Retro Horror Review ‘Lake Placid’: Campy, Hilarious and Just the Right Amount Gore
People notice when the acclaimed television writer, David E. Kelly, writes a horror comedy. That movie, of course, is 1999’s Lake Placid, directed by Steve Miner (Halloween H20). Starring Bridget Fonda (Jackie Brown), Bill Pullman (Serpent and the Rainbow), Oliver Platt (Chef), Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges), and the legendary Betty White.
While out on a routine wildlife check, an unseen animal bites a scuba diver in half. Sheriff Keough (Gleeson) was the one witness who called it in. Fish and Wildlife send their man Jack Wells (Pullman) to investigate, and he takes over the scene. Kelly Scott (Fonda), a paleontologist from New York City, gets dumped by her boyfriend/ boss and is sent to investigate the attack as well because of a partial tooth found that looks prehistoric. Her boss just doesn’t want her around for a bit as the break-up involves another co-worker.
Black lake is in a remote part of Maine, so there haven’t been any other calls about attacks in the area. In fact, the only residence for miles is the elderly Bickerman couple, who have a house on the water itself. As the teams begin to investigate the area, they are besieged by adventurer and super-wealthy Hector Cyr (Platt) in his custom helicopter. Who is known for swimming with crocodiles around the globe, and if he’s here, he must think they have one.
As more deputies lose limbs and the random floating heads are discovered, they still can’t pin down what is causing all the mayhem. That is until a grizzly bear attacks the investigators, and the monstrous Croc is revealed right before pulling its furry prey into the murky depths for a bit of dinner. Knowing what they’re dealing with, the team must put their heads together and find a way to lure it out of hiding. Hoping they can rid the area of this colossus man-eater once and for all.
Say what you will about Lake Placid, but it is pure entertainment. Sharp, witty dialogue with a charismatic and hilariously dry cast, gore, giant Stan Winston (Jurassic Park) practical Crocodiles, and a foul-mouthed Betty White as Mrs. Bickerman (who is a little scene thief). What’s not to love? Sure, it takes 2/3rds of the movie before we get a good look at our Dino Croc. However, it’s a tight 80 minutes that plays like a cat and mouse game that also nods to Jaws and Jaws 2 in several set pieces.
Much like in Jurassic Park, there is a combination of practical effects and CGI. Luckily the computer-generated scenes are done so quickly that what you see looks perfectly fine. The same goes for the practical. They never hold on to a shot long enough for you to think it looks fake. It’s a fine line, and they tread lightly.
Stan Winston and company built a full-size crocodile for the film measuring 30 feet. There is a funny story about when they were filming the scene with the Grizzly bear; it got one look at the mechanical Croc and ran away, too afraid to do the scene. They had to submerge it underwater and camouflage it before the bear would return to film the scene. Guessing that’s some satisfying verification you did well on the design.
I had forgotten just how funny Lake Placid is. Oliver Platt and Brendan Gleeson are comic gold and bounce off each other brilliantly. As the butt of so many jokes, Gleeson is a good sport, has some great quips, and gets his hero moment. He’s the standout for me. Pullman and Fonda are quick-witted and charming as always. Their dynamic as a possible romance is cliché but fun to watch because they’re both so awkward. There isn’t a weak link in the cast. Much of it has to do with them as performers, but the dialogue is written so well for their timing and personalities.
Fast-paced, well-written dialogue despite a well-worn premise, significant effects, and casting make Lake Placid a highly entertaining piece of horror-comedy. Sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and turn off your brain. I know there are like 4 sequels, and from all I’ve heard, they’re not worth your time unless you’re a completist or love bad (not so bad, they’re good) movies. It’s a great gateway horror movie with enough blood and guts to keep the diehards happy without alienating newcomers. It’s perfect for those summer night monster movies. 3/5
Lake Placid is available for free on Tubi, check out the trailer & poster below. Be sure to follow ScaryNerd for all things horror, sci-fi, fantasy and everything in between.
About Post Author
K.B. O’Neil is an artist, writer and musician living in Cincinnati, Ohio. He loves movies, books, video games, snuggling his two pups and all things Horror. When not working he can be found getting into adventures with his wife and their new daughter.