This is the third in a series of articles where we’ll be covering the Top Films About Genetic Engineering. While Genetic Engineering is closely related to Cloning, we have a separate collection for Films About Cloning as they tend to be more drama-based and cover the moral, philosophical and ethical nature of cloning. Genetic Engineering Films, on the other hand, are typically Sci-Fi and/or Horror-based and cover various themes such as genetically engineered hybrid creatures or bioengineering a superhuman.
Films About Genetic Engineering will also cover topics such as mad scientists, genetic research, bioengineering, genetic mutants and other related topics where an organism or person is genetically modified or created. Genetic Engineering Films are also closely aligned with other film subgenres including Films Based on Superheroes & Comics, Dark Fantasy Films, Films About Dinosaurs, Body Horror Films, Cosmic Horror Films, Eco-Horror Films, Films About Monsters, Psychic Powers Films, Psychological and Medical Horror Films, Sci-Fi Biotech Films, Films About Clones, Hard Sci-Fi Films, Animals Attack Films, Conspiracy Films, Pandemic & Virus Films and Psychological and Medical Thrillers.
This third article will cover the Top Films About Genetic Engineering You Haven’t Seen from the 1990’s and you can check out additional articles by decade below. We are also going to include a Best Of subgenre article as a grand finale. There are so many great films featuring genetically altered humans and mutants from the last 60 years that we felt it best to break down some of the subgenre’s forgotten and lesser-known gems by decade before we give you the Best Of list which will likely feature many films you’ve already heard of or have seen.
- Top Films About Genetic Engineering You Haven’t Seen – 1970’s
- Top Films About Genetic Engineering You Haven’t Seen – 1980’s
- Top Films About Genetic Engineering You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s
- Top Films About Genetic Engineering You Haven’t Seen – 2000’s
- Top Films About Genetic Engineering You Haven’t Seen – 2010’s
- Best Recent Films About Genetic Engineering
- Best Films About Genetic Engineering
The 1990’s would carry over some subgenre themes from the 1980’s but also introduce new subthemes of genetic engineering. As we noted in our previous article, the dangers and repercussions of genetic experimentation on animals would continue to develop as a major theme of the subgenre during this decade. Another major subgenre theme involving genetically altered humans would focus on various subthemes from psychic powers to the creation of supersoldiers. Also notable were two additional themes that would be present in the 90’s included genetic engineering and cloning of dead or extinct organisms and a variety of films based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
Genetic experiments on animals would continue as a dominant theme of the subgenre with a common underlying message – don’t mess with nature. Genetically altered dogs with increased intelligence that escape from labs were the subject of Watchers II (1990) and Man’s Best Friend (1993). The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) would be a subpar remake of the classic tale of an island’s animals genetically transformed into humans. A genetically engineered hybrid of a mantis and termite leads to horrific results in the Monster Film Mimic (1997). And genetically engineered sharks with enlarged brains were found in Deep Blue Sea (1999) while Creature (1998) featured a secret government program to create a human and shark hybrid creature.
The most popular film and franchise of the subgenre gave rise to the subtheme of genetically engineered clones of extinct or dead organisms. Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park novel would become a blockbuster 1993 film adaptation directed by Stephen Spielberg. The tale of genetically cloned Dinosaurs running amok would continue with The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) and into the following decades. Also based on a 1984 novel about genetically engineered Dinosaurs by John Brosnan was the film Carnosaur (1993). Though the Carnosaur novel and film were released before the Crichton novel and Spielberg film, they won’t cause anybody to forget Jurassic Park anytime soon. And finally, Alien Resurrection (1997) featured a cloned Ripley who was genetically engineered with DNA from a Xenomorph queen.
