Review by Daniel Emery Taylor
The Creature From The Black Lagoon is my favorite Universal monster flick. Sure, I love Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, Dracula, and the Mummy, but there's just something about the Creature. He's my kind of monster. We'll discuss later.
The story is pretty straightforward. Some scientists are examining fossils down in Brazil. They discover an odd one, looking much like a webbed hand, so they keep pressing deeper into the jungle. They eventually find the Black Lagoon, an area so beautiful the natives claim it is a bonafide paradise. They soon find that they are not alone in this place.
Do you know what makes the Universal Monsters so great? They are all sympathetic characters. You can root for them. You feel for them. You may even want to be them. (Perhaps, in your mind, you ARE them.) Frankenstein's Monster? He never asked to be created. He would not have chosen to be a hodge-podge of corpse parts. He recognizes the evil intentions of his creator but is unable to do anything about it. He appreciates the beauty of the world, but he is too awkward and freakish to exist in it. The Wolf Man? He never wanted to be a werewolf. He becomes a monster through an act of heroism, trying to protect a woman from a wild animal attack. As a monster, he loses all control and is driven only by the wolf. He is a true victim of circumstance. Dracula may well be evil, but Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, and the Creature? Not so much.
He is swimming around in his home when these scientists come barging in to dissect the place. He is protecting his territory. He sees a beautiful woman and he wants her. How does an animal go about courting a human woman? You snatch her up and take her back to your cave, of course! These people keep shooting at him. Why shouldn't he protect himself? He just wants to be left alone and he wants a little sugar. What's wrong with that?
There is certainly an environmental aspect to the film. Nature should be left alone. If you choose to travel to the heart of the jungle you are on the animals' turf and terms. Do not be surprised if they take exception to you being there. Having not mastered conversation or diplomacy, animals often react violently to your intrusion. Even many of the other characters are sympathetic to the Creature's plight. They invaded his area. It would be no different than charging into a lion's den. Would the lion be a villain or a monster, or would the lion simply be doing what lions do? I think in this way the Creature is the ultimate sympathetic monster. He's essentially just a wild animal. He can't be expected to show couth or manners.
The film is fantastic. The underwater cinematography is excellent, and the Creature looks great. I'm nervous about a remake, because I know they'll turn him into a CGI cartoon. The rubber suit really looks good and even holds up in the year 2009. I've definitely seen worse effects in modern movies. The acting is generally what you would expect, neither great nor awful. The scenery is beautiful. The action is good. It's just an all-around great movie.
I highly recommend this one. It is a classic in every sense of the word.