The Crater Lake Monster

Deep in an old mine, an archaeological team makes a groundbreaking discovery. Then, by some serendipitous happenstance, a meteor strikes in nearby Crater Lake! Later, as fate would have it, THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER emerges, hunting for human snacks. When the local hillbilly population starts to dip, Sheriff Steve Hanson (Richard Cardella) is on the case.

Packed with non-actors delivering their lines with enough wood to build a barn, and "comedy" so unfunny it may cause brain hemorrhaging, this movie is a true blunder to behold! Then, it gets "serious", with a dramatic side story, and that's even worse!

One particular day-for-night scene has the "actors" point out how lovely the stars look, while the sun blazes down. There was absolutely no attempt to make it seem any darker than noon! There are several such scenes, made especially hilarious when someone uses a flashlight to illuminate something -already well lit- in plain sight!

The only thing worth watching is the monster itself, as it's a fairly decent stop-motion creation. No, it's not as good as Ray Harryhausen would have done, but it's still better than anything else in this shambles!

EXTRA POINTS FOR: #1- The ludicrous liquor store robbery! #2- The "scientific" explanation for the creature's sudden appearance! #3- The sheriff's sideburns! #4- The fun-filled finale!

A spectacular movie event for the true schlock-o-holic!...

In a rural part of the Pacific Northwest of the United States, a meteor falls into a nearby lake shortly after some archaeologists have uncovered cave paintings showing early man fighting what appears to be a dinosaur. In the months after the meteor's impact. Strange happenings are noticed by the two boat renters Mitch (Mark Siegel) and Arnie (Glenn Roberts) as well as the local Sheriff Steve Hanson (Richard Cardella) which may point to a creature long believed to be extinct.

The Crater Lake Monster is a 1977 independent monster film directed and produced by stop motion animator Willaim R. Stromberg who co-wrote the film with star and lifelong friend Richard Cardella. Inspired by his love of monster films of the 1950s, Stromberg had wanted to make a more family oriented horror film in contrast to the rising popularity of more extreme horror of the 70s. The film is noted for its troubled post-production thanks to interference and ineptitude by distributor Crown International who pulled funding for several scenes as well as deleting expository ones that would've expanded on the plot, locked Stromberg out of the editing process, and didn't bother to correct several day for night shots so scenes set at night took place in broad daylight. The movie made a little over $1 million which tanks to a low budget cited under $200,000 most likely yielded a profit even if critical reception hasn't been kind to the film with some ranking it among the worst monster movies. While The Crater Lake Monster does have some glaring flaws as a result of the Crown debacle, there's an undeniable passion and energy on screen that makes this nowhere near the worst monster movies ever made (not even close).

While the titular Crater Lake Monster certainly feels like a "man out of time" given the technical revolution of Star Wars during the same year, given the tone the movie goes for it's rather fitting and shows some impressive utilization of stop motion techniques to bring the creature to life. The script is basically written and acted like a 1950s type monster film complete with some silly reasons why there's a monster as well as the occasionally stilted acting, but all these elements add to that underlying charm of the movie. The funniest aspect of the film for me is the fact comic relief characters Arnie and Mitch played by Glenn Roberts and Mark Siegel are given more screentime than the movies hero and co-writer Steve Hanson, but there is a strange quality that makes them kind of endearing if slightly schticky and I was usually amused by their antics (even if they also result in the movie ending on kind of a downer note). The biggest issue with the movie is the glaring post production issues and that really speaks more to Crown's incompetence than the movie itself, and in spite of those glaring issues I was still amused by the movie.

If you've seen a 50s monster movie, that's basically what this is only dressed up in 70s attire. It's a fun little oddity that never overstays its welcome and will be welcome viewing for bad movie fans and MST3Kers alike (this movie deserves its own episode featuring it). Dim the lights, get some popcorn, and have a good time.

No need to recap the plot. Okay, the film's no classic. In fact, someone in production borrowed the bulldozer vs. monster from 1960's schlock comedy Dinosaurus. But, in my book, the 80-some minutes isn't bad enough to rate among the truly bad, e.g. Manos: The Hands of Fate {1966}. Catch the photography, which is pretty good (of course, post- production bungled day-for-night, but that's not photographer Gentry's fault). Then there're the lush colors, about as vivid as any I've seen. Add Cardella's sturdy performance as the take-charge sheriff, along with some pretty good stop-motion, and you've got genuine compensations that lift results from the truly bad.

