Lake Placid

Plot synopsis:
In Aroostook County, Maine, Marine fish and Game officer Walt Lawson is attacked and bitten in half by something unseen in Black Lake. Sheriff Hank Keough (Brendan Gleeson), Fish and Game officer Jack Wells (Bill Pullman), American Museum of Natural History paleontologist Kelly Scott (Bridget Fonda), and mythology professor/crocodile enthusiast Hector Cyr (Oliver Platt) go to the lake to investigate.
A series of strange events occurs, including Kelly and Hank's canoe mysteriously flying into the air and flipping, the discovery of a severed toe and a severed moose head, and the decapitation of Burke, one of Hank's deputies.
Later, as Hank and Hector argue, a bear attacks them, but a giant saltwater crocodile then leaps out of the water and drags it into the lake. Later, after finding Burke's severed head, Jack, Kelly, and Hank witness Mrs. Delores Bickerman (Betty White), one of few people living on the lake, feeding a blindfolded cow to the enormous crocodile. Mrs. Bickerman reveals that she has been feeding the crocodile for years after it followed her husband home. It eventually killed him. She is placed under house arrest for initially lying to the police.
Hector decides to take Deputy Sharon Gare (Meredith Salenger) on a trip in his helicopter, and lands it in the cove where the crocodile lives. While he is diving, it targets him, but he and Gare escape. Jack and Hank plan to allow Florida Fish and Game to kill the crocodile when they arrive, but Hector suggests instead that he lure it out of the water and drug it. Jack reluctantly accepts the proposal, and they use one of Mrs. Bickerman's cows, dangled from the helicopter, as bait. After a few hours, the crocodile lunges at the cow. Hector pulls up, loses the cow, and crashes the helicopter into the lake. The crocodile comes on land and attacks Jack and Kelly. Kelly is knocked into the lake, but she makes it to the helicopter just in time.
The crocodile then gets trapped in the helicopter. Despite Hector and Kelly's protests to let the animal live, Jack grabs a gun and shoots it. The gun is revealed to be a tranquilizer rifle. As Hector comes out of the water, a second crocodile attacks him, but Hank blows it up with his grenade launcher. Florida Fish and Game officers arrive seconds later. They load the crocodile on a truck and take it to Portland, Maine to figure out what to do with it. The last scene shows Mrs. Bickerman feeding bread crumbs to many baby crocodiles, implying the two adults were a mating pair. During the end credits, the surviving adult crocodile is seen tied to the back of a flat-bed truck, speeding down a road.

Tags: cult, comedy, violence

Review:
Also, the interplay between Oliver Platt and the actor playing the sheriff are priceless.Contrary to what others have written - I think the special effects go just fine with the overall campy and comedy feel of the movie and the amount of gore is also appropriate.
Gleeson is great fun bouncing off Platt and Betty White is so crazy that it's hard not to laugh!Overall this is a big budget silly B-movie that laughs at itself.
Funny,with an absolutely hilarious performance by Betty White, an appealing Bridget Fonda (for the first time in memory), and very likeable Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Platt.
I love Oliver Platt.The best part is that it isn't trying to be a scream-out-loud sort of monster horror movie, it's just having fun.
The dialog is a relentless parade of one-liners between the five principals: a paleontologist (Bridget Fonda), a Fish & Game guy (Bill Pullman), a croc-worshiping professor (Oliver Platt), the sheriff (Brendan Gleeson), and an eccentric hermit (Betty White).
The characters are all foils for one another, setting up some of the most entertaining dialog of any movie I know.The plot revolves around a 30 foot Asian crocodile somehow winding up in a lake in Maine - go figure.
The essential characters are rounded out by Brendan Gleeson's dour sheriff, Oliver Platt's rich and eccentric mythology buff, and Betty White as the colorful local little old lady with a secret or two.As I said, reduced to a plot outline, it's pretty unimpressive, but the verbal barbs that fly back and forth between the characters are what make the show.
I was very pleasantly surprised.The major players of this movie are Bill Pullman as Jack Wells (Department of Fish and Game), Bridget Fonda is Kelly Scott (Museum of Natural History, New York), Oliver Platt as Hector Cyr (wealthy, eccentric "dragon hunter") and Brendan Gleeson as Sheriff Hank KeoughSomething has killed a man in Lake Placid.
Four people are drawn together to solve the mystery of who or what is killing in the Lake.It's not easy to blend comedy with horror without falling into that dark and career-deadly pit of "camp," but Steve Miner (Warlock 1 and Halloween H20 *among many others*) succeeds with full marks.The effects of the "creature" are realistically believable.
