New Alcatraz (film)
Encyclopedia
New Alcatraz , is a 2001 Sci-fi channel original B
-Horror Movie
. It was directed by natural horror king, Phillip J. Roth.
) is called to Northeastern Antarctica near the Indian Ocean
to help the FBI build an underground maximum-security military base
and prison
for the world's most dangerous criminals and terrorists. The prison is dubbed "New Alcatraz" by the staff.
While building the prison, the staff accidentally awaken and unleash a prehistoric Boa Constrictor
from its 200 year hibernation
. The snake escapes unnoticed until the staff notice a massive hole chewed in the five-foot thick concrete
walls. Soon, the staff, and prisoners begin disappearing as they are brutally hunted and eaten by the snake.
The FBI agents, Trenton and the rest of the prisoners try to escape, but are hampered as they don't have many weapons. They begin to give up hope as most of the survivors die. However, Trenton manages to blow up the snake underground before escaping to the surface with the few remaining survivors.
, a sequel to one of the most popular made-for-television snake movies of all time. Boa was a critical failure, with reviews citing bad acting, and poor special effects. Boa vs Python was released after the success of the Python Franchise
, and the failure of Boa. So, they decided to make a crossover with Python and Boa, involving the two types of snakes fighting each other. Boa vs. Python was also a critical failure. (Note: This was inspired by Aliens Vs Predator)
on May 21, 2001. It is currently available on Netflix
and DVD
. The VHS
has since been discontinued and has been out of print for some time, but it can be found online.
that became one of the most popular TV movies of all time (Along with Crocodile
). Unlike Python, Boa was a Sci Fi Pictures original film.
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
-Horror Movie
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
. It was directed by natural horror king, Phillip J. Roth.
Plot
Paleontologist Robert Trenton (Dean CainDean Cain
Dean Cain is an American actor. He is most widely known for his role as Clark Kent/Superman in the popular American television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.-Early life:...
) is called to Northeastern Antarctica near the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
to help the FBI build an underground maximum-security military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
and prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
for the world's most dangerous criminals and terrorists. The prison is dubbed "New Alcatraz" by the staff.
While building the prison, the staff accidentally awaken and unleash a prehistoric Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictor
The Boa constrictor is a large, heavy-bodied species of snake. It is a member of the family Boidae found in North, Central, and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive...
from its 200 year hibernation
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
. The snake escapes unnoticed until the staff notice a massive hole chewed in the five-foot thick concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
walls. Soon, the staff, and prisoners begin disappearing as they are brutally hunted and eaten by the snake.
The FBI agents, Trenton and the rest of the prisoners try to escape, but are hampered as they don't have many weapons. They begin to give up hope as most of the survivors die. However, Trenton manages to blow up the snake underground before escaping to the surface with the few remaining survivors.
Cast
- Dean CainDean CainDean Cain is an American actor. He is most widely known for his role as Clark Kent/Superman in the popular American television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.-Early life:...
as Dr. Robert Trenton - Elizabeth LackeyElizabeth LackeyElizabeth "Lisa" Lackey , is an Australian actress. She portrayed Janice Parkman on the NBC television series Heroes. Her previous roles include the lead in the TV series Just Cause and a supporting role in the final season of NYPD Blue.In 1992, Lackey starred on Home and Away, playing Roxanne...
as Dr. Jessica Platt-Trenton - Mark SheppardMark SheppardMark Andreas Sheppard is an English actor and musician, born in London of an Irish-German background. He is often credited as "Mark A. Sheppard".-Personal life:Mark Sheppard is the son of actor W. Morgan Sheppard...
as Yuri - Dean BiasucciDean BiasucciDean Biasucci was a placekicker in the National Football League for the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. He is the second all time leading scorer for the Colts, collecting 783 points from 1984 to 1994...
as Major Larsten - Craig WassonCraig Wasson-Career:Wasson's first feature film was the 1977 suspense thriller Rollercoaster. In 1978, he appeared in two films about the Vietnam war: first as a private in The Boys in Company C and then as a corporal in Go Tell the Spartans. In 1982, he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of...
as Warden Fred Riley - Grand L. BushGrand L. BushGrand Lee Bush is an American actor of stage, television and major motion pictures.-Personal life:Bush was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Essie and Robert Bush, who was an actor...
as Sergeant Quinn - Richard Tanner as Peter Yuvol
- Amandah Reyne as Patricia O'Boyle
- Greg Collins as Scott Poluso
- Gary Hershberger as Goodman
- Dana AshbrookDana AshbrookDana V. Ashbrook is an American actor, perhaps best known for playing Bobby Briggs on the cult TV series Twin Peaks and its 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.-Personal life:...
as Kelly Mitich - Robert Madrid as Jose
- Chris Ufland as Jenkins
- Christopher MichaelChristopher MichaelChristopher Michael is an American actor, director, writer, who is most famous for portraying Sergeant/Detective/Captain/Chief Michaels on 7th Heaven...
as Captain Thomas - Marcus Aurelius as the C-123 Pilot
Critical Reception and Sequel
"Boa" was released to compete with Python IIPython II
Python II is a 2002 sequel to the 2000 film Python. The film stars Billy Zabka reprising his role as Greg Larson from the first film, along with Dana Ashbrook and Simmone Mackinnon....
, a sequel to one of the most popular made-for-television snake movies of all time. Boa was a critical failure, with reviews citing bad acting, and poor special effects. Boa vs Python was released after the success of the Python Franchise
Python (film)
Python is a made-for-TV horror movie directed by Richard Clabaugh. The film features several cult favorite actors, including William Zabka of The Karate Kid fame, Wil Wheaton, Casper Van Dien, Jenny McCarthy, Keith Coogan, Robert Englund , and Sean Whalen.The film concerns a...
, and the failure of Boa. So, they decided to make a crossover with Python and Boa, involving the two types of snakes fighting each other. Boa vs. Python was also a critical failure. (Note: This was inspired by Aliens Vs Predator)
Release
It premiered on the Sci Fi ChannelSyfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
on May 21, 2001. It is currently available on Netflix
Netflix
Netflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. The VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
has since been discontinued and has been out of print for some time, but it can be found online.
Production
The film was inspired by the reception of PythonPython (film)
Python is a made-for-TV horror movie directed by Richard Clabaugh. The film features several cult favorite actors, including William Zabka of The Karate Kid fame, Wil Wheaton, Casper Van Dien, Jenny McCarthy, Keith Coogan, Robert Englund , and Sean Whalen.The film concerns a...
that became one of the most popular TV movies of all time (Along with Crocodile
Crocodile (2000 film)
Crocodile is a 2000 horror film that was directed by Tobe Hooper and was released on December 26, 2000. It was followed by a sequel, Crocodile 2: Death Swamp, which was released on August 1, 2002.- Plot :...
). Unlike Python, Boa was a Sci Fi Pictures original film.