The Darwin Conspiracy (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews

Silly TV movie

[Leofwine_draca · 3/10 · 18 April 2015]

THE DARWIN CONSPIRACY is a very silly TV movie indeed, one that adopts the principle of human evolution and super DNA for its own ridiculous ends. There are shades of both RAIN MAN and THE LAWNMOWER MAN in the tale of a mentally challenged baseball fan who finds himself injected with some super DNA serum (discovered in an ancient body in the ice) and becomes this genius who escapes and is pursued by government forces.

It's as ridiculous as it sounds, and the limitations of the TV movie budget are nowhere more apparent than here. The calibre of the acting is completely below par, with nobody putting in anything approaching a decent performance. Many of the scenes are completely ridiculous, like when they bring in an ill-advised telekinetic aspect to the narrative (the 'hubcap attack' is incredibly bad). My favourite bad moment, though, is when a super-intelligent chimp steals a car and goes on a rampage - hilarious stuff.

This nonsense was written by none other than Glen A. Larson, creator of TV fare like THE FALL GUY and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, but it's fair to say it's probably his worst effort. Dutch director Winrich Kolbe had decades of experience behind the camera so you wonder why he didn't produce a better product.

Disappointing (SPOILERS)

[Gorilla Punk · 4/10 · 23 February 2003]

SPOILERS AHEAD:

There are so many loose ends in this movie. If the Ice Man really did come from a much earlier civilization, what happened to all those buildings in that civilization? Why is that man the only proof of the civilization?

And about Andy? At first, Jack is angry about him receiving the experimental treatment. But at the end, he's happy God made him a continuation of a long-forgotten civilization. Jack's not even worried about Andy possibly dying like the Professor did.

I thought the scenes with the angry monkey were funny. But on the whole, this movie was very sloppy. Kinda like if Rain Man was a sci-fi B-movie from the '50s, directed by some orangutan.

it IS a stinker, but you gotta love kevin tighe

[linusmoke dot com · 7 July 2001]

pretty simple: this made-for-tv movie is a real dog. i wouldnt get very excited about it, but the flick is worth watching if you can look at it from a tongue-in-cheek POV. first off, i think you gotta expect that anything coming from glen larson is going to be cheesy. i mean, come on; this is the guy who brought us Manimal, Automan, Knight Rider, Buck Rogers, and Battlestar Galactica. (hey, i love this stuff; just dont take it too seriously!) i might suggest doing something around the house while you have this movie on, as i'm not sure this rather slow and rambling film in itself is really enough to hold your attention.

the real treat in this movie is the appearance of kevin tighe of Emergency! fame. he plays the bad guy, and i had to chuckle nearly every time he was on camera. love the mustache, kevin!

i do think there are some intriguing conceptual elements in this film, however, and i'm not talking about the reconstitution of DNA, which we've already had a thorough explanation of in Jurassic Park. rather, the idea that there may possibly have been human civilizations previous to our own that could perhaps have been more technologically advanced than we are. that is interesting. AND, what of the notion that we modern humans only utilize 10% of our brain capacity? can we really use more than that, and did early humans use more than that? i think these are interesting ideas, that when reflected upon, say a lot about our current human condition and the civilization in which we live.

It Seems to be Unbelievable, But There Are Movies Worst Than That. Anyway, It Deserves a Spot Among the Worst 250 Films of IMDB

[claudio_carvalho · 4/10 · 11 November 2003]

Dr. Jason Ward (Jason Brooks) is a highly qualified geneticist. His brother Andy Ward (Robert Floyd) had problems during his birth and is mentally retarded. Dr. Jason is hired by an agency to develop some kind of experience with DNA. What he does not know is that this DNA belongs to the body of a very developed prehistoric man, and his findings are being used by another government laboratory to develop a kind of super-intelligent species. His brother Andy is used as part of this experiment. This movie seems to be a bad pilot of a possible television series. However, the screenplay and the performance of the casting are so foolish that probably the producers gave up with such an investment. However, although deserving a place among the worst 250 films in IMDB, there are movies worst than that. By comparison with other craps, my vote is four.

