Chrysalis (2008)

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Ran across this in the video store, and picked it up on a whim. Boy am I pleased that I did that. Definitely going to find a copy of my own.If you have a chance to see this on DVD, please watch the film FIRST, then watch the extras (mini-featurettes on various aspects of the making of the film), then go back and listen to the commentary (which I have a gripe about, more later!) Basically, this film is a faithful adaptation of the 1946 short story that originally appeared in Amazing Stories, and finally made it into book form in the 1966 collection "S is for Space." Contrary to modern film-making, in the bulk of the footage of the film, there are NO green screens, NO CGI, just good, authentic looking sets, giving the entire film a gritty, realistic feel. It's obvious the actors were getting "into their roles" just from the atmosphere they had to work in. (FYI, the only green screen filming was used during production of some of those news reports on TV.)Character development is exactly as one would expect from Ray Bradbury, who was, in fact, consulted frequently during the production, and gave his personal endorsement of the film at film festivals. Note: this means that this film is about CHARACTERS, not special effects.The special effects, also (such as they are) are handled old-school as well, and mostly VERY effectively. >>Watch those mini-features to figure out what was a live person, and what wasn't! I failed!<< But this was the intention of the film makers, who wanted this to feel like a 1950's film, not a modern-day computer-generated effectaganza. It even features a couple of 1950's-style cheesy-bits... but even those are done so low key, and you're so absorbed into the interpersonal drama, that you probably won't get distracted by them.Now for the gripe: The audio editing (especially volume) for the commentary track was awful. Period. No contest. At some points, the film volume was so high, you could barely hear the comments. The bits of the conversation with Roger Lay (I think it was... but not sure!) and Ray Bradbury were obviously prerecorded, and spliced in, though content-wise, it was such a pleasure to hear from the inestimable RB himself, you almost don't care -- until the film volume drowns them both out. Also, during that separate recording session, you can tell that RB is talking LOUDLY and CLEARLY (as clear as a 90+ yo gentleman can be, anyway) into the mike, making the conversation a little jarring. The content is good -- mostly -- if you can get past the volume level mismatches.Final note, and no it's not really a spoiler... If you expect this film to go out with a bang (explosions, gaudy spectacles, lots of death-and-dismemberment), you're not much of a Ray Bradbury fan, are you?All in all, this is a keeper, not a renter. Highly recommended!

I was quite surprised with this film. if anyone has read the story it came from, FINALLY someone has been loyal to the Ray Bradbury Story and not moved off into their own self-belief. I suppose if you are a teenager who expects a Scyfy monster of the week, this isn't for you. But real Science Fiction is what this film is, and at it's best. Obviously the film is on a small budget, but it is handled well and succinctly by its producers and director. the actor work well and appear credible.The make-up effects work well and the film manages to purvey a dark/gloomy tone. It is not meant to be a film like 300 with a huge scope and bombastic action. It is an intellectual examination of an alien presence on Earth. Watched it once, will watch it again.More films like this please!

Finally got to see Chrysalis on demand this week and I have to say I was really pleased. I was hoping they wouldn't go and turn Bradbury's story about human evolution into another piece of post apocalyptic violent junk. I'm glad to report that wasn't the case. I didn't recognize any of the actors but Bradbury's dialogue and story keeps things very interesting. The movie features a series of Emergency broadcasts all throughout which are used to fill the characters (and the audience) in on what's happening in the rest of the world during this ecological crisis the movie presents. I think that's one of the most clever storytelling techniques in the film. I really enjoy how the story is told on two different fronts -- the main characters inside the research facility with their dilemma about the Chrysalis and the rest of the world suffering through the eco-crisis which we get to discover through the emergency broadcasts. Highly recommend it for fans of true hard sci-fi. Can't wait to get it on DVD. Would love to see some footage from the film festivals and Comic Con panels that Bradbury has participated on to promote the film.

Just saw this last night at the Shriekfest film fest in Los Angeles. I'm not a big Bradbury fan myself (more of a Harlan Ellison fan) but I must say this is a really good piece of work. It's sad to see some of the things that are considered Science Fiction films these days, but this is the real deal. The movie is based on a Ray Bradbury short story and pretty much deals with mankind's attempt at survival after the planet has been messed up pretty badly. We see some of that damage early on in the film but then quickly the film introduces us to an isolated group of scientists who are going about trying to figure out a way to undo some of the damage to the environment, specifically to plant life. This is where it gets real interesting since one of them begins to mutate and develops a Chrysalis that covers his body. No one really knows what could come out of that thing. What works so well is how invested you are in the struggle between all the characters, each with their very unique perspective on how to deal with the crisis. The actors are really good at keeping you invested in the proceedings. You can tell the film is truly an homage to those classic science fiction stories to come out of the pulp magazines during the golden age. The FX are really well done, everything looks organic and as far as I could tell no CG. Should be coming out soon. Lets hope this gets more exposure than Bradbury's last effort A SOUND OF THUNDER. This one deserves to be seen. I'm starting to feel real positive about Sci-Fi cinema again with MAN FROM EARTH last year and now CHRYSALIS.