Metamorphosis





release year: 2022
genre: giant monster horror/action
viewing setting: home streaming 8/11/26

synopsis: A genetically-engineered dinosaur escapes from its cage and runs amok within the research facility...and the only way to stop it might be to unleash the giant python and aim them at each other.

impressions: Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Of course it does, and combined with the promotional art which showed those two monsters fighting amidst tall buildings, it caused me to take the bait. Unfortunately, while there was a genetically-engineered T-Rex-like dinosaur - and indeed there was also a gigantic python, and they did in fact fight - it all happened inside a single building, not between skyscrapers. This was a short (72-minute) monster movie from China, and while it lied as I just noted, it was actually fairly well-made and entertaining. The CGI was pretty good and there were plenty of humorous situations and lines. Some things you will see in this movie: the world's stupidest cleaning lady...snake hunters...wacky science...an evil security boss...a couple of random comic relief characters...very little explicit blood or gore...a battle with the dinosaur in a gym...a dinosaur roaming the womens' locker room...the old soap-on-the-floor trick...a healing mutation that gives the thing new abilities each time it happens...a new tongue attack resulting from one of those mutations...the battle finally happening after the 50-minute mark...not one but TWO giant snakes!...random evil scientist and goons just randomly showing up...loud thrash music during the big chase...a forklift being brought to bear against the dinosaur...the seed is planted for a sequel.

body count: 15 humans, assuming that any dinosaur encounter followed by a loud scream (plus that person never being seen again) resulted in a death

acting: This was tough to nail down due to the subtitling and its translation mistakes, but the two undeniable protagonists (the man of action and his scientist-lady ex) did well.

final word: Good dinosaur cheese, worth watching.

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