorious, tangible monster suit. And who better to helm this than director William Mesa? This detail is pure gold for us retro fans: Mesa wasn't just some random director; he had a background steeped in visual effects, having worked on classics like The Thing (1982), The Abyss (1989), and even the practical creature effects showcase Tremors (1990)! That experience shines through. Balacau feels present, a lumbering, snarling threat interacting with the environment and the actors in a way digital creations often struggle to replicate. Sure, you can sometimes see the seams, maybe spot the limitations of the rubber, but that’s part of the charm! It’s a physical thing on screen, a testament to the artistry and engineering that went into pre-digital movie monsters. Wasn’t there something thrilling about knowing performers were inside that suit, making it move, giving it life right there on set?
The action surrounding Balacau is equally grounded, mostly. We get decent jungle chases, frantic shootouts (with those satisfyingly splattery 90s squib hits!), and some suitably messy creature attacks. It feels appropriately chaotic and desperate. Adding a touch of class (and delightful scenery-chewing potential) is Jürgen Prochnow. Fresh off a decade that saw him in everything from David Lynch's Dune (1984) to action fare like Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), his presence lends the film a certain gravitas, even as he delivers lines about genetic destiny with delightful seriousness. He’s the perfect foil – the obsessed scientist whose ambition unleashes hell. Robin McKee holds her own as the capable CIA agent Claire Sommers, thankfully avoiding becoming just a damsel in distress.
### Straight-to-Video Soul
Now, let's be real. DNA wasn't exactly setting the box office on fire in '97. This has the distinct flavour of a film destined for the video store racks and cable TV rotations, and that’s precisely its strength today. It was likely filmed efficiently, possibly in locations like the Philippines which often stood in for exotic jungles in lower-budget productions of the era, maximizing resources to get the creature and action sequences looking as good as possible. The script, co-written by Mesa himself along with Nick Davis and John H. Kafka, hits all the expected beats – the initial disbelief, the escalating attacks, the desperate final confrontation – but does so with earnest energy.
There’s a certain purity to films like DNA. They weren't trying to reinvent the wheel; they were trying to deliver a specific kind of thrill – the monster movie, the jungle adventure, the action hero showcase. They relied on practical stunts, tangible effects, and the charisma of their leads. Watching it now takes me right back to that feeling of discovery, the simple joy of a movie that promises a cool monster and delivers exactly that, warts and all. It lacks the polish and scale of its A-list contemporaries, but it possesses a scrappy, hands-on charm that’s increasingly rare.
Rating: 6/10
Justification: DNA is undeniably a B-movie, complete with occasional clunky dialogue and predictable plot points. However, it earns solid points for Mark Dacascos's committed action performance, Jürgen Prochnow's enjoyable presence, and crucially, a genuinely impressive practical creature effect brought to life by a director with real VFX pedigree. It delivers exactly the kind of straightforward creature feature thrills promised by its VHS box art.
Final Thought: In an age of flawless digital creations, DNA is a wonderful reminder of when movie monsters felt satisfyingly real and rubbery, ready to tear up the jungle right before your very eyes. A must-watch for Dacascos fans and lovers of 90s practical effects mayhem.