Dir.
Bill Baggs, UK. 2008, 57 mins
Cast: Jo Castleton, Daniel Harcourt, Keith Drinkel
Review by Richard Hawes
During the period Doctor Who was off air
and all but abandoned by the BBC, interest in the franchise
was maintained by a passionate fan base who came together
to create new stories, both official and unofficial, for
audio and video. The leading company during the 1990s was
BBV who after their own hiatus are back with their latest
one-hour drama, Zygon.
It's been 8 years since their last production, Doctor Who
has a new audience and the BBC even have their grown-up companion
series called Torchwood. Is there a place for films like
this anymore? Why bother with a new film. One might imagine
that Bill Baggs (the most prolific of Who spin-off directors)
was simply eager to get back behind the camera. However,
the reality is a little more complex. Filmed mostly in 2003
on digital video, this sequel to BBV's 2000 release Cyberon,
which featured a cybernetic alien race that could be easily
confused with the Cybermen, has spent the better part of
five years on the shelf.
Only likely to be seen by Who fans but an interesting film
to discuss nonetheless, Zygon reintroduces Cyberon protagonist
Dr Lauren Anderson played by Jo Castleton. A character that
could easily have spent time as one of the good Doctor's
companions in a former life. This time confronting a shape-shifting
humanoid alien race called the Zygons. First introduced in
the 1975 Tom Baker era story Terror of the Zygons, they featured
in three BBV audio dramas Homeland, Absolution and The Barnacled
Baby prior to this film.
Similar to many films inspired by the work of Philip K.
Dick, though on a much more modest scale, Zygon is about
a man who begins to question his identity. Engineer Mike
Kirkwood, played by Daniel Harcourt, is being plagued by
nightmares in which he is a monster. Unsure of himself he
seeks the help of Dr Anderson. The two quickly develop feelings
for one another and Anderson loses her job. Though this all
happens rather quickly and unconvincingly. From this point
things start to get really interesting, Keith Drinkel (from
the 1982 Who story Time-Flight) appears and begins to harass
and seduce Dr Anderson into helping him. His goal being to
make Kirkwood realise he really is a monster; an alien, a
Zygon.
Considering its lengthy post-production period the odds
were against Zygon bring any good. But it's a well crafted
film in its own right, even divorced from its inspiration
and predecessor it stands alone as a solid story. Baggs'
previous experience means he knows how to work with a limited
budget. The small cast is good, the script only occasionally
bad and the variety of locations and numerous extras prevent
this from feeling as cheap as it really is.
Daniel Harcourt (from Baggs' films
Devil of Winterbourne & Ghosts
of Winterbourne) is bland as the conflicted alien but thankfully
most of our time is spent with Castleton, who proves once
again to be a delightful leading lady. But it's Drinkel who
steals the show as the villain of the piece. The Yorkshireman's
fearsome charm used to great effect throughout the film.
What reminds us of the low budget are the visual effects
scenes. When we eventually see a Zygon in its natural form
it's laughable and Baggs cuts away pretty quickly. Though
there's something very charming about seeing a man in a cheap
rubber suit these days. Pretty vital to a genre film like
this, the special effects are cited as a key reason for the
production's delay. Watching the film you'd think in five
years they could have achieved more. The glowing eyes and
hands (amongst other effects) which are most regularly employed
feel terribly dated.
But it's not the visual effects most people will be titillated
by in this film. For while other independent Who spin-offs
have taken characters and monsters into mature directions
this is certainly the first to apparently market itself as
soft-core pornography. Rated 18 thanks to some explicit nudity
that's a world away from BBC primetime. If you took a look
at the cover of this film you'd be forgiven for thinking
this was trashier than it actually is.
Castleton is artfully presented nude on the cover (sans
nipples) which is all well and good, but turn to the back
and you'll be shocked to see what look like images from a
gonzo porn film. Bare breasts and buttocks instantly cast
doubt that this is legitimate science fiction.
Baggs says in the making of documentary
that the sexual content was “a very important part of making the film” and
the cover, which makes this look like a cross between Species
and an Electric Blue video, certainly reinforces that statement.
This is not what fans have come to expect from BBV. Thankfully
I can report the DVD sleeve is entirely misrepresentative.
The film itself is not as sordid as it suggests. There is
plenty of graphic nudity to make this unsuitable for family
viewing, but it's not the focus of the film. This isn't like
a Jim Wynorski or Fred Olen Ray movie.
A British B-movie which has more than curiosity value to
recommend it, Zygon, like Cyberon, is being distributed online
by BBV themselves and various Doctor Who specialist outlets.
It's a good example of independent filmmaking, if not a great
sci-fi movie, which keeps you thoroughly entertained for
its 57 minute running time.
Available from BBV Online: http://www.bbvonline.co.uk/store/script.cgi?&browse&idx=74
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