Wyvern (film)
Encyclopedia
Wyvern is a 2009
American made-for-television horror film
produced by RHI Entertainment
that premiered in the United States on the Sci Fi Channel
on January 1, 2009. Written by Jason Bourque and directed by Steven R. Monroe, the film is part of the "Maneater
" film series produced under an agreement with Sci Fi Pictures. The film stars Nick Chinlund
as Jake Suttner, a trucker who must stop a wyvern
from eating the residents in the small town of Beaver Mills, Alaska
. It was released in Region 1 on DVD on August 18, 2009. It was also released under the alternative title Dragon.
, meaning that the sun does not set during the summer solstice. As the town prepares for its annual celebration of this event, a wyvern
, awakened from its prison of ice by the melting of the ice caps, and first attacks a fisherman. Jake (Nick Chinlund
) , who is new in town, is a handyman fixing the cafe where Claire (Erin Karpluk
) works. He hurts his hand and David (David Lewis), the town's doctor, comes to his house to look at it. While driving back to town, David stops in the woods to pee and is attacked by the wyvern. Sheriff Dawson (John Shaw) and Jake are having coffee at the cafe the next morning when they hear gunshots in the woods and go to investigate. It is Haas (Barry Corbin
), a redneck who was attacked by the wyvern but managed to survive. They asked him what attacked him but he is unsure of what it was, and just tells them it could fly. On the way back to town, Dawson finds David's arm and then believes Haas. Colonel (Don S. Davis
), who has seen the Wyvern from his house, goes in to town to warn everyone, because they are all outside for a festival. No one believes him and he goes to kill it. As Dawson goes to a friend's farm to get help, he radios to his Deputy Susie (Elaine Miles
) to watch the town, but she can't understand what he says. Dawson arrives to find his friend dead, and heads back to town. Back at the town, the wyvern comes killing Susie and several other people. Jake, Claire, Haas, and an old crazy lady named Edin (Karen Austin
) take shelter in the cafe. Later, Hampton (Tinsel Korey
), who runs the towns radio, and Farley (Simon Longmore), just another citizen, make it to the cafe. Sheriff Dawson comes back to town but is killed by the wyvern. Jake and Claire decide to track the wyvern into the woods, where they find the Colonel, and discover the wyvern is killing anyone who tries to leave on the interstate. Jake and Hampton fix the radio tower and try to get help, but no one respondes. Farley is injured trying to get supplies. The wyvern then uses David, who is still alive, as bait to get people to come out of the cafe. Jake goes to rescue him, and Farley realizes he wont make it back with David, so he distracts the wyvern to save them, but is eaten. David tells the group the Wyvern has eggs, and then dies from his injuries. The survivors decide to electrify the nest, but the wyvern comes and kills Haas. Jake takes a truck left on the side of the road and, using the eggs as bait, kills the wyvern by driving it off the cliff and bailing out at the last second. Jake, Claire, Colonel, Hampton and Edin head back to the cafe to try to radio for help again.
The film presents its own mythology surrounding the creature. According to Haas, the Wyvern is an ancient beast from Norwegian mythology. Haas further states that the Wyvern was the son of Hel
, the goddess of death, who went on a rampage and bit Odin
, causing the king of the Norwegian gods to imprison it in ice far to the north.
2009 in film
The year 2009 saw the release of many films. Seven made the top 50 list of highest-grossing films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that as of this year, their Best Picture category would consist of ten nominees, rather than five .- Highest-grossing films :Please note...
American made-for-television horror film
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...
produced by RHI Entertainment
RHI Entertainment
RHI Entertainment , formerly known as Hallmark Entertainment, is an American producer of television movies and miniseries, founded in 1979 by Robert Halmi Jr. and Robert Halmi Sr. as Robert Halmi Incorporated....
that premiered in the United States on the Sci Fi Channel
Syfy
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 January 1, 2009. Written by Jason Bourque and directed by Steven R. Monroe, the film is part of the "Maneater
Maneater (series)
Maneater Series is the name, logo and line look given to a series of made-for-television natural horror films on DVD produced by RHI Entertainment for the Sci Fi Channel, now called Syfy, and distributed by Vivendi Entertainment. The Maneater Series logo and line look were created under the...
" film series produced under an agreement with Sci Fi Pictures. The film stars Nick Chinlund
Nick Chinlund
Zareh Nicholas "Nick" Chinlund is an American actor.-Early life:Chinlund was born in New York City. He attended the Friends Seminary in Lower Manhattan, later moving to Albany, NY in order to participate in Albany High School's varsity basketball program...
as Jake Suttner, a trucker who must stop a wyvern
Wyvern
A wyvern or wivern is a legendary winged reptilian creature with a dragon's head, two legs , and a barbed tail. The wyvern is found in heraldry. There exists a purely sea-dwelling variant, termed the Sea-Wyvern which has a fish tail in place of a barbed dragon's tail...
from eating the residents in the small town of Beaver Mills, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It was released in Region 1 on DVD on August 18, 2009. It was also released under the alternative title Dragon.
Plot
The small Alaskan town of Beaver Mills is located just north of the Arctic CircleArctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
, meaning that the sun does not set during the summer solstice. As the town prepares for its annual celebration of this event, a wyvern
Wyvern
A wyvern or wivern is a legendary winged reptilian creature with a dragon's head, two legs , and a barbed tail. The wyvern is found in heraldry. There exists a purely sea-dwelling variant, termed the Sea-Wyvern which has a fish tail in place of a barbed dragon's tail...
