Review: Creature from Black Lake

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2023
Images from the Internet

Creature from Black Lake
Directed by Joy N. Houck Jr.
Howco International; Multicom; Synapse Films; MVD Entertainment
95 minutes, 1976 / 2021
www.synapsefilms.com
www.MVDVisual.com/

I remember seeing this film early on, and thinking it was silly. But I was young, and now, all these years later, I don’t really remember it much, so it will be nice to see it under my present mental state in this new widescreen 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative.

This was one of a bunch of either Bigfoot or woodland creatures tearing up the place and causing human deaths that were released at that time, such as The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972) and Prophesy (1979). Here, we fall closer to the Sasquatch than a mutant bear.

John David Carson, Dennis Fimple

After the intro where we see a mash-up of an attack by said creature (Roy Tatum) in a Louisiana swamp in Oil City, in Caddo parish (yes, a real place, though it was also filmed around Shreveport, 20 miles away) on a couple of fishermen, including Joe (wild eyed Jack Elam; d. 2003), and a professor in Chicago, Dr. Burch (the director, J.N. Houck Jr.; d. 2003); the latter is essentially an exposition for the viewing audience on the creature at hand. This leads to two anthropology students, comedy relief and ‘Nam vet Pahoo (toothy Dennis Fimple, who is known to the modern horror crowd as Grampa Hugo in 2002’s House of 1000 Corpses; d. 2002), and prettyboy Rives (John David Carson, who was in the underrated Pretty Maids All in a Row in 1971, and 1974’s awful incest film The Savage is Loose; d. 2009) set off to the swamps to find Joe and the monster.

The reception the two receive is not pleasant, especially by the Sherriff, Bill Carter (Bill Thurman; d. 1995). Interestingly, the two asked the locals about Joe and the monster, and you get the feeling this is being done to actual residents of the town who seem baffled, much like in the overrated The Blair Witch Project (1999).

Jim McCullough Jr., Dub Taylor

Along the way, our two intrepid Yankees meet a bunch of colorful characters, such as one of the early witnesses of the creature, Orville (writer of this film, Jim McCullough Jr.; d. 2022); his grandpa is Western film star and a semi-regular on “The Andy Griffin Show,” Dub Taylor (d. 1994). Then there are the two romantic leads for our protagonists, high school students (saywhat?!) Michelle (Michelle Willingham), and the beautiful Becky (Becky Smiser, in her only listed IMDB role). In an unintended cameo, playing a toddler Orville in a flashback, is future WCW professional wrestler Chase Tatum (d. 2008).

Throughout, there are the requisite POV shots via a handheld, shaky camera. At least it wasn’t re-colored or distorted…well, occasionally it is fuzzy, but that’s about it. We occasionally see what the Sasquatch-ish thingy observes, often through the foliage.

Carson, Becky Smiser, Fimple, Michelle Willingham

Of course, our students are going to meet up with Joe, and then the young’ns will hunt the hunter. Or, perhaps, be prey? I will not tell. My question is, if the point is repeatedly made that Pahoo is a Vietnam Veteran, why is draft resister Rives responsible for holding the rifle?

The last act as they face the upright monkey-looking Sasquatch, seen mostly in silhouette, is pretty exciting in the third act, with a bunch of jump scares and some unexpected actions. The ending, though, is a bit anti-climatic and left open for a sequel which never came. And considering most of the cast is now passed on, I doubt it is going to happen, unless there is a remake at some point (and the way Hollywood is at the moment, that is not farfetched).

Bill Thurman, Jack Elam

There is a bit of a “Dukes of Hazzard” (TV series, not the film) vibe, and also a buoyancy, that makes this watchable. It is better than I remembered, but kinda goofy at the same time. It is also a piece of its period: there is little blood and no nudity, and barely cussin’. It was rated PG (content is not recommended for viewing by people under the age of 15 without adults). However, it does have quite a bit of clever and humorous moments, though not technically a comedy. At least there are some decent jump scares.

Notable extras are a full-length audio commentary with author/filmmaker Michael Gingold (whose bibliography includes 2017's Frightfest Guide to Monster Movies) and film historian, fanzine publisher, and blogger, Chris Poggiali. they come across as likeable and occasionally humorous, and give the usual information about the making of the film, historical info on the cast and crew, and its effect on the culture of the time. "Swamp Stories" (19 min) is an all-new featurette with Dean Cundey, who waas the Director of Photography. He discusses what it was like to be shooting in a swamp after coming out from Los Angeles, how it was working with some big-name actors and the crew (such as the director), and even some Bigfoot history. Last is the original theatrical trailer and radio spot. 

Roy Tatum

The cinematography by Cundey is exceptional and, for me, one of the strongest aspects of the film. This is the kind of release that would play as a second bill at a drive-in, especially in the South. I find it amusing that it is in widescreen, but was a big hit playing on television when the medium was a box, rather than the new, rectangular screens, so it had to have been serious cropped. Glad it is back to all its widescreen glory.

IMDB listing HERE