Experiment

Proof that a small budget ($250,000) goes a long way in Eastern Europe (in this case, Prague), this sci-fi thriller looks bigger than its production costs and uses its ancient surroundings as an effectively cold backdrop. The concept also is larger than it seems, with efforts to address questions of human nature eventually overrun by science-fiction aspects. Debuting director and co-writer Dan Turner puts a new, if wobbly, spin on The Manchurian Candidate in a tale involving a young couple who search to discover how and why their minds were erased. And who are those scientists tracing their every move? Major revelations abound, but they don’t come to life until the final 10 minutes.

Shelf Talk: Seen any good contemporary-based sci-fi lately? Exactly. Until I Am Legend comes to DVD on March 18, there isn’t a lot to offer genre fans. Despite little star power, Experiment offers interesting themes and lots of energy and feels like something that will have a long life on the Sci Fi Channel, so capitalize on it while you can. Expect MTI to talk it up on a grassroots level in the sci-fi press and on the ’Net.