Specimen

Specimen

Year: 1996

Runtime: 85 mins

Language: English

Director: John Bradshaw

Action

After his grandmother dies, 24‑year‑old Mike Hillary begins searching for the man he believes is his biological father, only to discover a far stranger truth: his mother was impregnated by extraterrestrials, and they have now dispatched an agent to retrieve their “specimen,” dead or alive.

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Timeline & Setting – Specimen (1996)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Specimen (1996). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The narrative unfolds across two life stages of Mike Hillary: his eight-year-old childhood after a deadly fire, and his mid-twenties when he returns home. It moves between past trauma and present-day struggles as he discovers and grapples with his powers and alien heritage. The tempo shifts from intimate, small-town routines to high-stakes confrontations with otherworldly forces.

Location

Hometown, Community Centre, Lake

The film is anchored in a close-knit small town centered on the local community centre and the nearby lake, which shape both childhood memories and adult decisions. The town experiences mysterious fires and a sheriff’s office that becomes entangled with unusual events. The setting blends ordinary everyday life with secrets lying just beneath the surface of the community.

🏙️ Small town 🔥 Fire incidents 🏫 Community centre 🏞️ Lake area

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:32

Main Characters – Specimen (1996)

Meet the key characters of Specimen (1996), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Mike Hillary (Marc Donato)

An eight-year-old boy who survives a fire that claims his mother, while latent pyrokinetic powers begin to surface. His early experiences with fear and love lay the groundwork for a future defined by power and responsibility. He gradually learns to sense danger and protect others, foreshadowing his adult struggles.

🧒 Child 🧠 Trauma 🔥 Pyrokinesis

Mike Hillary (Mark-Paul Gosselaar)

A former unemployed minor-league baseball player who returns to his hometown after discovering his mother's alien past. He grapples with anger, purpose, and the burden of his powers while reconnecting with Jessica and confronting external threats. His arc centers on self-acceptance and choosing a path of responsibility.

🧑 Adult ⚾ Athlete 🔥 Pyrokinesis

Jessica Randall

A community centre instructor who helps Mike and becomes his confidant and love interest. She senses there is more to Mike than meets the eye and faces danger as Eleven closes in. Her presence grounds Mike’s humanity amid extraordinary events.

👩‍🏫 Mentor 💗 Love interest 🧭 Courage

Sheriff Jimmy Masterson

The town sheriff who is initially skeptical of Mike’s powers and ultimately delves into the truth about Mike’s mother and his alien heritage. He embodies the tension between law, fear, and the unknown.

👮 Authority 🧠 Curious 🛡️ Protector

Eleven

An alien bounty hunter in a biosuit who hunts Mike, representing the external threat that challenges the town’s safety and Mike’s control over his powers. His presence intensifies the conflict between humanity and otherworldly forces.

👁️ Alien threat 🧯 Fire-wielder antagonist 🕵️‍♂️ Enigma

Sixty-Six

Another alien operative who appears during late-night lake confrontations and acts as a rival—and occasionally an uneasy ally—in the struggle over Mike’s future. He frames the broader interstellar conflict surrounding Mike.

👽 Alien ally/foe 🧭 Mystery 🔥 Power

Blaine Masterson

A schoolyard bully who pushes Mike to his limits, ultimately entangled with Eleven and meeting disastrous consequences. His antagonism highlights the social dynamics Mike navigates in addition to the cosmic threat.

🧒 Bully 🥊 Rival 💥 Repercussion

James

A troubled boy who fears water and is bullied, around whom Mike demonstrates protective power. James serves as a mirror for Mike’s own fears and his capacity to shield the vulnerable.

🧒 Vulnerable 💧 Fear 🕯️ Mystery

Carol Hillary

Mike’s mother, who dies in the fire when Mike is young but leaves behind a note hinting at a larger secret about her past and origins. Her death is the catalyst for Mike’s lifelong questions about belonging and destiny.

🧒 Mother 💔 Tragedy 🕵️‍♀️ Mystery

Grandpa Vern

Mike’s grandfather, a pillar of family history who anchors Mike’s sense of home amid upheaval. His presence links past and present as Mike struggles with his identity.

👴 Elder 🏡 Family 🛡️ Support

Grandma June

Mike’s grandmother, offering warmth and continuity in a town rattled by secrets and dangerous powers. She embodies the ordinary life Mike risks to protect.

👵 Family 🕊️ Hope 🛡️ Care

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:32

Major Themes – Specimen (1996)

Explore the central themes of Specimen (1996), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔥 Pyrokinesis

Fire surfaces as a potent, unpredictable force within Mike, both a gift and a danger. His ability to ignite objects with a touch becomes a symbol of inner turmoil and external threat. The story uses this power to explore responsibility, restraint, and the costs of living with extraordinary abilities. The climactic clashes test whether Mike can master his flame-driven fate.

🧬 AlienOrigins

Mike’s lineage is tied to alien experimentation, reframing his identity as a 'viable specimen' rather than a mere human. The mother’s past and the alien figures Eleven and Sixty-Six anchor the mystery of his purpose. Belonging versus otherness drives his relationships, especially with Jessica, as he negotiates what it means to be human. The theme interrogates identity when origins are beyond this world.

⚖️ Responsibility

Power comes with consequences for others, forcing Mike to decide when to act and when to protect those around him. He must weigh the safety of friends like Jessica and James against his own desires for a normal life. The pursuit of Eleven and the revelation of his heritage push him toward maturity and accountability. The ending suggests responsibility is an ongoing discipline, not a destination.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:32

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Specimen Summary

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Specimen Summary

Specimen Timeline

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Specimen Timeline

Specimen Spoiler-Free Summary

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Specimen Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Specimen

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