View source for Python (film)

{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox television
| image          = Pythoncover.jpg
| image_upright  = 1.0
| image_alt      =
| caption        = DVD cover
| genre          = 
| creator        = 
| based_on       = 
| writer         = 
| screenplay     = [[Daniel Knauf]]<br>[[Garrison Hershberger]]<br>Paul Bogh
| story          = Phillip Roth
| director       = Richard Clabaugh
| starring       = Frayne Rosanoff<br />[[Robert Englund]]<br />[[Casper Van Dien]]<br />[[William Zabka]]<br />[[Dana Barron]]<br />[[Wil Wheaton]]<br />[[Sean Whalen]]<br />[[Jenny McCarthy]]<br />[[Gary Grubbs]]
| narrated       = 
| music          = Daniel J. Nielsen<br>Mad Bus
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| num_episodes   = 
| producer       = [[Ken Olandt]]<br>Jeffery Beach<br>[[Phillip J. Roth|Phillip Roth]]
| editor         = Christian McIntire
| cinematography = Patrick Rousseau
| runtime        = 99 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209264/|title=Python|date=August 1, 2001|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
| company        = UFO International
| budget         = 
| network        = 
| released       = {{start date|2000|8|9}} 
}}
'''''Python''''' (theatrically released in the Philippines as '''''Anaconda 2000''''') is a 2000 [[made-for-TV]] [[horror film]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/python-v225879|title=Python (2000) - Richard Clabaugh &#124; Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie}}</ref> directed by Richard Clabaugh. The film features several [[Cult following|cult]] favorite actors, including [[William Zabka]] of ''[[The Karate Kid (1984 film)|The Karate Kid]]'' fame, [[Wil Wheaton]], [[Casper Van Dien]], [[Jenny McCarthy]], [[Keith Coogan]], [[Robert Englund]], [[Dana Barron]], [[David Bowe (actor)|David Bowe]], and [[Sean Whalen]].

The film concerns a genetically engineered [[snake]], a [[Pythonidae|python]], that escapes and unleashes itself on a small town. It was filmed in [[Los Angeles]] and [[Malibu, California]].

''Python'' was followed by three sequels: ''[[Pythons 2]]'' (2002), ''[[New Alcatraz]]'' (also known as ''Boa'') and ''[[Boa vs. Python]]'' (2004), all of which are also made-for-TV films.

==Plot==
A plane crashes near a town called Ruby after its cargo escapes. The cargo survives the crash and attacks Ruby's citizens, starting with a lesbian couple, Lisa and Roberta, camping in the woods.

At a swimming hole the next day, John, his girlfriend Kristin, his best friend Tommy, and Tommy's girlfriend Theresa find Lisa's pet [[Burmese python]], "Lady G". Deputy Greg arrives, mentioning that Lisa is missing, and takes the snake. Lisa's body is found, appearing to have been corroded by acids. Greg suspects John, since he works at a plant that uses acids.

Scientist Anton Rudolph meets with [[NSA]] Special Agent Parker. The cargo is an abnormally large, {{convert|129|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[reticulated python]] genetically engineered in [[Southeast Asia]], blending several species. In the words of Dr. Rudolph, it is, "''a perfect killing machine. A 129-foot all-terrain vehicle, capable of speeds exceeding 50 miles an hour, with skin that can deflect an antitank round, enhanced night vision, and a voracious appetite for human flesh''". The NSA team plans an assault against the python.

The python kills a real estate agent and the agent's client, leaving behind the client and Roberta's bodies. John arrives as the python leaves, furthering suspicion against him. The sheriff shuts down his brother Brian's plant. When the body of the real estate agent is found with the same acid damage, the sheriff orders John arrested.

The NSA team and Anton arrive, telling the sheriff a story about a psychotic rogue operative committing the murders. He does not believe them, but frees John. Kristin, Tommy, Theresa, and he plan to go on a trip the next morning.

The NSA set up base at a water treatment center. They use radar to find where the python is likely to be, then have the police set up a perimeter to keep people out of the zone. Believing the python to be sleeping, the team wastes most of its ammunition on the python's shed skin. Agent Parker realizes the python used its skin as a decoy. The python kills the team, the sole survivor being Anton who keeps himself standing motionless in front of the creature.

Theresa's morning shower is interrupted by the python. Though she escapes, the python eats Tommy. Theresa drives away, but the python follows. It gets in front of her and disables the truck. Theresa hides in a crevice.