It's hard to do a movie like this without totally going astray with the comedic aspect or the creature effects, but both are right on target in this production.You will laugh one moment and be screwed up in your chair with your knees to your chest the next.
It had suspence and thrills (the part with the grizzly ruled), good effects, a bit of gore (the first victem is the worst), but what really made this movie for me was the characters and thier interaction, especially between Oliver Platt (the excenteric millionaire) and the local sheriff.
The humor is actually more well-written and it's about the same level of gore.If you didn't like Lake Placid, chances are you're too uptight to enjoy a fun monster movie and should go rent a French film noir or anything else that's nice and pretentious..
Its not a really scary horror film but does has its moments of tense 'knowing something is going to happen in a second' and any film that makes the audience laugh out loud through sheer enjoyment rather than embarrassment gets my vote..
But a comedy which isn't trying too hard, as a dumb Adam Sandler movie does, to make you laugh but still makes you laugh is an excellent film.
Its tongue in cheek and it's superb.The banter between the mad old rich croc hunter and the county sheriff is hilarious - I was laughing out load so much - and was thoroughly charmed at the same time.Anyone who slags this movie off is clearly missing the point.
I have to admit that I might only think this movie is not bad because I heard such horrible reviews for it, that when I actually saw it, I was like "That wasn't bad at all." I'm sure if I had heard it was great and saw it, I probably would have said "Really?
After numerous reports of strange deaths are reported in a Maine lake, a wildlife officer and a local ranger find the cause to be a monstrous crocodile inhabiting the waters and try to stop its' rampage on the locals.This here turned out to be one of the better animal-on-the-loose types of films around.
One of the better elements here is the fact that this one manages to inject such a good amount of quality comedy into the proceedings that this doesn't make it feel like an attempt to copy the style of film at the time but more about a film that just happened to feature people who had a strong sense of humor.
When it gets down to the horror elements, this one is outstanding as well with plenty of good fun to be had had here as the switch-over is handled in the right manner, as the film is serious when it needs to be and funny when seriousness has run its course.
Add in some great animatronics and CGI so seamless it looks like one monster throughout for the crocodile and this one is a fine creature feature.Rated R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language and violence-against-animals..
Bridget Fonda exchanges some good barbs with him--as does Brendan Gleeson (as the local sheriff) and Oliver Platt (as a wacko crocodile hunter).
Platt is good but his character tends to be annoying at times.Betty White plays a variation of her usual stock comedy character and provides an amusing twist for the final scene.
Bridget Fonda looks attractive and handles her sharp exchanges with Pullman in a throughly professional manner.An odd sort of movie that combines comedy and horror with mostly satisfying results.
But I am not kidding, the film is better appreciated under the influence of alcohol-induced euphoria.Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, Brendan Gleeson, Oliver Platt and Betty White have fun here.
Now, the jokes really start rolling about backwoods people from Maine and the educated.There are just too many good lines in this film to repeat them all, but I will say I was in stitches the whole time.The only complaint I have is that Platt and Meredith Salenger didn't have time to get it on, but they were a great pair.Features a really kooky Betty White, too.Get a laugh.
It must be all of that, laden with brilliant special effects and one liners, that makes this monster movie such a fun ride.In Black Lake, something is killing off the wildlife.
So in come the local police, led by Bill Pullman, a stuck-up paleontologist (beautiful and charming Bridget Fonda hams it up)and an eccentric crocodile-obsessed man (awesome Oliver Platt) to investigate the scene.
Animal control and sheriff officials are tapped in to investigate, joined by a scientist.Each character in the movie has his/her own charm, all blending in to make the film a very exciting and entertaining feature.
Bill Pullman as Jack Wells is a reserved, down-to-earth animal control officer who is dedicated in finding the creature; Bridget Fonda is a witty, sarcastic and dry-humored scientist from the city, who endlessly pokes fun at the townspeople; Oliver Platt as Hector Cyr delivered a corny, obsessed he-man with a personal vendetta with crocodiles and Brendan Gleeson as Sheriff Hank Keough gave an outstanding performance who gets caught in Cyr's crocodile traps and has a dead-pan delivery.
the movie could have easily done without them and so in a strange way, they were just surplus to requirements and added little or no value to an otherwise funny and entertaining movie.I saw this movie a few years ago and just didn't get around to posting a comment then, so I am belatedly offering my 2 pence worth now...The accolades go out to Oliver Platt (Hector Cyr), Brendan Gleeson (the sheriff), Betty White (Delores Bickerman) and Meridith Salenger (the deputy) who carry the movie and make up for what can only be described as distractions by the two so-called leads.Almost from the start, the film is both laugh-out-loud funny (in an intelligent and classy way) and undeniably icky AT THE SAME TIME!
