Found myself really liking the original 'Lake Placid'. Have found the follow-ups nowhere near as good and have not cared for most, the exception being the surprisingly above average 'Lake Placid: The Final Chapter'. Saw 'Lake Placid: Legacy' as means of seeing all the films, but with it being from SyFy part of me was apprehensive.
Have made no secret in the past of intensely disliking, and even outright hating a lot, a vast majority of SyFy's (near-universally maligned for good reason) output, though there is curiosity as to whether they are capable of making something good and compulsive about their output's badness. Admittedly, SyFy do have a small group of watchable films and the occasional (big emphasis on that word) above average one, unfortunately outweighed by the lacklustre at best and often dreadful films they churn out.
'Lake Placid: Legacy' is not one of their worst. That is not an endorsement, seeing as it is still very bad and often awful with pretty much all the same flaws that can be found in their other outings. As far as the 'Lake Placid' films go, it is the worst.
There is some semi-decent scenery and Tim Rozon tries his best, but that is pretty much it with the pros.
Scenery aside, 'Lake Placid: Legacy' looks cheap. As drab as the photography and how disorganised the editing was, it was the special effects that came off worst. Less than special is being far too complimentary, much of it is unspeakably atrocious. Can remember nothing about the music and the direction has no distinction or inspiration, it can't even be described as competent.
Rozon aside, the acting is the usual over-compensating and looking disengaged, and there is a real charisma problem frequently. Couldn't find myself interested or caring for any of the characters, characters that had no development to them (the few attempts were sketchy) and actually grate on the nerves.
Don't expect the antagonist to save it. It's criminally under-utilised and when seen it looks diabolical with inconsistent sizing, artificial design and stiff movement and has no personality let alone menace, not even unintentional goofiness. The attacks and atmosphere have no tension or suspense, instead being predictable, awkwardly and anaemically staged and above all ridiculous, the cheesiness and goofiness going too far. Not even gratuitous gore and screaming that is actually creepier than the effects and attacks can do much to make things a little better.
None of the story is engaging, wouldn't have minded the complete lack of originality if it wasn't so dull and colourless as a result of over-stretching a far too slight narrative and then having a lot of contrivance and incoherence. The dialogue never rises above risible, any attempts at tongue-in-cheek makes one face-palm, the silliness gets over the top and other parts take themselves too seriously.
Overall, very bad. 2/10 Bethany Cox
