Forbidden World (1982)

Forbidden World, originally titled Mutant, is a 1982 American science fiction-horror film. The screenplay was written by Tim Curnen, from a screenstory by R.J. Robertson and Jim Wynorski. It was co-edited and directed by Allan Holzman, who had edited Battle Beyond the Stars two years earlier. The cast includes Jesse Vint, Dawn Dunlap, June Chadwick, Linden Chiles, Fox Harris and Michael Bowen. Forbidden World has also been released under the titles Mutant and Subject 20.

Plot
In the distant future, at a genetic research station located on the remote desert planet of Xarbia, a research team has created an experimental lifeform they have designated "Subject 20". This lifeform was built out of the synthetic DNA strain, "Proto B", and was intended to stave off a galaxy-wide food crisis. However, Subject 20 mutates rapidly and uncontrollably and kills all of the laboratory subject animals before cocooning itself within an examination booth. After Subject 20 hatches from its cocoon, it begins killing the personnel at the station, starting with the lab tech charged with cleansing the subject lab of the dead animal test subjects.

Professional troubleshooter Mike Colby, accompanied by his robot assistant SAM-104, is called in to investigate the problem. After Colby settles in, his decision to terminate Subject 20 to prevent further deaths is met with research-minded secrecy and resistance. The staff of the station includes the head of research, Gordon Hauser, his assistant Barbara Glaser, lab assistant Tracy Baxter, the station's head of security, Earl Richards and Cal Timbergen, the chief bacteriologist.

As Subject 20 continues to kill most of the station crew, the reason for the deception is revealed. Subject 20's genetic design incorporates human DNA, and its method of killing is to inject its prey with the Proto B DNA strain which then proceeds to remove all genetic differences within specific cells. The result is that the victim's living body slowly erodes into gelatinous pile of pure protein which Subject 20 consumes for sustenance. After its final mutation, where the creature evolves into a huge insect-like being with a large mouth full of sharp teeth, the creature is slain when it eats Cal's cancer-ridden liver, its body genetically self-destructing from within. Mike and Tracy are the only survivors.

Cast

 * Jesse Vint as Mike Colby
 * Dawn Dunlap as Tracy Baxter
 * June Chadwick as Dr. Barbara Glaser
 * Linden Chiles as Dr. Gordon Hauser
 * Fox Harris as Dr. Cal Timbergen
 * Ray Oliver as Brian Beale
 * Scott Paulin as Earl Richards
 * Michael Bowen as Jimmy Swift
 * Don Olivera as SAM-104

Production
According to director Allan Holzman he began shooting without a script with these directions from Corman: "You have four days to write, produce and direct a seven- to eight-minute opening of a space movie… I'll give you an astronaut and a robot, and if you need any inspiration, I've always wanted to do a version of Lawrence of Arabia in outer space."

Reception
Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 60% based on reviews from 5 critics. The Los Angeles Times called it "lively, amusingly gruesome."

DVD and Blu-ray disc
On July 20, 2010, Shout! Factory released Forbidden World on both DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The DVD is a 2-disc set. This set also includes the original Allan Holzman cut that was rejected by Roger Corman due to having humor, while Corman wanted the film to be done as a straight sci-fi/horror film. This is the first time this cut is available anywhere.

Taglines

 * A Science Fiction Horror Adventure That'll Blow You Away!
 * A Science Fiction Horror in Deep Space
 * The seed is planted... the nightmare grows
 * Deadly. Forbidden. And Alive.
 * Part Alien...Part Human...All Nightmare.

Trivia

 * Forbidden world poster 02.jpgximately 6 minutes of footage was removed from the original pre-release assembly on orders from producer Roger Corman, who was angered by witnessing a test screening audience laughing uproariously at some of the comedic passages that were subsequently removed.
 * All releases of the film show the same 77 minute cut which was released as FORBIDDEN WORLD, including the theatrical prints. The 2010 DVD release includes the completely uncut version, originally titled MUTANT on the bonus disc.
 * The modular forms decorating the hallways of the research lab are hinged lid Styrofoam sandwich boxes.
 * During a certain screening, Roger Corman actually smacked an audience member upside the head for laughing at the film. When Roger left the theater, the guy he punched poured soda all over his head from the balcony.
 * Dawn Dunlap's character was originally going to be played by a much older woman, an ex-Playboy Bunny to be precise. When Dunlap herself walked in for the role a day before principle photography, director Allan Holzman pleaded to the producers to sign her on. They very reluctantly made a new contract for her.
 * This project was originally envisioned as an outer space version of Lawrence of Arabia by Allan Holzman. Roger Corman told him that the budget would be far too high, so Holzman eventually decided he wanted to do an Alien ripoff. Corman agreed to that.
 * This film was shot in twenty days.
 * The slaughtered animals in the laboratory were actual dead animals bought from a local pound.
 * Story authors Jim Wynorski and R.J. Robertson based their treatment on Roger Corman's own "Attack of the Crab Monsters".
 * It was director Allan Holzman's idea to not have the robot function that well or have its dialogue clearly understood.
 * The film was shot in about four weeks with an extra half week devoted to killing the mutant.
 * It was producer Roger Corman's idea to kill the mutant with cancer.
 * According to director Allan Holzman, just about everything in the movie was recycled from previous productions except for the jumpsuits on the actresses.
 * Karen G. Wilson provided the noises for the mutant by cramming a microphone down her throat.
 * The effects footage from the initial space battle is all recycled from Roger Corman's Battle Beyond the Stars.
 * Susan Justin:  The film's composer can be seen on screen as the character of Annie, albeit only in a picture.
 * During the monster's death scene, it vomits up a viscous pink fluid. This vomit was made up of a material that burns skin on contact. The fearful FX technicians and the second unit director decided to build a wall made of garbage bags to protect themselves, and then stuck a camera through to film the monster's death.