It's not a spoof, it's a fun packed tongue in cheek thriller, hell it may even have some literary worth as regards ecological concerns, while the cultural clashes that thrive are written with knowing skill.Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda and Brendan Gleeson are superbly underplaying things, but they all get usurped when at the 20 minute mark Oliver Platt flies in on his helicopter and promptly owns the film from that point on.
This comedy-horror begins when a giant Croc attacks at a backwards warden causing a grisly death.A paleontologist(Bridget Fonda) is sent to Maine by his chief-fiancée(Adam Arkin appears uncredited)who has other lover(Mariska Hargitay).She investigates and discover a prehistoric tooth.The scientific along with a warden(Bill Pullman),a stubborn sheriff(Brendan Gleeson),a deputy(Meredith Salenger) and an eccentric millionaire(Oliver Platt) attempt to figure out the strange events.The Crocodile is still hungry after eating a warden in a creepy scenes with gore included .This monster movie contains suspense,comedy,terror,scares,suspense and bone-chilling scenes when the large Crocodile attacks.The enormous Croc delivers the goods with thrills,screams,eerie horror with its spontaneous appearance,some scenes are made by means of computer generator though mostly by Animatronics realized by the FX master,Stan Winston.The comic relief in charge of Betty White(The golden girls) as a sympathetic and foul-mouthed old woman with a special secret.Colorful cinematography by Okada,reflecting brightly the Maine lush woods where the story is developed.
Appropriate music score adjusted to the atmosphere film and known final song by Bob Marley.The movie is written and produced by the successful TV scriptwriter(Professors of Boston,The practice,LA law).The motion picture is professionally directed by Steve Miner, a horror expert(Hallowen H20,Wallock,Friday the 13th)and some comedy film(My father the hero,Soul man).It's an OK juvenile entry into monster movies,being specially remarkable for excellent recreating of the carnivorous and ferocious Croc ..
Considering Miner had helmed a couple of lame Friday THE 13TH films (which I've just watched, incidentally), this is a far more satisfying genre effort from him: engaging protagonists (best of all is flustered sheriff Brendan Gleeson, but Betty White's eccentric character is also memorable - with the scene where she feeds a cow to 'her' crocodile verging on the surreal), good level of suspense, thrilling action, some gore, and there's also a healthy dose of humor...though its attempt to lend gravitas to the main theme (with the crocodile considered a form of deity) doesn't work.
And I am a sucker for movies that feature helicopters, a conveyance that I would never ride in personally.If you listen carefully when Bridget Fonda's character is flying to Maine, the strains of "I Love New York" can be heard in the music.
The entire party is soon joined by rich man Hector (Oliver Platt) who has a thing to swim with the crocodiles!Evenly distributed between scary and hilarious LAKE PLACID is a sure fire hour and a half of entertainment.
LAKE PLACID isn't a bad choice.Title: Lake Placid Directed by: Steve Miner Starring: Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, Brendon Gleeson & Oliver Platt Rated: R for violent creature attacks and related gore, and for language Rating: 06/10 82 Minutes.
2) Similarly, Betty White has a semi-cameo as the most eccentric/lunatic grandma in Maine, but she is only a little bit more oddball than any 'real' senior citizen might be in a similar situation.Pretty much everyone strikes the right tone in this movie and gives a good-to-great performance, but Brendon Gleeson (as the sheriff) makes the movie for me.
You'd never think that the guy who plays this character would also be great in a visceral adventure/horror film like "28 Days Later".
While it's certainly not the greatest movie ever made, it's a thoroughly enjoyable parody of monster movies.I thought Gleeson was excellent as the sheriff; he's by far the funniest character in the film.
Bill Pullman, Briget Fonda, and Oliver Platt had a good role in this film.
Since satire and sarcasm are rarely understood or appreciated by the majority of the people who go to movies, it is hardly surprising that the majority of reviews of this movie are based on its success -- or lack thereof -- as a horror film or a "comedy."  If you liked Top Secret, Rustler's Rhapsody, and Johnny Dangerously, rush out and get Lake Placid.
(Some Spoilers) It's when a skin diver was found floating to the surface of Lake Placid, or Black Lake as it's now called, bitten in half that alarm bells started ringing from the State of Maine to New York's Natural History Museum in that something strange was happening in the waters out there.With a very reluctant head of the Paleontology Department at the museum young Kelly Wells,Bridget Fonda,dispatched to far off Maine to determine what's the cause of this horror she's confronted by local Fish & Game Warden Jack Wells,Bill Pullman, and local sheriff Hank Keough,Brendan Gleeson.
