Genetic Testing and the Big Bug Movie in the 21st Century

Spiders 2

Set on a cargo ship, Spiders II: Breeding Ground (2001) brings back a mad scientist like that in other monster movies. This time he’s attempting to redefine genetic science and invest in the future by planting spider eggs in humans to create a disease free world. According to the doctor (Richard Moller), spiders are remarkable because they are immune to all human pathogens and could make all mankind disease free. When a couple, Jason (Greg Cromer) and Alexandra (Stephanie Niznik), are saved by the ship’s captain and crew, the doctor begins injecting Jason with pheromones to attract the huge spider laying eggs in human prey.

Although Alexandra refuses to believe Jason’s suspicions about the ship crew and doctor for most of the film, in the end, she saves Jason from the doctor’s lab and helps them escape from the spiders, now running amuck around the ship. She even returns to the lab for Jason’s antidote. They escape, and the ship explodes, killing most of the spiders. The explosion attracts the coast guard, and Jason and Alexandra are picked up by a helicopter. When a giant spider breaks out of a barrel and attacks them, the ending grows more suspenseful, but they ultimately break free and leave their dangerous life at sea behind. 

Killer Buzz

In Killer Buzz (2001), the U.S. military and State Department have paired up with an oil company to develop genetically altered bees that will chase off indigenous tribes in Brazil so they can build a highway across the rainforest instead of maintaining an agreement to hold to 100 miles of road. Ann (Gabrielle Anwar), a journalist, discovers the bees after tribe members attack the oil company site. One of the remaining tribesmen explains that the shadow people have warned them about demons from the sky.

She is shot when she and her photographer Raka (Mark Adair-Rios) finds the bees, but somehow recovers quickly. A corrupt doctor believes the bee stings have healed her and steals a box of the bees to take back to New York for research. Her husband, Martin (Craig Sheffer), comes to see her in the hospital, but she won’t go back to NYC with him because he’s not ready for a family.

Ann discovers the box has been taken on the plane and tries to stop the flight, but Scotty, whom she thought was her friend, is from the State Department and working to destroy the natives and find the shadow people who are resisting them. Martin is on board the plane with the bees and helps save the passengers. Ultimately, he finds a way to get the bees out of the plane and must land it with help from the now stung captain.

Unfortunately, Ann inadvertently leads Scotty and his men to the shadow people led by a white doctor. The doctor has discovered that the frog poison the natives use in their darts is an antidote to the bee venom. Scotty and his men are thwarted, and Ann, Rocca, and Savior the doctor (Duncan Regehr) get the serum to the plane, which Martin has landed safely in a field. Now that her husband is a hero willing to sacrifice himself for others, she wants him back.