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{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}

{{Infobox Film

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}

| name = Python

{{Infobox television

| image = Pythoncover.jpg

| image_upright = 1.0

| caption = Python DVD cover

| director image_alt = [[Richard Clabaugh]]

| caption = DVD cover

| producer = [[Jeffery Beach]]<br />[[Ken Olandt]]<br />[[Phillip J. Roth]]<br />[[James Hollensteiner]]<br />[[Thomas J. Niedermeyer Jr.]]<br />[[Richard Smith]]

| genre =

| writer = [[Phillip J. Roth]]<br />[[Chris Neal]]<br />[[Garrison Hershberger]]<br />[[Paul Bogh]]

| creator =

| starring = [[Frayne Rosanoff]]<br />[[Robert Englund]]<br />[[Casper Van Dien]]<br />[[William Zabka]]<br />[[Dana Barron]]<br />[[Wil Wheaton]]<br />[[Sean Whalen]]<br />[[Gary Grubbs]]

| music based_on = [[Daniel J. Nielsen]]

| writer =

| cinematography = [[Patrick Rousseau]]

| screenplay = [[Daniel Knauf]]<br>[[Garrison Hershberger]]<br>Paul Bogh

| editing = [[Christian McIntire]]

| story = Phillip Roth

| distributor = [[20th Century Fox]]

| releaseddirector = [[JanuaryRichard 16]], [[2000]]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]]

| runtime = 99 min.

| country narrated = [[USA|United States]]

| languagemusic = [[EnglishDaniel J. language|English]]Nielsen<br>Mad Bus

| country = United States

| followed_by = [[Python II]] (2002)<br />[[Boa vs. Python]] (2004)

| amg_id language = 1:225879English

| imdb_id num_episodes = 0209264

| 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]].

'''''Python''''' ([[2000]]) is a [[horror movie]] directed by [[Richard Clabaugh]]. The film features several [[Cult following|cult]] favorite actors, including [[William Zabka]] of ''[[The Karate Kid]]'' fame, [[Wil Wheaton]], [[Jenny McCarthy]], [[Keith Coogan]], [[Robert Englund]] (best known for his role as [[Freddy Krueger]] in the ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' series of films), and [[Sean Whalen]], forever memorable as the character with the unintelligible, peanut-butter-impeded answer in the "Who shot [[Alexander Hamilton]]?" [[Got Milk?]] commercial.

The film concerns a genetically engineered [[snake]], a [[Pythonidae|python]], that pursuesescapes and eatsunleashes peopleitself on a small town. It includeswas thefilmed classicin [[FinalLos GirlAngeles]] scenario evident inand films like ''[[Friday the 13th (film)|Friday theMalibu, 13thCalifornia]]''.

''Python'' was followed by twothree sequels: ''[[PythonPythons II2]]'' (2002), ''[[2002New Alcatraz]]'' (also known as ''Boa'') and ''[[Boa vs. Python]]'' ([[2004]]), bothall of which are also [[made-for-TV]] films.

== Plot Summary ==

An NSA plane crashes near the town of Ruby after its cargo, an abnormally large reticulated python, escapes confinement. The python survives the crash and attacks a lesbian couple, Lisa and Roberta, camping in the woods.

{{spoilers}}

At a swimming hole the next day, John, his girlfriend Kristin, his best friend Tommy, and Tommy's girlfriend Theresa find a pet [[Burmese python]] they recognize as belonging to Lisa. Deputy Greg arrives, mentioning that Lisa is missing, and takes the snake. When Lisa's body is later found heavily disfigured by acid, the police suspect John, who is employed at a plating plant that utilizes acid.

The crew of a plane flying at night gets nervous when the mysterious cargo its containing starts "thumping." When one of the crew opens the crate to take a look, he gets eaten by a huge snake which then eats the rest of the crew causing the plane to crash near a little town called Ruby. The snake survives the crash and begins snacking on the Ruby citizens, starting with a lesbian couple camping in the woods that night.

Meanwhile, NSA Special Agent Parker meets with scientist Anton Rudolph while preparing to recapture the python; Anton (who was part of the team that created the creature) explains its origins as a genetically-engineered hybrid of several snake species as well as its defensive capabilities - including being able to expel highly-corrosive stomach acid - and concluding that Parker's men don't stand a chance.

Meanwhile, Scientist Dr. Anton Rudolph (Englund) is chatting with [[NSA]] Special Agent Parker (Van Dien) explaining about the cargo that was on the plane. Not just any snake, this one is a genetically engineered snake bio-engineered in Southeast Asia by blending several species that is "A one hundred and twenty-nine foot all terrain vehicle. Capable of speeds exceeding fifty miles an hour, with skin that can deflect an antitank round, enhanced night vision, and voracious appetite for human flesh." They begin planning a massive assault against the snake as quickly as possible in the hopes of keeping it quiet.

The python kills more people, including a real estate agent and his client. John discovers the scene and police find the bodies of both the client and Roberta in the garage, causing the sheriff to shut down the plant. When the body of the real estate agent is found with the same acid burns, the sheriff also orders John arrested.