Genetically altered humans were also a theme of the subgenre with a variety of subthemes. Psychic Powers was the prevalent subtheme in Spontaneous Combustion (1990) and Scanners II: The New World Order (1991). Human DNA altered for invisibility was the focus of the Sex Comedy The Invisible Maniac (1990) and suspense-driven Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1990). The subtheme of genetic mutations in humans would mainly consist of biological transformations in Darkman (1990), Freaked (1993), The Fantastic Four (1994), The Nutty Professor (1996) and Generation X (1996). And genetically engineered humans with perfected DNA was the theme of the subgenre classic Gattaca (1997) while genetically engineered supersoldiers would be found in Syngenor (1990), Black Mask (1996) and Soldier (1998). And yes, Captain America (1990) was also a film involving the famous genetically engineered superhero, but we wouldn’t wish this travesty of a film on our worst enemies.
And there were various filmed versions of the classic Frankenstein tale during this decade. Films such as Frankenstein (1992) and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) were considered the most faithful adaptations of the Shelley novel. While others including the Horror Comedy Frankenhooker (1990), the Time Travel film Frankenstein Unbound (1990) and the surreal Japanese take on the Frankenstein legend in The Last Frankenstein (1991) all used elements of Shelley’s novel but aren’t considered overly faithful to the Frankenstein legend.
Our complete list of Films About Genetic Engineering features over 212+ films from 1931 – 2023 and if you don’t see a film on our list it is likely in other film collections such as Eco-Horror Films, Films About Monsters, Films About Cloning, Psychological and Medical Horror Films and Psychological and Medical Thrillers. We’ll be releasing other articles about some of the best lesser-known subgenre films soon so subscribe to our newsletter to get updated as we release future articles about clones and genetic engineering.
Classic Films About Genetic Engineering from the 1990’s: Darkman (1990), Jurassic Park (1993), The Nutty Professor (1996), Alien Resurrection (1997), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Mimic (1997) and Gattaca (1997).
Lesser-known Films About Genetic Engineering from the 1990’s that didn’t make our list: Spontaneous Combustion (1990), Frankenhooker (1990), Watchers II (1990), The Unborn (1991), The Last Frankenstein (1991), Frankenstein (1992), Carnosaur (1993), Junior (1994), Project: Metalbeast (1995), Rage (1995), Proteus (1995), Black Mask (1996), Generation X (1996), Mary Reilly (1996) and Hysteria (1997).
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Here is our list of the Top Films About Genetic Engineering You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s:
#10
Creature
Plot: An amphibious shark-like monster terrorizes an abandoned secret military base and the people who live on the island it’s located on. A marine biologist, as well as several other people, try to stop it before it’s too late…
KBZ’s Take: Peter Benchley was a popular author in the 1970’s and 1980’s whose novels were often Aquatic Thrillers. Jaws (1975) was the most popular film adaptation of his novel of the same name, and a few of his other novels were adapted for The Deep (1977) and The Island (1980).
Creature was a TV series adaptation of Benchley’s White Shark novel and though it has similar themes to Jaws, it instead features a genetically engineered human and shark hybrid creature that can walk, has arms, etc.
The series stars Craig T. Nelson, Kim Cattrall, Colm Feore and Giancarlo Esposito and while it has a limited TV budget, the special effects and creature design are quite well done. It’s worth checking out for some unique themes of genetic engineering and one of the weirder genetic creations of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Qmn6S7
#9
Syngenor
Plot: A scientist engineers a group of genetically engineered cyborgs for use as super soldiers to fight U.S. wars in the Middle East. However, things get ugly when the cyborgs malfunction and turn on their creators.
KBZ’s Take: We’ll admit right off the bat that this is not a good film. It’s low budget, has a ridiculous plot with massive plot holes and some of the acting in the film is atrocious. But it’s a guilty pleasure of ours due to David Gale’s performance and the creature design.
You might remember David Gale from Re-Animator (1985) as he played Dr. Carl Hill (the severed head antagonist to Herbert West). In this film, he gives an over-the-top performance that adds a certain amount of camp to a film that takes itself too seriously.
As for the creature, it’s a “Syngenor” (SYNthesized GENetic ORganism) and is basically the same creature from Scared to Death (1980). This film is an ‘unofficial’ sequel to that film and the creature is featured much more prominently throughout the film.
