Creature from Black Lake Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Creature from Black Lake Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 19, 2022

1976’s “Creature from Black Lake” provides yet another look at the pursuit of a Bigfoot-type monster in the middle of nowhere. It’s a popular topic for moviemakers, especially in the 1970s, when tales of sasquatch were all the rage, handed in a boost in popularity with a success of 1972’s “The Legend of Boggy Creek.” Writer Jim McCullough Jr. goes one step beyond the replication of a hit film, striving to merge two hit films with the work, which also hopes to summon some “Jaws”-style suspense, especially in the final act. Director Joy N. Houck Jr. (“The Night of the Strangler”) isn’t known for his flashy style, but there’s some effort made to keep “Creature from Black Lake” at least reasonably distinct, with a cinematic look to the picture helping the viewing experience immensely. And the screenplay is unusual in the way it pays attention to characters and relationships, generating a firm appreciation of motivation with a first hour that’s largely devoted to community exploration and mild detective work. Weirdly, the feature actually becomes less interesting when the monster is around, making the endeavor unusual as drive-in fodder, emerging with decent personality and bonding time.

Inspired by their professor and his interest in the Bigfoot legend, University of Chicago students Pahoo (Dennis Fimple) and Rives (John David Carson) set out to find their own creature, taking a road trip to Oil City, Louisiana, following a lead that something isn’t right in the local swamps. The young men are looking for Joe (Jack Elam), who witnessed a monster attack while emptying traps with his friend, yet he’s unable to prove it, making him an outcast in the community. Pahoo and Rives are pushy with their inquiries, irritating Sheriff Carter (Bill Thurman), who doesn’t want to deal with town hysteria, urging the visitors to leave. Ignoring such a command, the college kids meet with Orville (Jim McCullough Jr.), who has a story to share about the creature, while his Grampaw (Dub Taylor) is a little more cautious with his memories. Getting closer to making a discovery, Pahoo and Rives don’t fully understand the trouble they’re in, trying to catch a powerful beast capable of killing them both.

The story of Joe and his doomed day on the water is the first offering of violence from “Creature from Black Lake,” and it’s also a last for quite some time. The screenplay isn’t concerned with summoning suspense, showing more interest in the characters instead, with Pahoo and Rives (those names!) two college students determined to find something in the sasquatch universe, making their way to Louisiana to do so. “Creature from Black Lake” becomes a road movie in a way, following the guys as they pile into a van and make the long drive, with Pahoo sharing his absolute love of hamburgers after a childhood filled with chicken dinners. They camp in the wild and eventually arrive in Oil City, which isn’t too welcoming to “Yankees,” though Pahoo and Rives only seem to be interested in finding Joe and having sex with local women.

“Creature from Black Lake” remains with the pair as they try to locate leads, ending up with Orville and his family, who invite the young men to a meal, provided they don’t talk about the creature at the dinner table. Orville has his horror story to share about the monster, and Grampaw offers one as well, allowing Houck Jr. to detail some attacks vis flashback, teasing the wrath of the beast and the ominous nature of its howl. It’s not much in the way of action, but it’s something, as McCullough Jr. is more interested in the limits of southern hospitality, and there’s an aside with Pahoo and Rives, who attract some female attention, suddenly forgetting their mission

Creature from Black Lake Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative." The results are impressive, handling the feature's cinematography with care, bringing out detail with the Louisiana locations, which retain dimension. Facial surfaces are distinct, and clothing is textured. Interiors showcase decoration and decay. Colors are respectfully refreshed, providing a rich sense of greenery and bright period costuming. Store signage is vivid, and skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory, doing well with evening events, which take over the movie's final act. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Creature from Black Lake Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix deals with some elements of age and production limitations. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, with some mild muffling, but performances are mostly appreciable, including dramatic emphasis. Scoring supports with decent instrumentation, offering a more defined presence in the final act. Sound effects are acceptable.

Creature from Black Lake Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Michael Gingold and Chris Poggiali.

• "Swamp Stories" (19:05, HD) is an interview with cinematographer Dean Cundey, who discusses his lifelong interest in moviemaking, attending USC film school in the 1960s. Cundey cut his teeth on low-budget entertainment, working to make minor releases look as good as possible, making his way to "Creature from the Black Lake," which was shot in Louisiana. Casting is highlighted, with the interviewee happy to work Jack Elam, who remained professional during the shoot. Cundey offers his memories of director Joy N. Houck Jr. and screenwriter Jim McCullough Jr., and he examines the swampland setting, working to keep the creature mysterious. The monster's origin is recalled, with Cundey in charge of the creature's look. Widescreen cinematography is inspected, with the feature losing some of its impact on television, and Cundey celebrates poster art, which was created by Ralph McQuarrie.

• Radio Spot (:35) offers one commercial for "Creature from Black Lake."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:01, HD) is included.

Creature from Black Lake Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Creature of Black Lake" explores intimidation from Sheriff Carter, who understands what the visitors are capable of summoning, and there's a dramatic side to the material, as Pahoo did time in Vietnam, adding to some unresolved tensions between the students once the subject of bravery comes up. It's not much, but there's more than just southern goofiness in the endeavor, and Houck Jr. has some sense of staging and visual gags, supported by cinematographer Dean Cundey, giving the effort a stronger look than the drive-in competition. What's bizarre about the film is how it deflates in the final act, suddenly interested in the monster hunt, which doesn't offer much physical interactions, while music Jaime Mendoza-Nava isn't shy about creating a "Jaws"-like sound for screen activity that isn't really there. "Creature of Black Lake" does save room for a few shockers and an ending that teases sequel possibilities, but it's not triumphant as monster movie, failing to come to a sharp, suspenseful conclusion. Instead, it's more compelling with personalities and rural atmosphere, providing decent acting for this type of entertainment, and there's some appreciation for partnerships. Perhaps this isn't what fans want from their big hairy beast distractions, but it's impressive to watch a picture like this and somewhat understand where everyone is coming from.