Monster Mania Day 5: The Creature from The Black Lagoon 3-D

Written by Stu Cooper

Today I had the fortune of seeing one of my favorite Universal monster movies on the big screen! Not only that but I got to view the film in it's original 3-D glory. I actually didn't know until today that the film was originally shot in 3-D. I first saw the film on VHS as a kid, and have sense gotten it on DVD but have never had the opportunity to watch it in 3-D. The film "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" was released in 1957 and directed by Jack Arnold who had also directed a couple other monster movies, namely "Tarantula" and "It Came From Outer Space". The film was the first to ever shoot 3-D underwater, and to my knowledge one of the first films to shoot full fighting action sequences underwater. The "Gillman" character was played by Ben Chapman, and the underwater "Gillman" was played by Richou Browning. Browning actually had to hold his breath for up to 4 minutes during the underwater sequences because the suit did not have a place for an air-tank. This is truly remarkable considering the scenes and the depths that he was swimming down to. The designer of the Creature was a young woman by the name of Millicent Patrick. She unfortunately was blackballed in Hollywood soon after this film because make-up artist Bud Westmore wanted all the credit. An unfortunate case of sexism in Hollywood.

The plot of the film revolves around a couple of scientists and a marine life expert who go on an expedition to recover fossilized remains in the Amazon. At the beginning of the film one of the scientists finds a fossilized hand that has webbed fingers. It looks like a half-fish, half-human hybrid hand. This causes some questions to arise, and the expedition begins. The main focus of the film is on a young couple; Richard Carlson (David) and the absolutely stunning Julie Adams (Kay). I can't even find a word to describe how naturally beautiful Julie Adams is. Every time she was on screen I felt totally enamored with her. David and Kay team up with several others and a real goofy boat captain named Lucas (played by Nestor Paiva). Lucas is merely a background character but I found myself constantly laughing at his goofy faces and odd sense of humor. Even as members of the crew are getting killed he is still grinning away, puffing on his cigar and acting totally excited about every scene. It was an unintentional highlight of the film. About 25 minutes into the film we see the first glimpses of Gillman, starting with slow creepy shots of his hand grasping land, and eventually full body shots of him slowly stalking the crew. The rest of the film plays out like a basic slasher movie with Gillman slowly stalking and killing each crew member of "The Rita".

Kay (Julie Adams) soon becomes the focus of Gillman's interest and the creature makes several slow attempts at grabbing Kay, but is usually met with an onslaught of attention by David and his co-worker Mark. After the initial strangling kill scenes we are treated to some really cool underwater shots. The underwater camera work in the film is pretty entertaining some 60 years later and for the time i'm sure it was mind boggling. There are some cool 3-D sequences where the bubbles from the water come out of the screen, a long with seaweed, and of course Gillman swims up to the camera a few times, giving you that creepy feeling where you imagine him reaching out and grabbing you. I really have to give it to the cinematographers on this film and Richou Browning for making the underwater parts so entertaining and fun to watch. Of course the underwater fight scene towards the end left a lot to be desired since they basically rolled around in circles and then separated. Not exactly a battle of epic proportions. After several failed attempts to capture the creature, the creature finally nabs Kay and takes her away to his love cave. The host of the event at the Alamo (where I saw the film) mentioned the parallels the film had with King Kong, and I started to really see that towards the end. I actually thought Gillman was going to drown Kay to death because he drags her all the way to the bottom of the Lagoon before entering a cave. If she was a smoker she might have been shit out of luck, but she survives and is eventually rescued by her love David. We are then treated to a final confrontation between Mark, David, and The Gillman creature. Mark is a bit blood thirsty and is obsessed with killing the Gillman. This ultimately leads to his downfall, but David gets in a few shots with the harpoon gun, and Gillman retreats. Living to fight another day. One of my only objections with the film is the extremely abrupt ending. A friend of mine at the showing pointed out that Universal never seemed to know how to end horror films. It would always be some last minute thing to stop the monster, and then the credits hit. This was obviously a way to leave the films open to sequels, which is exactly what happened in this case. "The Creature from The Black Lagoon" would spawn two sequels, which I have yet to see, but I'm thinking I will include them in one of my remaining 31 Days of Monster Mania, so stayed tuned for that!

Overall the film was just as cool as I remembered. You can't go wrong with a Universal monster movie. The 3-D was a beautiful effect and really worked well with the black and white. The Creature design was also incredibly unique and cool looking. The gills looked very realistic and the eyes are absolutely eerie. The creature also flexes it's mouth constantly like a fish, adding a little bit of extra creep factor. I also found myself falling in love with Julie Adams as the film progressed, tho I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that she changed outfits in almost every scene, as well as hair styles. She also had that classic petrified horror scream that she blurted out every time she saw the creature, reminding you that you're watching a 50's horror film. Overall the film is a real enjoyable monster movie and will surely satisfy your Halloween viewing needs. It has it's slow moments and quite a few cheesy moments, but that is all part of it's everlasting charm. The effects are just as impressive in 2013 as they were in 1957 and the story is just as fun. I will always remember the Universal Monsters, and this film reminded me of why that is.