This film deserves to be part of Worst 250 Films of All Time

[eMpTyG-2 · 1/10 · 30 June 1999]

No other words describes this movie other than it absolutely stinks. The plot seemed interesting with a perfectly frozen man with incredibly advanced DNA, but for some stupid reason, this vital plot point was dropped and a relationship between this scientist and his retarded brother was brought to the forefront. The dialogue was hackneyed and trite. Another reason to know why this movie stinks is that the San Diego Padres were incorporated as an essential part of the "plot". If I could give this movie a negative score; I would!

Don't bother

[neilkeeble-714-85601 · 1/10 · 17 June 2013]

Is this film for real, to start with the sound quality is awful. Not to mention the music score, they have back ground music (I guess to enhance the intensity) where none is needed... I wonder if Christopher Scott Larson who I guess did the score ever worked again outside McD's.

As for the plot, very week. The acting was very poor and woody.. Fortunately I've seen Kevin Tighe in other shows since he made this and he was a lot better in those. It was very difficult for me to see it to the end.

In summary the best parts of this film were the Ad breaks..... Hope I didn't spoil the plot for you, if there was one?

Life Changing

[Joesph_Owen · 10/10 · 11 February 2023]

Without a doubt the most profound thing I have ever seen.

I would like to thank my boss, Jason, for giving me the opportunity to see this in work time.

I would like to thank my colleagues who supported me throughout watching it, especially Dennis for keeping me informed about important plot points I missed. What a guy.

The scene with the psychic monkey crashing left me in pieces and I am not sure I will ever get the imagery out of my mind!

This film is a must see, changed my life.

I am hoping for a sequel but as of yet none appears to be in the pipeline.

I would recommend this to anyone and will probably watch it again later today.

Not Oscar material but still entertaining for TV

[pchic · 8 August 2004]

This movie has been slandered so much by IMDB "Ebert Wanna-bees" to the point where I can't help but wonder if these people wake up in the mornings and think up new derogatory descriptions for movies that are made strictly for face value. This movie has its faults but it is still well within the limits of being categorized as "IMDB's 250 worst"!!! I grew up watching Manimal, Knight Rider, 6 Million Dollar Man, Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, Wild Wild West, Bat Man, Gilligan's Island, etc... My fellow IMDB "users" and in fact that is exactly what they are NOT anything else have (I am for the first time "assuming") at one time or another have watched the earlier mentioned TV shows (providing that that they are old enough) and have actually enjoyed at least some episodes of them!!! This movie is no different. Granted, the reality aspect is "plausible" and the acting mildly melodramatic, but for God's sake, stop bashing it!!! Basically it is Good VS. Evil. It has all the necessary components of a good old fashioned TV movie: No illegal drug using/selling, 50 curse words between commercial breaks, no racial slurs, etc... Again, this movie is just meant to be entertaining, not to have each scene scrutinized under a microscope by someone who apparently just needs to get laid to get out their frustrations before sitting down at the keyboard and verbally squashing movies. I ENJOYED THIS MOVIE. SO (*&^$%)(&$ all of those who continue to bash this movie and others of the same. It accomplished what it was made for: "To Be Entertaining"!!!!!!!!!! That is all I have to say. Like me or hate me, but THAT IS MY OPINION!!!!!!!

Barnaby Jones meets DNA.

[mondopsycho · 18 September 1999]

It is hard to believe that THE DARWIN CONSPIRACY was made in 1999 as it plays like really bad TV of the 1970's; indeed, the director's earliest work was in 1970's TV ("Barnaby Jones" for example). This made-for-TV movie is totally predictable with a plot and script (which are the real culprits) so weak as to be funny. The pseudo-science is outlandishly foolish, and the whole thing is silly enough to merit viewing once, if you're game.

Best scene: a mentally-enhanced chimpanzee (it received injections of super-human DNA!!) steals a van - the chimp learned by watching how to start the vehicle and can operate the pedals by telepathy - but, alas, it apparently did not pay attention to steering and so plunges at high speed head-on into a tractor-trailer and, to the chagrin of government scientists, is killed.

A very entertaining movie

[gta-2 · 17 September 1999]

No academy awards for this one, but it was entertaining and kept my interest throughout - which is what a movie is supposed to do. The acting was also pretty good. I was especially impressed with Robert Floyd, who played the mentally challenged brother of Jason Brooks.