The story is pretty simple. Alex Cord plays Dylan Hunt, a NASA scientist working on a special hibernation project designed for astronauts on long missions. He agrees to be the guinea pig for the project, and is placed in a suspended animation chamber. When an earthquake occurs, Cord is buried. He awakens 154 years later to find a post-apocalyptic world dominated by two opposing factions: the peaceful PAX tribe (made up of those trying to rebuild the old world) and the much more militant, power-hungry Tyranians. Cord initially does not know which side to trust, thus allowing a Tyranian named Lyra-a (Mariette Hartley) to exploit him.

Genesis II really aims to do two things. On the surface, it's a cautionary tale about the need to preserve and respect science. The PAX are attempting not only to create a peaceful civilization, but also to reacquire all the technology and scientific advancements that were lost following the apocalypse. The mutant Tyranians, on the other hand, are very interested in getting a nearby nuclear power plant working again, so that they may forcibly seize control of the area. They (rightly) believe that Cord might be able to help them do this. Cord eventually comes to realize that the mission of the PAX is closer to his own heart.

Below the surface, Genesis II is a tale of sexuality, almost Freudian in its approach. There's a scene were Lyra-a attempts to seduce Cord by showing off her unique Tyranian trait: having two belly buttons. One easily suspects from the scene that she may possess two of other things as well. The Tyranians also utilize special weapons that (I'm sorry - it's true) look like vibrators. Depending on their setting, these devices are capable of producing "the greatest pleasure or the greatest pain imaginable." There are lots of scenes in which characters run around touching each other with the things.

Like a lot of TV movies from the era, this one suffers from cheesy special effects, unconvincing sets, and flat acting. That said, Genesis II is definitely a curiosity piece worth checking out if you're a fan of its creator or science-fiction in general. Who knows what Roddenberry could have done had he been given time to flesh out his idea? It's clear that he wanted to make ambitious statements about peace and science, while simultaneously addressing themes related to the sexual revolution. Had it lived on as a series, this could have developed into quite a compelling show.

To order this title or find out more about the Warner Archive, visit their website: Warner Archive