We’re confident that subgenre fans will either love the film or hate it, so we’ll just recommend it for fans that have seen everything else in the subgenre and are in the mood for 90’s camp and horror.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/URal3Erxs3c
#8
Habitat
Plot: In order to combat the damage caused by the depletion of the ozone layer, maverick biologist Hank Symes unleashes his most ambitious experiment to date: accelerated evolution. Unfortunately, this not only causes the authorities to take notice, but also creates a backlash from his new neighbors – leaving his son caught in the middle.
KBZ’s Take: We had an internal debate about this film as it’s not a very good film, but it does have a unique premise of the subgenre. We ended up listing it as we do think subgenre fans will at least enjoy some of its novel genetic engineering themes.
Primarily an Eco-Horror Film, Habitat involves a genetic experiment gone wrong that transforms (and evolves) a scientist and his environment. There are some issues with the dated special effects and tone of the film (which keeps alternating from offbeat to serious), but there are some good subgenre ideas worth checking out.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/DFyooosz9Hc
Plot: A scanner discovers a plot by renegade elements in the city government to take power with the help of evil scanners.
KBZ’s Take: Why Scanners (1981) has never been remade is anybody’s guess. The initial film was a classic of the Psychic Powers subgenre though it was made on an extremely low budget of $3.5M. It more than tripled its budget at the box office which led to a rash of sequels. Unfortunately, like Hellraiser (1987), each sequel is progressively worse.
As for the first sequel, it’s the best of the lot though made on a shoestring budget. However, the ideas in Scanners II: The New Order fits in well as a natural progression of the themes Cronenberg explored in his original classic. The initial drug Ephemerol which caused the genetic mutations from the first film has evolved to a new variant – Eph2.
Though the acting and special effects are subpar, there are some creative Body Horror and Genetic Engineering elements in the film that make the film worth watching.
Additional Lists: Top Body Horror Films You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s #9
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3T5ck2h
Plot: The ultimate weapon, claimed to be safe for mankind, produces global side-effects including time slides and disappearances. The scientist behind the project and his car are zapped from the year 2031 to 1817 in Switzerland where he meets Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Mary Shelley and others.
KBZ’s Take: This is a film we had to re-watch recently for this article as our initial impressions (from a 1990 viewing) weren’t very favorable. On the second viewing, we actually enjoyed the film quite a bit more – especially the Time Travel concepts.
While the film does feature the Frankenstein legend as a major part of its narrative, the Time Travel elements in the film should have been marketed better because they make the film more interesting. We also can’t really get into the genetic engineering aspects of the film but can only say they lead to an interesting ‘evolution’ at a certain point in the film.
Our suggestion is to go into this film focusing on the Time Travel aspects and you’ll likely enjoy the film much more than if you go in expecting a classic Frankenstein film.
Additional Lists: Top Time Travel Films You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s #3
Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/wFBg51wRAsM
#5
Freaked
Plot: A vain actor, his best friend, and an activist end up at a mutant freak farm run by a weirdo scientist.
KBZ’s Take: We noted in our 1990’s Body Horror film article that this was one of the funnier comedies of that subgenre. And it’s also one of the funnier comedies of this subgenre – especially if you like to see crazy and warped genetic creations.
This is a comedy film that uses Body Horror for laughs vs. scares. In fact, the Body Horror and ‘mutations’ throughout this film are creative and hilarious. It’s not a horror film by any means but has become a cult classic. We recommended the film for Body Horror fans and we’re also recommending it for fans of this subgenre. You won’t be disappointed.
Additional Lists: Top Body Horror Films You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s #5
Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/JbFfhcDmFJY
#4
Soldier
Plot: Elite soldier defends a peaceful community against a new breed of genetically engineered soldiers.
KBZ’s Take: Though the subtheme of ‘supersoldiers’ would become more prevalent in later decades with the release of Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Soldier was one of the first films to explore some unique elements of this subtheme – specifically, what happens to older versions of genetically engineered supersoldiers once the new ‘upgraded’ versions come online?