This movie is like "Jaws" with a funny twist, but this time, it involves a huge crocodile.
This movie is like "Jaws" with a funny twist, but this time, it involves a huge crocodile.
Animal control and sheriff officials are tapped in to investigate, joined by a scientist.Each character in the movie has his/her own personality and charm, and all blends in to make the film a very exciting and entertaining feature.
Bill Pullman as Jack Wells is a reserved, down-to-earth animal control officer who is dedicated in finding the creature; Bridget Fonda is a witty, sarcastic and dry-humored scientists from the city, who endlessly pokes fun at the townspeople; Oliver Platt as Hector Cyr delivered a corny, obsessed he-man with a personal vendetta with crocodiles, and Brendan Gleeson as Sheriff Hank Keough gave an outstanding performance who gets caught in Cyr's crocodile traps and has a dead-pan delivered one-liners: hilarious.
Known for her role as "Rose" in the sit-com "The Golden Girls," White's performance as Mrs. Bickerman is a delightful departure from the innocent and simple Rose, foul-mouthed, cold and unbelievably funny.This movie is one outstanding humor after the next, blend in with adventure and action, and is sure to entertain you all the way.So, remember never to feed the crocodiles, or else they will wound up as big as the one in this movie..
The front of the DVD says it all for me, 'Part Mystery, Part Thriller, Pars Missing' this pretty much spells out that this isn't intended to be a serious film, despite the relative high quality of the production.The script is absolutely crammed with cheesy lines that compliment the corny plot nicely, Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman and Oliver Platt all pretend to play it straight, which only adds to the hilarity at times; it's a bit like it's making fun of the 'B' movie horror flick, but in a satirical manner that's fun to watch.The show stealer for me though is Betty White, her screen time is minimal but every second of her subtle lunacy is worth the wait.It's a good laugh, the effects are OK and it does entertain, but it is probably a movie you will forget pretty quickly too.6/10.
What makes this film work are the distinct characters and how they interact with each other.The film is staged adequately, Steve Miner has never been anything special, again doing an adequate job with Halloween: H20, and really horrid jobs with the bombs Big Bully and whichever Friday the 13th movie it was he directed.Definitely worth seeing, the dialogue is extremely amusing, and hopefully in 20 years some hot new director who knows how to be creative can create perhaps create something lasting with it; but for now, everything here is below the surface, no pun intended.Adequate performance from Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda and Miner, and A++ work from Kelley, Oliver Platt, and the sheriff...
The whole man-eating creature plot has been done a billion times before, but there is an entire new twist on this, because this movie is actually GOOD!
Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, Oliver Platt, Brendan Gleeson, and Betty White star in LAKE PLACID, the man-eating crocodile creature flick that came out right around the same time DEEP BLUE SEA did.
Everyone slightly familiar with this type of insignificant horror films knows that they're a lot more comical than they are scary, thus "Like Placid" is a large buffet of witty dialogues, eccentric characters and over-the-top special effects.
Some horror b-movie buffs will find it entertaining but I never really got into what seems a film with a major identity crisis.Tries to be clever but fails, not funny enough for a laugh, not scary enough to scream 4/10.
I guess some don't like comedy and fun in their horror movies..
The film is very good and funny at times.Bill Pullman,Bridget Fonda,Brenden Gleeson,and Oliver Platt are all good.Betty White is excellent and I just couldn't believe all the things she said and I thought it was hilarious!The attacks by the Crocodile is well done.Especially the one with the bear and in fact when the bear got it I just couldn't believe it.Unbelievable scene!This is a very good monster Crocodilian film with a good ending to check out!.
And the special effects are very good.Watch this movie, and I guarantee it won't just be the crocodile smiling!.
This movie about a man-eating monster in Lake Placid, Maine is a rare treat.
Examples of these include 'Deep Blue Sea' and 'Blood Surf'.For a monster movie, 'Lake Placid' is actually a pretty good movie with some good special effects and even some humor.Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, and Oliver Platt are the main characters in this movie, and they all did a wonderful job as a cop, paleontologist, and a crocodile hunter.However, there is a downside to this movie.What the movie needed was more kills.Only 2 characters in the movie were killed by the crocodile.If there was a few more, the movie could've been a little better.At least the 2 people died in a gory fashion.Add in a surprise performance by Betty White from 'Golden Girls' and you have a monster movie that makes a great treat.You'll be laughing at it's sense of humor, screaming at the scares the crocodile delivers, and clapping at how much you were entertained..