The Creature Walks Among Us

Starring: Jeff Morrow, Rex Reason, Leigh Snowden, Gregg Palmer, David McMahon, Maurice Manson
Directed by: John Sherwood
Rating: Approved
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction
1956

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: The creature is captured and brought back to civilization for study.

Review:

Tim: I was definitely a fan of Creature from the Black Lagoon. Revenge of the Creature didn't really do it for me, but it was still a fine movie. I really enjoyed The Creature Walks Among Us- it ends the trilogy on a strong note. It might not be quite as good as the original, but it's pretty close.

What's fascinating about this film is that it doesn't take the obvious path forward. You would imagine this movie is about this deadly creature and the fear he inspires as he kills people. The story instead is much more nuanced. The creature is actually sympathetic, looked at more as a product of nature, rather than a figure of evil. Indeed, the movie explores the dark side of mankind just as much as it examines this creature. That's wonderfully complex and it gives this movie a nice bit of uniqueness. You could watch this movie just focused on the creature and surface-level concerns, but there's much more to it than that. Several of the characters actually have some more complex, deeper conversations about humanity, life, and meaning. Those thoughts peppered throughout this script help elevate this movie. This is a film that is much more than your average "creature feature".

Once again, the design of the creature is a huge plus for this film. The suit and the makeup and the whole getup is fantastic- it looks believable. This movie did some interesting things with the creature- I was transfixed whenever the scientists were examining him, or he was lumbering around. We got a lot of time with the creature in this movie and it's better for it. Whenever he's on screen, your eye is draw to the larger-than-life figure. It's hard to look away. Like the other films, this one contains some fantastic underwater sequences. They are often mesmerizing. There was something so nail-biting about seeing these submerged scenes and the black & white film makes it all look more stark and more nefarious. The beginning of the film felt very engaging- this group of people are on a ship in the middle of the Everglades, hunting for a mysterious creature. I loved the feeling of isolation, adventure, and danger this evoked. These films have always been at their best when they're away from cities and the fear of the unknown is around every bend of the river. Those early scenes here were quite effective. The civilization scenes here work, although they're not as thrilling as the beginning of the film.

Like the other movies, the cast feels a bit disposable. This film does try to elevate the character development and to some extent, it works. Leigh Snowden was the highlight of the film. She not only gives a strong performance, but her character was fascinating. You feel for the situation she finds herself in, and you marvel at how she approaches it with strength and resolve. How she's treated is often hard to watch, but it accurately reflects society's view towards women in the mid-1950s. Snowden manages to be the most memorable of the cast. I really enjoyed her here. Jeff Morrow gives an interesting performance. I wouldn't call it great (too many forced moments), but it wasn't bad. Rex Reason was okay, but it's an unremarkable performance. Nothing about him is memorable. He might as well be called "Scientist #2". Gregg Palmer is similar- there's nothing inherently wrong with his performance, but there's so little to get excited about.

The Creature Walks Among Us is an entertaining, complex movie. It builds on previous films and it takes a more nuanced, thoughtful approach to its subject. I had a good time watching this movie and it's a solid effort.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Creature from the Black Lagoon, Revenge of the Creature