The tyranist's thoughts
This post-modern science fiction take on the classic Frankenstein story is only scary because of a) the interesting questions raised by the premise and b) the fact that I didn't mind Wil Wheaton's performance.
Rutger Hauer plays the mad scientist who is leading a task force that is creating soldiers for an elite unit of the military that is top secret. Most of the movie is spent in exploration of the character and nature of the new man (played remarkably well, by Wil Wheaton). Then of course, there is the requisite violence at the end.
One of the fundamental questions asked by the movie is "what makes us human?" They didn't spend a lot of time actually asking the question, but I was often reminded of many similar stories produced by Philip K. Dick, who has asked that question more than any one else working in science ficiton. In fact, I reflected that this made Hauer's second movie concerned with that question after Blade Runner. Another connection is that the scientist's felt that depriving the new beings of memories would make them more controllable. Replicants anyone?
The Tom Savini effects were pretty good. I was reminded in places of Cube because of the isolation imposed on the subject. Overall, the movie doesn't fall flat. Really, it is very even keeled and that is probably its biggest fault. There really isn't any positive or negative tension in the movie.
This is probably worth checking out for those of you who are interested in yet another take on Philip K. Dick's favourite question, otherwise, you'll probably be bored stiff.