Crocodile

What would you get if you crossed Jaws with Godzilla?  Well, probably The Meg.  But the multi-national 1979 production Crocodile, shot in Thailand, produced by Korea with special effects by Japan, also fits the bill.  This nature-gone-wild flick add some atomic mutation to the mix, resulting in a 60-foot reptile complete with glowing red eyes and an insatiable appetite for locals and tourists alike. 

After their families are devoured on vacation, a pair of dedicated physicians pool their resources to hunt down the oversized monster that did them dirty.  But not before said crocodile tears apart several villages and plenty of unsuspecting water buffalo on its way back to its ocean home.  Hiring out a local fisherman, our heroes take to the water in hopes of taking the monster on on its home turf.

 

With its odd combination of miniature work, animatronics and nature photography, the movie never quite settles on a successful approach to creating a convincing croc but it’s still a hoot to watch it try. Certain scenes have that Land That Time Forget appeal while others look like they were shot in a bathtub.  But the clumsy enthusiasm for blood and chaos wins out over any technical deficiencies.  Director Won-se Lee isn’t focused on the plot – or cinematic continuity – simply translating Spielberg’s box-office eating machine into a ferocious series of attack sequences just different enough to avoid any copyright infringement.  And if Crocodileentertains more often for its ineptitude than its underwater suspense, so much the better.

 

Presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Synapse Films, you won’t believe how good this movie looks!  Despite the laughable execution, this new edition of Crocodile never looks anything but gorgeous.  Extras include a 30-minute sit down with the director, audio commentary by film historian Lee Gambin, trailer and deleted / alternate scenes.

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