The Hatching

As a lover of B-Movie Monster Movies, I really was looking forward to this one as it's set in England in Somerset and stars Andrew Lee Potts, Thomas Turgoose, and Justin Lee Collins.

On paper, this sounds like it would have been brilliant, however, what we get are an unfunny comedy and a rubber crocodile monster movie. In this day and age, we should be able to do better with the special effects. Even if you have to resort to creating an artificial creature, that is pivotal to the plot, at least do it right. The croc looks like it was built out of leftover Wellingtons and if it took a bite out of you all you would do was laugh, as there's no skull and no jawbones... it's all loose and floppy.

There are also some dismembered body parts that also suffer from the no bone syndrome, I've never seen a floppier leg. These atrocious effects are the only thing that's funny in this movie as writers, Michael Anderson and Nick Squire, aren't the best at writing comedy and it really shows in this movie. Apart from the laughable effects, the comedy falls flat on its face - and not in a good way like slapstick.

Michael Anderson who also directed this picture doesn't seem to be able to get the best out of his cast. Potts and Turgoose are very good actors and I would watch anything they are in but this proves that under poor direction even good actors can come off weak and insincere.

If you like comedic monster movies then stay away from this film.

I've read some ridiculous critic reviews comparing this movie unfavourably with Shaun of the Dead, which cost at least five times as much to make and didn't include the added distraction of kids and animals in the cast, for that alone the director should be commended!

This movie isn't intended as serious horror but as a Brit-style humour-fest of ridiculous characters in ridiculous circumstances, plus animals, animatronics and kids. Many seasoned directors wouldn't take on that task with a $1M budget let alone a director in his first feature. The humour will either work for you or not and the acting is certainly better than the first two Harry Potter movies!

The cinematography by Gerry Vasbenter is sumptuous for a low budget movie, with moody shots of the Somerset Levels and some great river scenes. Sound is excellent and Jon Cameron's bouncy score sets expectations early on. Alistair Crocker's sound mix is remarkably good for a movie at this budget level. Michael Anderson's ambition is commendable but the cast is always going to be a compromise at this level.

Highlight of the cast is the lovable Georgia Henshaw who moved effortlessly between fun party girl and truly horrified almost-victim and extremely good value for whatever they paid her for the part. The interplay between Jack McMullen as Russell and Danny Kirrane as Lardy was measured and well delivered by both. I hope we see more of them. Justin Lee Collins was essentially himself but didn't detract too much.

All in all I enjoyed it for what it is - a simple piece of entertainment, not without flaws but remarkable technicals at this budget level.

The Hatching is a weird but watchable horror spoof, from the UK.

This film is so indescribably odd, its actually quite hard to review. Imagine, for a moment, a film script about a rustic village, a spot of serial killing, with a crocodile or two, throw in, just for fun. That's what you get and its such an exotic and implausible mix, on a certain level, it actually works.

The standard of acting is reasonable, if not exceptional. The characterizations are for the most part, on the money but that's not to say there are not some noticeable shortcomings.

The story meanders, more than a little and the characters don't really feel "complete". There's also a real lack of meaningful dialogue and whilst some opportunities for rustic Brit humour are taken up, just as many are missed.

In short, not a bad film. Its quite watchable but nothing special either. Its a shame too, because with wittier, more concise scripting, it could have been more. Six out of ten from me.

Crocodile movie with very little crocodile, screen deaths, but tried to copy Lake Placid as much as possible.

In order to understand the copy cat reference you'll have to watch it, but that's a sin right there, as there is no reason to do so. Even tho it is a short one, it seems to last forever, and the ending just goes on and on. The acting is amateur, the camera is weak, almost no crocodile action, and some gore coming from different directions.

It was a complete waste of time. I don't get the comedy part so much, I guess it just couldn't take itself serious. And the ending. That part was truly unbearable!

Cheers!

It's a bit tame in parts, (the humour)... and the characters, apart from Lard and his mate, are too weak, but essentially, the people who produced the prosthetic gore and effects, were lazy, not just because of the budget, but careless. One could do a lot better with no budget. Apart from that, the directing and photography was perfect and refreshing. Not to be taken seriously, so it's fine. Some of the really subtle parts were the most hilarious, so you can't blink, or you'd miss them!