The DVD cover of this movie is plastered with sentences like "From the director of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'" and yes, that does mean the return of Tobe Hooper. Sadly, gone is the innovative '70s maverick and in his place is a by-the-numbers director out to make a buck from impressionable teens. Well, CROCODILE is a cheesy and nondescript B-movie at heart, and fans of monster flicks might find this one a guilty pleasure.
Once the brain-damaging shenanigans of the first half are out of the way, the film actually becomes fairly decent, moving quickly and with plenty of action and destruction to recommend it. The crocodile itself is an impressive creation on a low budget, whether the mechanical or the cheap CGI effects are being used – the reason being that old hand Greg Nicotero is on board, and he knows how to deliver on a budget. Of course, the teenage cast are all unknowns and annoying, again picked for beach-model looks rather than acting ability, but who cares when they're being chewed in half, beheaded or generally bloodied beyond repair.
The film is plot less and rambling in places, and the sweary scripting gets quickly wearing. However, the destructive set-pieces (a houseboat and then a general store) are mingled nicely with more typical running-through-the-woods behaviour and at least there is blood in this one. The ending rips off ANACONDA in a big way and couldn't get any cheesier, but then there's nothing particularly wrong with that for this type of film either. CROCODILE ain't a great movie by a long shot but at least it delivers, unlike anaemic offerings such as BOOGEYMAN.
Once the brain-damaging shenanigans of the first half are out of the way, the film actually becomes fairly decent, moving quickly and with plenty of action and destruction to recommend it. The crocodile itself is an impressive creation on a low budget, whether the mechanical or the cheap CGI effects are being used – the reason being that old hand Greg Nicotero is on board, and he knows how to deliver on a budget. Of course, the teenage cast are all unknowns and annoying, again picked for beach-model looks rather than acting ability, but who cares when they're being chewed in half, beheaded or generally bloodied beyond repair.
The film is plot less and rambling in places, and the sweary scripting gets quickly wearing. However, the destructive set-pieces (a houseboat and then a general store) are mingled nicely with more typical running-through-the-woods behaviour and at least there is blood in this one. The ending rips off ANACONDA in a big way and couldn't get any cheesier, but then there's nothing particularly wrong with that for this type of film either. CROCODILE ain't a great movie by a long shot but at least it delivers, unlike anaemic offerings such as BOOGEYMAN.