Unnatural

*

A great cast is wasted in this “genetic engineering on nature goes amok” outing in Alaska thanks to Sherilyn Fenn’s “Clobirch Industries”—one of those scientific companies seeking to cultivate a growth in wildlife that will function within the planet’s ever-changing eco-system—where a “genetically modified/altered” polar bear goes on a rampage seeking those it may devour. A photographer hires James Remar and his Eskimo crew (which includes Q'orianka Kilcher and Gregory Cruz) to take care of him and his model girls after choosing Alaska as the location for his shoot. Along with Graham Green—who simply deserves better than this measly part—as a trapper, the cast become the target of the polar bear. That bear is hungry and when it gets a hold of them, it eats and eats and eats. For the most part, the filmmakers avoid showing the polar bear and exposing their budget. Green has a couple of minor conversation pieces with Remar before he is trapped in his own cabin and attacked by the bear as it bursts through his window to pounce on him. Remar has a little more to do, quite annoyed with his guests and their diva personalities. When Cruz doesn’t return when the photographer and his girls come a running, Remar decides to go search for him, putting Kilcher in charge of holding down the cabin and looking after the guests. Soon Remar is incapacitated by the bear while it goes after the rest of the group. That is pretty much it. Fenn knows about the bear and at the end Remar tells her that she shouldn’t continue her “mad science” as it was “unnatural”. Ron Carlson—as the photographer—and the models—Allegra Carpenter and Ivana Korab—serve as cabin guests winding up in the wrong place at the wrong time. The girls are right…Carlson should have chosen the beach instead. I was surprised at the chronology of who dies first in this film. Those who suck as human beings are saved for last while poor Kilcher, pinned under a door, gets drug away to be eaten. Fenn just looks down at Kilcher with that look of empathy but isn’t about to budge to help because that is futile. Too much is out of focus and off screen, with sound effects and slight hints of violence only offered. A disappointment. Ray Wise is revealed to be Fenn’s associate at the institute, a nod to Twin Peaks. Unnatural (2015) has a wintry location that doesn’t assist the film much at all, quite frankly. The monster just isn’t elaborated enough to impress. The film doesn’t capitalize with that good cast which could be its greatest casualty.