Monster Mania Day 4: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Written by Stu Cooper

After viewing this film it immediately became one of my favorite horror films ever. It's a horror comedy, and certainly one of the best in that style. It is a satire of the backwoods redneck killer horror films with an element of madness to it that leaves you in awe. The film is called "Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil" and it was released in 2010. It was written and directed by Eli Craig and Mark Jurgenson. It starred Alan Tudyk as Tucker and Tyler Labine as Dale. I must say the casting was absolutely perfect and this is one of those films where you can't picture anyone else in the roles after watching it.

The plot follows two redneck best friends by the name of Tucker and Dale. They are on their way to Tucker's new cabin to remodel and do some maintenance while relaxing in the wilderness. These guys are on their way when they run into a group of college kids and the kids immediately assume Tucker and Dale are psychotic killers, because ya know...everyone in hill country is. Dale attempts to introduce himself to the group but is immediately mistook for a sickle fielding maniac. One member of the group named Allison (played by Katrina Bowden) is actually rather smart and does not see Tucker & Dale as anything out of the ordinary. Later in the film she becomes a critical part of the story when she injures herself in a local lake and is about to drown but she is saved by Dale. Over the course of the film Dale nurses her back to health and they form a bond. Unfortunately for Tucker & Dale the college group assumes they have kidnapped their friend, and they vow to rescue and avenge her. I don't want to spoil much more than that because from that point on the film turns into a complete madhouse, almost of slapstick proportions. It is absolutely brilliant and something I've never seen before in a film.

I watched this film with my brother who is not a horror fan, and he found it incredibly entertaining. I can remember a few moments where he was laughing so hard he was almost crying. It truly does elicit that kind of reaction. Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are really the highlight of the film. Their on-screen chemistry is remarkable and you really do see these guys as being the best of friends. Since this film has seen some moderate success I'm hoping we get to see future adventures with the pair. I realize this all sounds rather odd, it's kind of hard to type out how ridiculous this movie is. It's all about perspective, and that is something you can't really describe in words, so all I can say is PLEASE watch this film and see for yourself. The film is available streaming on Netflix right now and the blu-ray is under 10 dollars, so no excuses for missing this one. I can't recommend it enough. If you like fun horror films with a satirical comedic smart spin, this one is for you.

Monster Mania Day 3: Monster in my Pocket

Written by Stu Cooper

If you grew up in the 80's and early 90's you most likely encountered one of the many tiny toy franchises. "Micro Machines", "Z-bots", "M.U.S.C.L.E.", and of course "Monster In My Pocket" were all the rage! I wanted to focus on the "Monster in My Pocket" franchise since it's that time of year. I mainly remember the franchise because of the video game but it was most famously known for being a line of tiny rubber horror/science fiction characters. Most of them were based off of pre-existing horror genre archetypes but after the first series they started going pretty crazy with it. Board games, lunch boxes, t-shirts, and even an animated TV special followed. The only thing missing was it's own cereal, tho Frankenberry would probably have none of that shit!

Since I mainly remember "Monsters in My Pocket" from the video game I'll focus on that. The game was for the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) and was released in all it's 8-bit glory in 1991. It was apparently similar to the comic book and animated series pilot that had already been made. The game followed two characters by the names of Vampire (basically Dracula) and Monster (basically Frankenstein). Not exactly the most creative character names, but they obviously couldn't call them by their traditional names. The characters are of course micro sized, so most of the levels take place in random parts of a house. It's almost like a horror version of Toy Story. You have to fight a wave of zombies and various other memorable monsters from the toy line. As a child I had fond memories of fighting one named Spring Heeled Jack. One of the few monsters whose name I actually remembered. I absolutely love the mythos created with these little things. The idea of a massive universe of monsters all fighting each other in the creaks and crevices of your home is disturbing but awesome. The gameplay is pretty smooth and is a basic side scroller with a few puzzle elements mixed in. If you play two players you each take the monster of your choice and you will fly through the game twice as fast. You can really finish the whole game in about 40 minutes if you've practiced. The game brings back a lot of nostalgic feelings and is a great example of a classic NES game. You have straight foward controls, colorful characters, fun boss battles, and as a game where you get to play a tiny version of Frankenstein and Dracula. It's a winning combination.

Youtube Gem: Elvira teaches us how to carve a pumpkin!

Written by Stu Cooper

The title pretty much speaks for itself. Possibly one of the hottest women in the history of the planet, teaches us how to carve a pumpkin. Try to focus on the pumpkin. You won't be able to. Elvira always gets me in the Halloween Spirit!

