Altered Species


Altered Species, early knowned as Rodentz, is a 2001 horror film directed by Miles Feldman and starring Allen Lee Haff, Leah Rowan, and Guy Veig. The plot is about a scientist who has found a way to regenerate damaged tissue in the body.

Premise

A scientist, searching for a way to end cancer, creates a green substance. His assistant, Walter, gets rid of it by pouring it down the sink. Due to pipes in the basement having leaks, the substance falls in a spot where it is exposed to rats. When the scientist leaves, Walter invites friends over for a party. As the party continues, the rats, including a giant one, attack the partygoers.

Plot synopsis

Home video

The film was released on DVD in 2011 by Artisan Entertainment. It was released as a cropped full screen video. A special feature on the DVD is a commentary. A DVD Talk review said of the commentary, "We are treated to long periods of silence punctuated by the occasional muffled laugh. When someone makes a comment, the rest of the people say things like "yeah" or "that's cool".

Reception

A review by Staci Layne Wilson in her book Animal Movies Guide, said that "this ratty little fright-flick is cheesy at best". Rob Lineberger, writing for DVD Verdict, said, "If only the filmmakers had followed their own tagline, "Hide the cheese…" The cheese is in full view, and it stinks to boot". Noel Gross, writing for DVD Talk, said that the film is "Yawnsville story about a gaggle of cookie-cutter college kiddos who decide to get their party started at an abandoned building where a disgraced professor is trying to cure cancer by juicing lab rats full of glowing green goo a la Re-Animator."