While out at a local swimming hole, John (Rosanoff), his girlfriend Kristen (Barron), Tommy (Wheaton), and his girlfriend Theresa (Mornell), find a pet [[python]] belonging to one of the dead girls, Lisa. When Lisa's body is found, appearing to be eaten by acids, John ends up getting suspected because: he had the snake, he works at a factory with big vats of acid, and he was one of the many men who'd "known" the girl. It doesn't hurt that Greg (Zabka), one of the investigating officers, is also Kristen's ex-fiancée who left him as soon as her first love came back to town.

The NSA team arrive with Anton as a guide, providing the sheriff with a cover story about the murders being committed by a psychotic rogue operative. The sheriff does not believe them, but is forced to free John, who had been planning to leave on a vacation with Kristin, Tommy, and Theresa the following morning.

The snake enjoys another snack of a real estate agent and beheading his potential client, which John finds shortly afterward. The snake left behind the body of the other dead lesbian, again looking like it was dipped in acid, furthering building the cops suspicion against John. John and Deputy Greg get into a fist fight over Kristen across a street and through a playground which ends with their broken friendship seemingly mended.

Coordinating with police to set a perimeter around the area where the python is likely to be, the NSA team use radar to locate the python. Believing they've caught the creature sleeping, Parker orders his men to open fire before realizing that the python had used its recently-shed skin as a decoy. The python kills the entire NSA team, including Parker, with Anton as the sole survivor

The body of the real estate agent is found next and the Sheriff orders John arrested. The NSA team and Dr. Rudolph arrive and feed the Sheriff a story about a psychotic escaped prisoner doing the killings. He doesn't believe them, but leaves them to do their hunt. They make their plans while hiding in a water treatment center, then go on the attack, only to waste their entire ammo on the snake's recently shed skin. The snake then kills the entire team except the doctor.

The next morning, the python attacks Theresa and kills Tommy at their home; Theresa drives away, but the python follows and disables her truck, forcing her to hide in a nearby crevice. John and Kristin go looking for Tommy and Theresa after they fail to arrive and find the wrecked truck; Theresa tries to warn them about the snake, which chases John and Kristin to the water treatment center, where they find both Theresa and a shocked Anton. Realizing that they must do something about the python before it gets to town, John calls Greg on the radio and fills him in on a plan they have devised to trap and destroy the python.

Meanwhile the Sheriff frees John, and he goes off to be with his girlfriend at her house since they have plans to meet go on a trip the next morning with Tommy & Theresa. Tommy and Theresa wake up early the next morning. Theresa's shower is interrupted by Python who can't fit its head into the shower to eat her, and she manages to get away. Tommy gets eaten when he comes to her rescue after hearing her scream. Theresa manages to get in the truck and drive away but the snake catches up and rips the rear axle off. Theresa manages to hide in some nearby rocks in an opening too small for the snake to get in.

They lure the python into the water treatment center by having it chase John through a shaft, while they set a bomb near the entrance and John escapes through a hatch too small for the snake; however, the bomb does not detonate when triggered. Anton runs back in to reset it, sacrificing himself by detonating manually when confronted by the python. Though the others celebrate their apparent success, the python emerges unscathed. While fleeing in Greg's police car, the group construct an alternative plan to penetrate the python's hide by luring the python into a vat of acid at the 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.

When Tommy & Theresa don't show, John and Kristen head their way and spot the disabled truck. As they call out their friends' names the snake hears them and comes to attack. They manage to escape on their bicycles to the water treatment center where they find Dr. Rudolph, in shock and muttering about Python. Theresa, having seen her friends get chased by the snake, manages to catch up to them and together the four of them come up with a plan. They call Deputy Greg on the radio, whose just discovered another Deputy has also become snake food.

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

They get the snake to come into the water plant by having it chase John while they set a bomb near the entrance. The other three escape through the door they came through where Greg is waiting to drive them around to the exit. They drop a line down for John, pull him out, trapping the snake in the tunnels. When Python gets back to the entrance, they hit the trigger on the bomb, but it doesn't go off. Dr. Rudolph says the snake must have pulled out the cord while it slithered through the tunnel, so he runs in to plug it back in. Python eats him as soon as he gets it done. The charges go off and the other four celebrate their success when Python emerges.

==Cast==

They flee in Greg's police car, and come up with a new plan: get the snake in the acid bath at the plant. The snake is in close pursuit and follows them to the factory. Once there, John again acts as the bait to get the snake to chase him through the plant while Kristen mans the controls to drop metal beams on the snake's back, pulling its tail into the acid. The acid works and Python dies screaming.

*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==

Cut to six months later. Greg just got accepted into Quantico to be an FBI agent, the plant has been reopened as a bar/bike shop where the snake thing is used as a sales tool, and Kristen let's John know they are pregnant. Movie ends.

''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]]''.

{{endspoiler}}

''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.

== Trivia ==

The movie poster and movie covers use the tag line of "sixty feet of pure terror" but the movie gives the snake's length as 129 feet. This is because the movie was changed after the promotional materials were made, and the company never reprinted the materials. A similar issue resulted in the movie summary claiming Dr Rudolph made the snake but the movie dialog saying it was made in Southeast Asia and acquired.

==Sequels==

Python does not really refer to the snake's species but to its name.

''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==

The snake doesn't really look like a real python, but looks more like a gigantic viper.

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

*{{imdbIMDb 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:Natural2000 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]]