The film doesn’t delve into specifics related to genetic engineering beyond the PTSD memories of a soldier who has been created to not feel any emotion. There are also some good action sequences between the different versions of the supersoldiers, but it’s primarily a Military Sci-Fi film based on genetic engineering themes.
On a side note, Soldier can be viewed as a ‘’spin-off sidequel” and spiritual successor to Blade Runner (1981). There’s even some Blade Runner universe easter eggs you can find in the film upon a second viewing.
Additional Lists: Top Sci-Fi Military Films You Haven’t Seen #5
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3jfOxPs
Plot: A dog turns from man’s best friend into man’s worst nightmare as he attacks everything that moves.
KBZ’s Take: This film can best be summed up as, “What if Cujo was genetically engineered with the venom of a snake, the camouflage ability of a chameleon and other attributes of the deadliest creatures on Earth?” Well, your answer would be Max, the Tibetan Mastiff from Man’s Best Friend.
Though the film doesn’t break much new ground in the subgenre and is a typical Animals Attack film, it doesn’t take itself seriously and that’s part of its charm. There are some funny scenes in the film from Max’s dislike of a neighborhood cat to his amorous feelings towards a female Collie.
But the film is still grounded in horror and features some very gory and violent scenes. The underlying humor in the film makes Man’s Best Friend an enjoyable watch and recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DEmPCI
Plot: After a freak accident, an invisible yuppie runs for his life from a treacherous CIA official while trying to cope with his new life.
KBZ’s Take: We weren’t going to initially include this film on the list only because we thought it was more well-known than apparently it is. Outside of John Carpenter fans and older viewers, there are a surprising number of people who’ve never heard of the film. We’re here to change that…
Starring Chevy Chase, the film features some amazing special effects (of the time) as Chase is inadvertently turned invisible and soon finds himself on the run with a CIA agent (Sam Neill) in pursuit. The CIA wants to capture him for a secretive spy program.
The film does an admirable job of balancing comedy and suspense and has some very good scenes of what would actually happen if you became invisible (i.e. Chase, while invisible, sees food he ate digesting within himself). It doesn’t tackle the heavy Psychological Horror themes of The Invisible Man (1933), Hollow Man (2000) and The Invisible Man (2020) nor does it have the juvenile comedy about being invisible like The Invisible Kid (1988) and The Invisible Maniac (1990). But what the film does well is provide an entertaining, and surprisingly suspenseful, version of The Invisible Man showing all the benefits and drawbacks of invisibility.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3qccxXg
#1
Mimic
Plot: A disease carried by common cockroaches is killing Manhattan children. In an effort to stop the epidemic an entomologist, Susan Tyler, creates a mutant breed of insect that secretes a fluid to kill the roaches. This mutant breed was engineered to die after one generation, but three years later Susan finds out that the species has survived and evolved into a large, gruesome monster that can mimic human form.
KBZ’s Take: This is another film we weren’t sure we were going to include on our list but, like Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), we were again surprised at how many people have not seen this subgenre classic. For reasons unknown, the film seems to have been lost to time even though it’s a Guillermo Del Toro film and was a major release in the 1990’s.
Mimic is the second-best subgenre film of the decade (after Jurassic Park (1993)) that focuses on genetically engineering a new form of creature with unintended consequences. This is the focus of the first act and the underlying theme throughout the film.
Though the film is very reminiscent of Alien (1979) as the narrative progresses, Del Toro rightfully focuses on atmosphere and mood as new details of the creature are revealed. And what is sometimes more terrifying than an Alien Xenomporh is a creature created by humans that has evolved to become its worst nightmare.
While we are recommending the film for subgenre fans, we strongly suggest watching Del Toro’s Director’s Cut of the film (link below). The Director’s Cut is 111 minutes in length and includes Del Toro’s original vision for the film with a more apocalyptic tone.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3q4hy4k
