Theatrical Poster
We learn in the commentary track that the original Creature from the Black Lagoon may have been one of the first Universal features that was intentionally made with a sequel in mind. And, as is the way with sequels, Revenge of the Creature, suffers from a serious case of sequelitis. Where the original has its moments of built up suspense and a totally rad pay off with the first full view of the creature, Revenge is noting more than a chance to cash in on the success of the original, and that is sad.
Joseph Hays (John Bromfield) is steaming his way up the Amazon to catch the Gill-Man (reprised underwater by Ricou Browning, and played above water by Tom Hennesy) that the original expedition failed to bring home. Well where they failed he succeeds, and being a man of science he does it without killing the creature. Instead he uses dynamite to knock it unconscious.
The creature is brought back to a Sea World-esque aquarium in Florida, where the handsome Dr. Clete Ferguson (John Agar, who I might add never forgot his roots, he was in a ton of genre films, even with a bit part in Nightbreed) and the ravishing ichthyologist in training Helen Dobson (Lori Nelson) perform experiments on the creature to see how well he learns. There is a lot of stock footage of porpoises doing tricks and people swimming around in a giant firs tank with the Gill-Man and after a while it just gets a little dull.
Even when the creature has broken his chains and is roaming the country side trying to steal the beautiful Helen from Clete it just seems like it has been going on for a bit too long. I couldn’t even find my way into enjoying it on the, “It’s so bad, it’s good level.” Probably because it is a well made film, just not a particularly interesting one. It is plain an simple a sequel, and not for the right reasons. This is a prefect example of what happens when Hollywood makes a cash grab based on a previous film. If they would have made this film because there was room to expand and enhance the story of the creature than that would be great. Instead the film is an excuse to just have the creature swim at stuff and fight underwater some more, and that is boring.
Sadly the original is slated for a remake which will begin filming this summer; one can only hope that it is at least remotely better than this one. One can also only hope that they at the very least make it a guy in a suit instead of some idiotic CGI abortion like the shit in Van Helsing (I will never forgive you for that Universal, never; unless you use practical effects for the new Wolf-Man remake with Benicio Del Torro. Then I might think about forgiving you.)
Like the original this has a pretty sparse special features package. Though I should be satisfied with the fantastic transfer I am not. There is a trailer (w00t). Fortunately it is marginally saved by a commentary track that is not only a film historian but Lori Nelson the female lead of the film. This is a much better commentary listening to her not only reminisce about how much fun she had making this movie (so much so that she reprises her Helen Dobson character in the new film The Naked Monster) but also about her other experiences. This is what a commentary track should be instead of some dude reading a script about the movie.
I could have skipped this one but I was sitting with my kids to watch it and my daughter was really enjoying it, and well I told the Horror Pimp that I would review movies from this particular Legacy Collection so it is probably good that I actually finished watching it. Here’s hoping that The Creature Walks Among Us is better. I heard you scoff. You don’t have to be a jerk about it.