, awakened from its prison of ice by the melting of the ice caps, and first attacks a fisherman. Jake (Nick Chinlund
Nick Chinlund
Zareh Nicholas "Nick" Chinlund is an American actor.-Early life:Chinlund was born in New York City. He attended the Friends Seminary in Lower Manhattan, later moving to Albany, NY in order to participate in Albany High School's varsity basketball program...
) , who is new in town, is a handyman fixing the cafe where Claire (Erin Karpluk
Erin Karpluk
Erin Karpluk is a Canadian television actress. She is best known for her leading roles in Godiva's and Being Erica...
) works. He hurts his hand and David (David Lewis), the town's doctor, comes to his house to look at it. While driving back to town, David stops in the woods to pee and is attacked by the wyvern. Sheriff Dawson (John Shaw) and Jake are having coffee at the cafe the next morning when they hear gunshots in the woods and go to investigate. It is Haas (Barry Corbin
Barry Corbin
Leonard Barrie Corbin, known as Barry Corbin , is an American actor with more than one hundred film, television and video game credits.-Early life:...
), a redneck who was attacked by the wyvern but managed to survive. They asked him what attacked him but he is unsure of what it was, and just tells them it could fly. On the way back to town, Dawson finds David's arm and then believes Haas. Colonel (Don S. Davis
Don S. Davis
Don Sinclair Davis PhD was an American character actor, theatre professor, painter and captain in the United States Army.-Career:He was perhaps best known for playing General George S...
), who has seen the Wyvern from his house, goes in to town to warn everyone, because they are all outside for a festival. No one believes him and he goes to kill it. As Dawson goes to a friend's farm to get help, he radios to his Deputy Susie (Elaine Miles
Elaine Miles
Elaine Miles is an American actress best known for her role as Marilyn Whirlwind in the television series Northern Exposure.-Biography:...
) to watch the town, but she can't understand what he says. Dawson arrives to find his friend dead, and heads back to town. Back at the town, the wyvern comes killing Susie and several other people. Jake, Claire, Haas, and an old crazy lady named Edin (Karen Austin
Karen Austin
Karen Austin is an American actress. Austin has made many TV and film appearances since the 1980s.-Filmography:* 1983 - The Taming of the Shrew - Katherina* 1984 - "Celebrity mini-series - Ceil Shannon...
) take shelter in the cafe. Later, Hampton (Tinsel Korey
Tinsel Korey
-Life and career:Korey is a Canadian musician and actress known for playing Aboriginal roles. She portrayed the Makah Emily Young in the Twilight Saga films New Moon and Eclipse. She is set to return as Emily Young in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn...
), who runs the towns radio, and Farley (Simon Longmore), just another citizen, make it to the cafe. Sheriff Dawson comes back to town but is killed by the wyvern. Jake and Claire decide to track the wyvern into the woods, where they find the Colonel, and discover the wyvern is killing anyone who tries to leave on the interstate. Jake and Hampton fix the radio tower and try to get help, but no one respondes. Farley is injured trying to get supplies. The wyvern then uses David, who is still alive, as bait to get people to come out of the cafe. Jake goes to rescue him, and Farley realizes he wont make it back with David, so he distracts the wyvern to save them, but is eaten. David tells the group the Wyvern has eggs, and then dies from his injuries. The survivors decide to electrify the nest, but the wyvern comes and kills Haas. Jake takes a truck left on the side of the road and, using the eggs as bait, kills the wyvern by driving it off the cliff and bailing out at the last second. Jake, Claire, Colonel, Hampton and Edin head back to the cafe to try to radio for help again.
The film presents its own mythology surrounding the creature. According to Haas, the Wyvern is an ancient beast from Norwegian mythology. Haas further states that the Wyvern was the son of Hel
Hel (being)
In Norse mythology, Hel is a being who presides over a realm of the same name, where she receives a portion of the dead. Hel is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson...
, the goddess of death, who went on a rampage and bit Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
, causing the king of the Norwegian gods to imprison it in ice far to the north.
Cast
- Nick ChinlundNick ChinlundZareh Nicholas "Nick" Chinlund is an American actor.-Early life:Chinlund was born in New York City. He attended the Friends Seminary in Lower Manhattan, later moving to Albany, NY in order to participate in Albany High School's varsity basketball program...
as Jake Suttner - Erin KarplukErin KarplukErin Karpluk is a Canadian television actress. She is best known for her leading roles in Godiva's and Being Erica...
as Claire - Barry CorbinBarry CorbinLeonard Barrie Corbin, known as Barry Corbin , is an American actor with more than one hundred film, television and video game credits.-Early life:...
as Haas - Tinsel KoreyTinsel Korey-Life and career:Korey is a Canadian musician and actress known for playing Aboriginal roles. She portrayed the Makah Emily Young in the Twilight Saga films New Moon and Eclipse. She is set to return as Emily Young in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn...
as Hampton - Elaine MilesElaine MilesElaine Miles is an American actress best known for her role as Marilyn Whirlwind in the television series Northern Exposure.-Biography:...
as Deputy Susie Barnes - Simon Longmore as Farley
- John Shaw as Chief Dawson
- Karen AustinKaren AustinKaren Austin is an American actress. Austin has made many TV and film appearances since the 1980s.-Filmography:* 1983 - The Taming of the Shrew - Katherina* 1984 - "Celebrity mini-series - Ceil Shannon...
as Edna Grunyun - David Lewis as Dr. David Yates
- Don S. DavisDon S. DavisDon Sinclair Davis PhD was an American character actor, theatre professor, painter and captain in the United States Army.-Career:He was perhaps best known for playing General George S...
as Colonel Travis Sherman