Of course, the intended comic relief is pretty lame, along with a script that appears almost thrown together. But perhaps most disappointing is the utter lack of tension. Monsters should generate tension. However, director Stromberg fails to build suspense, which requires a better sense of structure than what's provided here. Instead, the production goes for quick shock, which itself doesn't work very well. All in all, the movie's too good to be truly bad, and too bad to be good. I like what another reviewer observed, namely the results look like they were made by erratically skilled amateurs.

The film starts out with the finding of cave paintings that depict dinosaurs with humans - an extraordinary discovery. On that exact same day, a meteorite lands in the lake in the same park as the cave painting findings. Then *poof* we end up with a dinosaur coming out of the lake! Of course it kills some people but for most of the film no one knows about the dinosaur and the deaths are just mysterious deaths.

There is a little bit of comedy sprinkled throughout the film this is somewhat laughable. The dinosaur is pretty neat looking for the time era (NOT a CGI generated creature like today's creatures and monsters). The story is kinda interesting but it does hit a few lulls off and on.

Overall it's an alright film - watchable but not great.

4/10

This movie is a great Drive-Inn 70's Sci-Fi / Thriller I know most people give it bad comments though. Since it was supposed to take place at Crater Lake instead because of the low budget limitation it was filmed in California at some land formed lake up there. Anyway the lake is dark, murky & a good bit of it leaves behind that creepiness image & feel that Loch Ness gives you. Not the greatest acting but I guess good enough for this type of B-Drive Inn Sci-Fi Film. What makes this movie so great u ask? Any fan of Stop-Motion Animation knows of the great David Allen who followed in the footsteps of the stop-motion legends Willis O'Brien & Ray Harryhausen. He was inspired by them in the early 1950's as a young boy he saw some of their films on television. The Plesiosaurus which is a prehistoric water reptile from the Dinosaur ages that has a long neck razor sharp teeth & four flippers with a tail. It can walk on land as well. The attack scenes depicted in this film handled by Dave Allen using Stop-Motion Animation. Then some scenes in the water had like a fabricated head made for some of the close up water attack shots & a few other shots in the film. The Loch Ness Horror (1982) also has a Plesiosaurus in it which is supposed to be what Nessie is the nickname of The Legendary Loch Ness Monster of Scotland. Same with the lake monster that's in Lake Champlain in Upstate New York. Champ is the nickname & that is America's Loch Ness Monster. Back to Crater The Stop-Motion Animation in this film is some of the best Animation I have ever seen. This is one of his early efforts not to mention also. Equinox from 1970 was his first big break & that film earned a huge Cult following by Sci-Fi, Horror & Fantasy Film Buffs like myself. I also just got that 2 Disc DVD Special Edition Set from Criterion Collection I have checked some of it out awesome stuff. I can't wait to watch both versions of the films this weekend with the extras on Disc 2. Anyway back to Crater Lake Dave was assisted by Jim Danforth & Randall William Cook two other great Stop-Motion Animators Danforth that was focusing on more matte painting on Films at that time since Stop-Motion was becoming obsolete. His last film he did in which he did all the animation on was When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth (1970). Which he earned an Oscar for Best Visual Effects in America & that is a British made film. He started Matte Painting on that film as well while still doing Stop-Motion also. But Equinox he only does Matte Painting & most of the films after Equinox too. He does some assistant animation occasionally & other animation though. Jim Danforth he loves animation he thinks it gives that feel & look that CGI doesn't give cause it is too real the same was said by Ray Harryhausen. I agree with them both I prefer Stop-Motion Animation over CGI myself. Dave Allen's Animation in Crater like steals the show it is what makes the film worth watching. Otherwise if there was no great Stop-Motion either done by Willis O'Brien, Ray Harryhausen, Pete Peterson, Jim Danforth, David Allen, Randall William Cook, Phil Tippet, Jim Aupperle, Doug Beswick, or Dennis Muren which is an exceptional animator the others are the best animators out there. My point is without Dave Allen's Animation or one of the other greats I mentioned which Willis O'Brien passed away in the early 60's so he couldn't do the animation obviously. If u are a huge Stop-Motion Fan like me then u will really enjoy this movie. Other then that stay away I guess unless u are a fan of Drive-Inn B Sci-Fi Films with great special effects & low grade everything else. It is one of my favorite 70's Sci-Fi Flicks anyway.