When Tommy and Theresa do not arrive, John and Kristin go looking for them, finding the wrecked truck. Theresa tries warning them as the python approaches, but they cannot hear her. John and Kristin escape using Tommy and Theresa's bikes from the truck. They make it to the water treatment center, where Theresa joins them, and find Anton in shock. The group realizes that they must do something about the python or it will get to the town. They call Greg on the radio and fill him in on a plan they have devised.

They lure the python into the water treatment plant by having it chase John through a shaft, while they set a bomb near the entrance. Kristin drops a line down another shaft for John to escape. They pull John out and the python is unable to climb up the shaft. Trapped in the tunnel, the python returns to the doorway entrance. The group returns to the entrance to trigger the bomb, but it does not detonate. Anton runs back in to reset it. Anton detonates the charges while confronted by the python, sacrificing himself. While the other four are celebrating their success, the python emerges unscathed.

The group flees in Greg's police car, planning to penetrate the python's hide by luring the python into a vat of [[acid]] at John's plating plant. They are able to push the python's underbelly into one of the vats, causing the python to be killed by the acid.

Six months later, Greg has been accepted into [[FBI Academy|Quantico]] to be an [[FBI]] agent, the plant has been reopened as a bar/bike shop where the death of the python is used as a sales tool, and John finds out that Kristin and he are soon to be parents.

==Cast==
*Frayne Rosanoff as John Cooper
*[[Robert Englund]] as Dr. Anton Rudolph
*[[Casper Van Dien]] as NSA Special Agent Bart Parker
*[[William Zabka]] as Deputy Greg Larston
*[[Dana Barron]] as Kristin
*Sara Mornell as Theresa
*[[Wil Wheaton]] as Tommy
*[[Jenny McCarthy]] as Francesca Garibaldi
*[[Chris Owens (actor)|Chris Owens]] as Brian Cooper
*[[Sean Whalen]] as Deputy Lewis Ross
*[[Gary Grubbs]] as Sheriff Griffin Wade
*Theo Pagones as Dootsen
*Scott Williamson as Kenny Summers
*[[David Bowe (actor)|David Bowe]] as Boone
*[[Keith Coogan]] as Lenny
*[[John Franklin (actor)|John Franklin]] as Floyd Fuller
*LoriDawn Messuri as Lisa Johnson
*Kathleen Randazzo as Roberta Keeler
*[[Ed Lauter]] as Pilot
*[[Frank Welker]] as The Python (voice)

==Reception==
''Python'' was originally broadcast in the United States on August 9, 2000. In the Philippines, the film was theatrically released as ''Anaconda 2000'' on October 25, 2000,<ref>{{cite news|title=Opens Today!!!|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jJ4VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6goEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6496%2C2953118|access-date=February 11, 2022|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corp.|date=October 25, 2000|page=23|quote=Just when you thought you were safe from the big bad snake}}</ref> connecting it to the unrelated 1997 film ''[[Anaconda (1997 film)|Anaconda]]''.

''Python'' received mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://moria.co.nz/sciencefiction/python.htm |title=Python (2000). Moria - the Science-Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review |access-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004100849/http://moria.co.nz/sciencefiction/python.htm |archive-date=October 4, 2011 }}</ref> Critics praised the ensemble cast, but criticized the special effects and plot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movie-gurus.com/content/reviews/p/1345/index.html|title=Movie Gurus - The Movie Review Community|website=movie-gurus.com}}</ref> Others thought that it was an above-average television film with good special effects.

==Sequels==
''Python'' had three sequels: 
*''[[New Alcatraz]]'' (2002, also known as ''Boa'') is about a giant prehistoric [[boa constrictor]] that is accidentally unleashed into a state-of-the-art prison in [[Antarctica]], during a mining operation. The prison staff, the inmates, and two paleontologists must band together to escape the prison or become the serpent's prey. The film was considered a critical failure. 
*''[[Pythons 2]]'' (2002) has two carnivorous mutant [[Pythonidae|pythons]] that terrorize a [[Russia]]n research complex and military base; the Russians and the Americans must work together to destroy the creatures and save themselves.
*''[[Boa vs. Python]]'' (2004), directed by David Flores, is a crossover between ''Python'' and ''Boa''.

==See also==
*[[List of killer snake films|List of killer python films]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0209264|title=Python}}
*[http://www.rclabaugh.com/python.html Director Richard Clabaugh's talks about Python]

{{Phillip J. Roth|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Python (Film)}}
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000 horror films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000 television films]]
[[Category:American horror television films]]
[[Category:American natural horror films]]
[[Category:Films about snakes]]
[[Category:Syfy original films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:English-language horror films]]