Espèce en voie de disparition

At the time of the 'Endangered Species' initial 1982 release there had been 10,000 recorded cases of cattle mutilation, small change when compared to McDonald's daily apocalypse, but perhaps the macabre singularity of these bizarre, apparently random bovine evisceration's would prove to be more of a film-worthy premise for Alan Rudolph's enjoyably black-hatted conspiracy thriller,'Endangered Species'. Featuring two of the more resolutely 80s-looking movie stars; tall, rugged housewives favourite, Robert Urich and America's winsome sweetheart JoBeth Williams as the frisson-creating, diametrically opposed picture perfect couple, both drawn inexorably together by the magnetic movie magic of 'hooray for Hollywood' screenwriting!

The curve-balling, faintly spooky tale unfolds with creditable alacrity after the initially esoteric mysteries concerning these ominously precise livestock mutilations bring the vexed town's higher echelon into vociferous ferment. With anxious, newly elected sheriff Harriet Perdue (JoBeth Williams), stalwart newspaperman (Paul Dooley), boorish, appropriately bovine patriot Ben (Hoyt Axton) and fleet-fisted wild card ex-city cop Reuben (Urich) all discovering that the rapidly moving lights in the night sky, the inexplicably undisturbed earth around the meticulously gored cattle's ruinous remains, and the confounding post-mortem anomalies, mysteriously suggest the reality of a deeply corrupting conspiracy, perhaps, far stranger than any of them could have previously imagined!

Director Alan Rudolph has always been a class act, and being so fruitfully blessed with such a solid, chaff-free script and a uniformly excellent cast, 'Endangered Species' winningly remains an exciting, thought provoking, proto-X-Files 80s feature that still provides fun, attention-grabbing entertainment for avid Sci-thriller fans young and old! Seen today, 'Endangered Species' has the added boon of giving contemporary, conspiracy-hungry audiences a neat-o submersion into warmly fuzzy 80s genre movie nostalgia, zestfully charged with the energizing, neon-hazed synthesizer score by composer, Gary Wright which is a pleasurably pulse-pounding, adrenaline-spiking, Paul Hertzog-sounding dream!

It is a slow paced film, bordering on being a drag. Nothing really happens until the last 30 minutes where stuff actually happens the story finally moves forwards and concludes. The first hour of the film is rather wandering and aimless. Some pieces are slowly figured out as to the mystery at hand but ultimately just rather boring all throughout. One of those movies that needs a super cut and be a 45 minute short special in order to up the pace of the film. And not to mention there's nothing really special or memorable here either. It's just sub par on every level. Easily skipped and you won't be missing out. I mean there is an interesting story here but is in desperate need of a remake with a bigger budget and a tighter script.

this is a fascinating film. I remember it vividly as my father took me to see it when I was about 12. Come to think of it, my parents took me to see some really odd films when I was growing up in the early 80s. Before I was even thirteen my parents took me to see such films as "Heavy Metal", "Eating Raoul", and "Blow Out". What the hell were they thinking? lol.

Anyways, this film is about cattle mutilation and delves into the world of conspiracy theories involving black helicopters, satanic underground networks, and all that other stuff people were starting to get worked up about in the early 80s.

Robert Urich plays an investigator from the big city who comes to the rural town where the mutilations are happening. With him is his delinquent teenage daughter (who is quite good. whatever happened to that young actress??). Urich also becomes romantically entangled with the local female sheriff played by JoBeth Williams.

I have to give special mention to a couple of things. This film (in my opinion) is easily the best that Alan Rudolph has ever done. He's always been somewhat of a cult director but I never found his films very impressive. But "Endangered Species" is just superb. If you're going to create a film about conspiracy theories, this is the way to do it, folks. By NOT spelling everything out for the audience. But suggesting a great deal. By NOT treating the audience as though they are idiots. The cinematography is also very impressive, as is the droning, disturbing score. A definite winner! I used to have a copy of this on VHS and I gave it away a few years back. I'm still kicking myself for doing that!

Ruben Castle (Robert Urich) is a rough alcoholic ex-NYC cop who quited under some suspicions. His delinquent daughter Mackenzie is released to him as they travel to Colorado. Mackenzie gets arrested for running into Harriet Purdue (JoBeth Williams). Harriet is the new sheriff in the small Colorado town. She's investigating suspicious cattle mutilation deaths. Ruben's friend Joe Hiatt (Paul Dooley) runs the local paper and has a conspiracy theory about the cattle. Cattle rancher Ben Morgan (Hoyt Axton) is the local big wig. There is a secret base out in an abandoned nuclear silo.

It take awhile before the movie settles down to its subject matter. Purdue should be much more of the lead character instead of Castle. That way the movie is solidly about the cattle mutilations. Instead it's too much about Castle's drinking and his failing father daughter relationship. The movie wants to hint at UFOs. The investigation feels like it's put on the backburner too much early on. The investigation has good spooky vibes at times and works well especially with the electronic music. The sound effects works well in opposition to the open space hinterland. The major drawback for me is that it never really explains everything to my satisfaction. It explains just enough for me to give it a pass.

Robert Urich is a retired cop from New York City on vacation with his daughter. While traveling on vacation, a flat tire enables him to get involved investigating a series of mysterious cattle mutilations. JoBeth Williams is the local sheriff having trouble convincing authorities of her ideas about the cause of the killings. Gailard Sartain plays an anxious mayor. Visuals are not so graphic, but the suspense keeps you interested. Providing fine support are: Hoyt Axton, Peter Coyote and Harry Carey, Jr.