Monster Mania Day 2: Lovely Molly

Written by Stu Cooper

For Day 2 I decided to continue the theme of underrated horror films with "Lovely Molly". "Lovely Molly" was a paranormal horror film released in 2011 directly to DVD. The film was available on redbox for a short time and is now streaming on Netflix, which is where I discovered the film. The story follows a young newlywed named Molly, played by the beautiful Gretchen Lodge and her husband as they move into her parent's old house. Molly's husband is a truck driver and has to leave a lot, so the film primarily follows Molly as she stays in the house alone. Soon after moving into the house Molly begins experiencing some very eerie disturbances. It starts off small with noises and whispers but escalates into violence eventually. We also see a first person perspective throughout the film provided by the couple's handheld camera. The viewer does not know who is operating the camera until the end of the film, so there is another layer of creepiness added on. The catch to all of this is that Molly is a recovering heroin addict and she relapses. So you are left wondering if all of these paranormal experiences are real or just hallucinations caused by her addiction. This is an idea that was later used in the Evil Dead remake. I can't help but wonder if the writer of that film was a fan of this one.

"Lovely Molly" is a slow disturbing paranormal thriller and it's a great watch if you are home alone and want to scare the hell out of yourself. I wouldn't recommend it for a date night movie because it is a pretty heavy handed film that features tones of rape,incest,drug use, and some pretty graphic violence. Unless of course your partner is already pretty open minded, then it works! The film portrays the slow descent of a woman into lunacy. Losing my mind has always been a big fear of mine so perhaps that's why I felt so disturbed by the film. Another scary thing to note is that the guy who played Molly's husband, Johnny Lewis, actually went insane in real life after this film. He killed his landlord, her cat, and then himself last year. He was also featured on Sons of Anarchy, One Missed Call, The O.C. and several other films. It's always extra eerie when an actor dies after filming something that involves demons/ghosts (The Exorcist, Poltergeist). Overall the film accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, make you uncomfortable and creeped out. The film also introduces a new element to the tired paranormal genre. It leaves you feeling paranoid and it also has several interpretations. I think even Peter Venkman would have trouble sleeping after watching this movie.

Monster Mania Day 1: Pontypool

Written by Stu Cooper

Day 1 of my 31 Days of Monster Mania features one of my favorite underrated horror films entitled "PONTYPOOL". The film was released in 2008 and really went under the radar. I didn't actually discover the film until 2010. Most of my friends and family have not heard of the film when I mention it, but every time I've shown the film to someone they usually find it creepy or intriguing. It's actually based on a novel written by Tony Burgess which I haven't had the chance to read, but according to the reviews I've seen the film is actually superior (which is a rarity). The plot of the film revolves around a disc jockey by the name of Grant Mazzy (what a name) played by Stephen McHattie, who works in a small dim cold town called Pontypool located in Ontario. Over the course of one day Mazzy experiences a series of strange occurrences. I can't get into too much detail about these occurrence because they are critical to the surprises in the film but I can tell you that it is absolutely chilling. The entire film basically takes place inside of a radio station and we hear about the events unfolding outside of the station through a series of phone calls from witnesses. The concepts in the film open a new can of worms in terms of what we define as "horror". Gore is traded in for psychology and it pays off.

Grant Mazzy has a voice that is incredibly crisp and attractive to the ear, so it's no problem that he is the focus of the film, and that we never really leave his surroundings. This is a film that takes a simple idea and makes it mind-blowing. You will find yourself re-watching the film to pick up on smaller details. The film is a truly compelling horror entry and it takes an approach we haven't really seen before. It has a very warped weirdness that reminded me of a Cronenberg film. I was left with hair standing up on my arm and chills going down my spine. That is a feeling that is hard to come by the older and more jaded I get. I can't recommend this film enough. It's currently streaming on Netflix and it's about 5 bucks to buy on dvd, so no excuses for missing this one! If you are like me you will find yourself forming theories and explanations in your head for hours after viewing the film. If you watch it you'll have to comment with your theory of what the truth in the film is!

31 Days of MONSTER MANIA!

Written by Stu Cooper

(Image by Chris Fischer)

Today is October 1st and that means the road to Halloween begins now! I have loved and cherished Halloween ever since I was a young child. I've always found horror films to be more fascinating than other types of films, especially the horror gems of the 70's and 80's, and of course the Universal monster movies. Since I have so much love for this holiday and the spirit that comes with it, I've decided to do 31 blog entries in 31 days. Not just any type of blog entry tho, 31 days of...MONSTER MANIA! That's right folks 31 days full of horror movie reviews, horror game reviews, horror comic reviews, and of course some weird gems thrown in to get you in the mood for monsters! So check back right here at Film Enigma everyday this month for a new entry in the countdown. Readers beware...you're in for a scare!