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The Creature Walks
Among Us
Synopsis
Scientists once again capture the creature, this time
in the Everglades. Badly burned in the capture, the creature
is surgically altered to live on land. However his longing for
the water consumes him and he once again goes on a murderous rampage.
Cary: While
I don't think this one is as good as the original Creature
From The Black Lagoon. I feel the Creature
Walks Among Us may rival Son Of Frankenstein and Bride
Of Frankenstein as one of the best sequels in the
Universal line-up because, the story is compelling, the characters
are rich and in the case of the monster, there is no way the
viewer can not empathize with him.
Shawn: I agree
with you, but only to a point and that point is that the idea is incredible,
but it's execution I had a hard time suspending disbelief for. Just
installing a tracheal tube into the Creature would not give him human
eyes. The same goes for all other enhancements, but I  agree that I
don't think that is important to receive the film's message.
Cary: Here's
what I admire most about it. This was a fucking "B" movie
that had absolutely no right making any kind of statement. Yet there
are comments on society flying all throughout this thing. Jeff Morrow's
character is downright detestable and what he does to Gill-Man works
as a commentary on so many levels. You've got the "molding them
in our image" thing which is obvious, but you've also got a
racial commentary going on here. You can't tell me that the air breathing
creature's face doesn't have some pretty obvious racial features.
When he gets locked up in his pen, it's a nice little metaphor in
a movie that wasn't meant to be anything more than a popcorn flick.
Shawn: What
makes me sadder than anything ironically, is that the Creature loses
his penchant for violence. Gill Man simply no longer exists in all
actuality. It's quite sad and moving to see how he just walks into
his cell, resisting nothing and contemplating
everything.
Cary: I know.
It's absolutely heartbreaking!
 Shawn: The ending is
incredible too. It’s such a fitting finale for the series. I mentioned
in my article how Gill Man emotes even though he can't speak, and the look
of him as he stares out to sea is extremely impacting.
Cary: One of
the things I really like about this film is the lighting. The scenes where
the Gill Man is just staring out of the pen completely rock. There is a lot
of darkness and shadow here and I think it works. I'm not sure if it was an
accident or was meant to be shot that way. John Sherwood only directed three
films (although he was second unit on a bunch of stuff). Maury Gertsman is
credited as cinematographer but I didn't notice anything significant in his
resume aside from She-Wolf Of London and a bunch of westerns. By
the way, She-Wolf Of London is only significant because it
was included in The Wolf Man set. Otherwise, that last sentence
would have simply ready "aside from a bunch of westerns."
Shawn: So speculation
time: What happens after the film?
Cary: Two theories.
The first is he goes on to play the lead in the movie Watermelon Man.
(please send all hate mail to: complaints@dimp.com). The second theory is
he get's his balls back and kills himself. What do you think?
Shawn: I was leaning
more towards your second choice, although Watermelon Man wouldn't
have been a bad choice for him. I didn't buy into the fact
that Gill Man forgot anything as one of the scientists suggests. I
just think he lost all hope and became completely broken. So
my personal theory was that he went back to sea, hoping to regain his previous
life back and died in the process since his gills are apparently "beyond
repair"
 Cary: I think
that's completely plausible. While we're on the subject, let's talk about
this script! It is very heavy on character relationships and that's unique
in a film like this. Leigh Snowden's character as the young wife of Jeff Morrow
who is struggling to break free from her confining/controlling husband is
not the sort of heroine you generally find in 1950's horror movies. Also the
dialogue is light on comedy here. There is serious shit going down and everyone
knows it.
Shawn: Yeah, there
are no teens running by screaming at the sight of some bug-eyed monster that
the town authorities won't believe exists. This is some heavy
stuff, and a lot of territory is covered. The male/female dynamic that you
mentioned is quite unique indeed. I really enjoyed that subplot, and I'm glad
it was as developed as it was.
Cary: That's
the thing that I find unique about this film. When I first watched it I remember
thinking that things were moving too slow for this, a monster film, but they
had to move slow to get this kind of character development. The acting is
all right where it needs to be also. There really isn't a campy performance
in any of this. Do you want to add anything to this or just move on to the
extras?
Shawn: I just want
to restate what I mentioned in my article. You are dead on in your synopsis,
and it goes back to the fact that there is more humanity in this series since
Gill Man really ISN'T a monster. He's an act of nature same as anything else.
Human arrogance is the true monster of this series. I think everyone can learn
from that.
Cary: Agreed.
Special Features
- Back To The Black Lagoon – An original documentary
- The Creature From The Black Lagoon – Audio Commentary
with film historian Tom Weaver
- The Creature From The Black Lagoon – Theatrical Trailer
- Production Photographs
- Revenge Of The Creature – Audio Commentary with film
historians Tom Weaver and Bob Burns and cast member Lori Nelson
- Revenge Of The Creature – Theatrical Trailer
- The Creature Walks Among Us – Audio Commentary with film
historians Tom Weaver and Bob Burns
- The Creature Walks Among Us – Theatrical Trailer
Cary: Now
on to the extras. This set did what The Wolf Man should
have done. They gave us some serious fucking extras! First, automatically
an extra pant for commentaries on all three movies. I especially liked
Lori Nelson being part of the group for Revenge Of The Creature.
While it's not my favorite film, I did like her reminiscing about being
an actress under contract at Universal.
 Shawn: Totally.
Having commentaries on the complete series makes it truly a release
of historical value. There shant be a more comprehensive Creature release
- ever - I think.
Cary: The
documentary is also solid. I thought this one was up there with
the Dracula and Frankenstein docs.
Kudos for getting interviews with cast members Ricou Browning, Tom
Hennesy, Lori Nelson and Julie Adams. It always helps when you can
get people who were actually in the films, something the rest of
the documentaries didn't have the luxury of doing.
Shawn: Yeah,
that's the real benefit of coming over a decade after the previous
monster films; people are still alive. I like that
we actually get EVERY film's theatrical trailer on this set.
 Cary: Yes!
That's a key thing! Another thing about the commentaries that I
liked (you mentioned him in The Wolf Man chats)
was Tom Weaver. Great delivery. Great info. Genuinely interesting
guy.
Shawn: Yeah,
he was MADE for this shit. How does one get to be a film historian?
I want that job.
Cary: Shhh.
That's what these reviews are supposed to do. Soon, they'll HAVE
to pay us.
Shawn: Thank
God. I'm out $20 from that shepard's pie and alcohol.
Cary: I'm
very biased when it comes to this franchise. As I said in my main
feature review, this is my favorite of the bunch. That said, with
all the love Universal paid it on this set, I have to give it the
full 5 pants.
Shawn: I
have to give it 5 pants as well, because I think that, overall it's
the best and most comprehensive set. Frankenstein and Dracula come
close though.
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