In horticultural mythology, the mandrake plant (family Solanaceae, genus Mandragora) — the roots of which supposedly resemble human organs, and in folklore, even whole human forms — was used in various mystical rituals and was said to have aphrodisiac and fertility qualities. Some alchemists were supposed to have tried generating vitalised mandrake “beings” by adding semen and other magical fertility substances to the soil in which the plant was growing — thus making men without the interference of women. It tended not to work. The mandrake also contains deliriant hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids, which not only aided the rituals, no doubt, but might also explain how the SyFy Channel came to make its latest giant monster epic, Mandrake [aka Unearthed] (US-2010; dir. Tripp Reed).
Synopsis:
An expedition led by adventurer Darren McCall (Max Martini of “The Unit”) and funded by the wealthy Harry Vargas (Benito Martinez of “The Shield”) braves the impenetrable jungle to retrieve a fabled bejeweled dagger from an ancient burial ground. But pulling the dagger from its rightful resting place awakens the long-dormant plant creature — part plant, part animal, and all bloodthirsty — and sends it on a feeding frenzy from which there seems scant hope of survival or escape…
The gigantic tree monster certainly has wandering tentacles when it comes to the ladies…
Clips: (sorry about the ads)
- Source: DreadCentral via Kaiju Search-Robot Avery; IMDb | Written by Robert Hood
