As someone who has spent countless hours submerged in the deep, dark recesses of horror cinema, I can confidently say that the Gill-man from Universal’s “Creature from the Black Lagoon” trilogy holds a special place in my heart. The creature, with its haunting gaze and sinister grace, is a testament to the power of practical effects and the enduring appeal of classic monster movies.
What’s green, wet, and scaly all over?
In the last phase of Universal’s long-running series of monster films, which lasted approximately four decades, the Gill-man from the 1954 movie “Creature from the Black Lagoon” is just as iconic as its horror predecessors such as Dracula, the Mummy, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein’s Monster. This rainforest dweller with webbed hands may have unintentionally embodied a vengeful spirit symbolizing a natural world that has grown tired of pollution, deforestation, and the extinction of species.
In different films like “Monster Squad,” “Monsters vs. Aliens,” and “The Shape of Water,” you’ve witnessed the ichthyoid beast emerging from the depths under various titles and appearances. However, did you know that the original version, portrayed by the late Ricou Browning, appeared in two traditional sequels to “Black Lagoon”?
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Remembering the wild sequels to Creature from the Black Lagoon
Jack Arnold, who previously directed “It Came from Outer Space,” took charge of the sequel titled “Revenge of the Creature.” Notably, this film abandoned the “Black Lagoon” part of its title and hit screens merely a year after its predecessor. Besides Browning, Nestor Paiva (portraying Amazon riverboat captain Lucas) was the sole cast member from the original who reprised their role in the second installment.
In the movie “Revenge,” the Gill-man is caught and moved to a marine institute/aquarium in Florida for more examination by two smitten marine biologists: Clete Ferguson (John Agar) and Helen Dobson (Lori Nelson). Those who are acquainted with the film “King Kong” can anticipate what follows next: the creature escapes its restraints, embarks on a violent spree, and abducts the fainting lady (Nelson assuming the role from Julie Adams). The storyline repeats as the Gill-man is shot to death by a barrage of bullets and sinks once more into the dark depths, mirroring almost comically the concluding scene of its earlier version.
In a subsequent year, the final installment of the trilogy – “The Creature Walks Among Us” (currently available on Peacock) – graced theaters and stands undeniably as the most wild and unconstrained of the series. John Sherwood, known for “The Monolith Monsters”, stepped into directorial duties for this third film. The story revolves around a compulsive surgeon, Dr. William Barton (played by Jeff Morrow), who becomes fixated on examining the Gill-man and using his discoveries to hasten human evolution, in preparation for our eventual exploration of the harsh conditions of outer space.
As they attempted to subdue the sea monster, Barton and his crew accidentally set off a sudden genetic mutation that turned the slender ocean beast into a towering, Frankenstein-like giant who could breathe on land. In an unexpected turn of events, the enhanced Gill-man managed to control its usual violent urges, whereas Dr. Barton gave in to his darker impulses, committing murder out of jealous anger.
In essence, the recurring motif that binds this trilogy is: Humans should avoid meddling with things they don’t completely comprehend. The Gill-man may appear menacing, but he reacts aggressively because humans consistently invade his territory, intending to exploit him for scientific purposes.
If you repeatedly provoke a potentially harmful creature by prodding it and filling it with bullets, don’t expect anything but trouble when it eventually lashes out and tears off your face.
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2024-09-18 23:01