With the success of JAWS a series of movies opened up that
took the premise of a much larger version of whatever animal it focused on and
used the same basis of that film. We had everything from barracudas to
grizzlies in the wake of that film with a few other sharks tossed in for good
measure. But the makers of KILLER CROCODILE sat back and waited ten years
before giving us there version of the new giant beast to fear.
Released in 1989 the movie has a group of ecology minded
young college students cruising down a river in the amazon looking for proof
that a nefarious corporation is polluting the local river. They do indeed find
that place where they’ve been dropping toxic waste and at the same time find
something else. When one of the group goes missing they seek help from the
local government run by Van Johnson. He turns a blind eye and they go back
looking for their friend only to find out what happened. She was eaten by a
giant crocodile mutated by the toxic waste.
When they return to let the official know what happens he
tells them they’re lying. It seems he’s been paid handsomely by the corporation
dumping the waste. When a great white hunter decides to believe the kids and
take off after the giant croc, they accompany him in the hopes of using it for
evidence. But the croc doesn’t plan on going down easy.
This film can be viewed in many ways and depending on which
you choose you will love it or hate it. If you accept it on the surface only
you’ll find a low budget version that is just slightly different from JAWS and
not worthy of your attention. But for those who can enjoy that low budget
aspect you can view this as a campy version instead, from the soundtrack that
is way too close to that of JAWS theme to the completely unbelievable crocodile
that shows up. It make Bruce from JAWS in his worst moments seem more real. And
yet the film must have done decent box office numbers because they actually
made a sequel!
The cast is pretty much unknowns with only Johnson as a
recognizable name. It also features Richard Anthony Crenna, son of actor
Richard Crenna, in the heroic lead of the film. With only 22 credits to his
name on IMDB it apparently wasn’t much of a career launching film. More
fortunate was actress Sherrie Rose who went on to a somewhat successful career.
One would think that a film of this nature wouldn’t get much
of a release and honestly in the past it didn’t. But Severin has resurrected
the film from oblivion and done so with skill in a new 2k release scanned from
the original negative. In addition to that they’ve got several extras as well.
Those include
THE FEARLESS CROCODILE HUNTER an interview with actor Pietro
Genuardi, IT CRAWLS an interview with cinematographer Federico Del Zoppo, IN
THE JAWS OF THE CROCODILE an interview with special makeup effects artists
Giannetto de Rossi, OF CROCODILES AND MEN an interview with Crenna the trailer
for the film and another special item. Not only do you get the movie itself you
also get that sequel I mentioned. Yes you get KILLER CROCODILE 2 as well as its
trailer! That’s two complete movies for the price of one!
I know, most won’t think this is worth picking up but it is
a lot of fun in the end and if nothing else would make a great film to include
on a turkey flick list over the Thanksgiving holiday. Give it a try it’s worth
it. And the release is limited to just 4000 units so if you want one pick it up
right away.
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