The Crater Lake Monster (1977) [Archive]

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Hellbilly

01-03-2004, 06:43 AM

Never seen but it looks like "Loch Ness Horror" fun. How's the film? Anybody ever picked up the Rhino DVD?

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005YUP6.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

ephilman

01-03-2004, 01:39 PM

I have it. It was a drive-in favorite out here in middle America (where it played along with GIANT SPIDER INVASION). Definately worth a look, if only for the David Allen stop-motion animation at the end. Also has a great full-size head mock-up in some shots. Rather dull, other than the monster, with no gore to speak of and some really unfunny comic relief, yet I love it anyway.

Note: the cast on the front of the packaging is not in this movie. According to Tim Lucas, it's the cast listing for LAS VEGAS LADY by mistake.

Madz H

01-03-2004, 04:14 PM

Just go for it, i was'nt sure either, but took the chance and bought it, and i loved it :)
If your into stop motion, some bad acting and a nessie look alike this is worth the buy.
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/exhibits/filmingsd/images/craterlakemonster.jpg(No the movie is'nt b/w, oly this pic.)

Hellbilly

01-03-2004, 04:17 PM

Looks cool :)
It's on my (never ending) wishlist now. Thanks for the awesome pic.

dwatts

01-03-2004, 05:39 PM

Holy crap! That looks GREAT. Freaking great!

Dr_Acula

01-04-2004, 05:32 AM

This was the first movie I ever saw by myself. I was six years old, I think. I believe it was PG.

dwatts

01-04-2004, 08:39 PM

Dude, it must have scared you to death! :D

Truly, this look awesome.

dwatts

12-16-2004, 06:21 PM

Well, I bought this one - finally. HILARIOUS fun. On a par with Nightbeast, but without the gore (sadly).

The filmmaking is awful. Favorite scene, two people (one an amazing Las Vegas show guy - from Britain) sitting in a boat on the lake. It's broad daylight, clearly the sun is out. The woman looks up and says: "Look st the stars, I've never seen so many stars". Say what?!?!?! Was this supposed to be shot night for day? :D

These two have some other great dialog too, like when she tells us he's getting drunk and going on stage, and that this must stop: "I told you, I've drying out. I might be a little soggy for a while, but I'm drying out."

Later: "I've been thinking of changing our act". She replies, "Oh no! Not that sword box again, not while you're drinking!!!"

Then we have a seriously nutty subplot about a robber that has nothing to do with anything else in the film. However, it provides us with the most incompetent "car going over a cliff" scene I've ever seen. I've seen better depictions in Captain Scarlett, and that was done entirely with puppets.

The monster is also very funny indeed, it doesn't have legs, it has flippers. This gives it a comical look, like something from the Flintstones.

They also constantly change the size of the monster. Sometimes it's as big as an office block, sometimes it's only slightly bigger than a truck. It's dealt with (not a spoiler really) by a mini bulldozer. The blade on it moves up about four feet, yet it manages to cut into the NECK of this huge beast.

Oh, and the supposed life size mock up looks like a killer turd floating in the water.

Brilliant stuff, and I'm only scratching the surface.

ps: The comic relief element isn't too bad, but trust me, by the end of the film you're in such a downer over these two, you forget they were there to make you smile. Totally mean :D

BloodyBabe

12-16-2004, 06:43 PM

I could use this monster to come to where I work and have several snacks!! :p

Cotabato87

12-16-2004, 06:45 PM

This is probably the second movie I had ever seen, right after Star Wars as an 8 year old kid. I remember our local theater showing many b-grade horror flicks right around this time..the one bit o' gore I kind of remember is a severed head left over from a monster attack! Thanks for the memories. The good old days indeed.

dwatts

12-16-2004, 06:53 PM

Actually, the head is pretty damn good. I watched some of Return of Living Dead 2 after this one, and they juxtapose nicely, since the head in latter wakes up :)

VideoViolence

12-17-2004, 06:12 AM

I have the Rhino dvd. This is one hilarious movie. They should call it a comedy/horror. lol.

fceurich39

12-18-2004, 07:30 PM

alot of the reviews are bad for this movie but is it worth buying

Evil Dead Guy

12-18-2004, 07:47 PM

I sort of remember this one , I'm getting this .

Jimbo

12-18-2004, 08:02 PM

I got it in the horrible horrors collection.It's good popcorn fun! But other than that it is really not that good.Good idea just not executed to what it could be.

Damage

12-18-2004, 09:19 PM

http://www.sandiegohistory.org/exhibits/filmingsd/images/craterlakemonster.jpg

Great picture! I manage to catch this movie every once in a while on TV, love that stop-motion animation... Another title to add to my wishlist.

onebyone

09-01-2005, 02:56 AM

A search gone wrong lead me to discover this thread, which I somehow missed the first time around. I love this movie, but I had no idea it was on DVD. I must now get it ASAP.

VideoViolence

09-01-2005, 04:13 AM

I have the single release, not the one on those lame Horrible Horrors dvd sets. Those are ultra lame because they use tv/edited prints for most of those movies!!

Katatonia

09-01-2005, 04:58 AM

I have the single release, not the one on those lame Horrible Horrors dvd sets. Those are ultra lame because they use tv/edited prints for most of those movies!!

Aren't they the same disc contents as the older single editions? Rhino released quite a few DVD's that used edited versions before the sets.

Erick H.

09-01-2005, 05:45 AM

This ran at the local drive-ins' during the 70's,there were still a lot of old school giant monster films around then(EMPIRE OF THE ANTS,FOOD OF THE GODS etc.).Hows the picture quality on the dvd,whats the aspect ratio ?

knewby

09-01-2005, 02:12 PM

Crater Lake is shown in full frame but the picture quality is stunningly great. Bright vivid colors and crisp picture. Probably didn't look this good when it was on the drive-in screen which is where I first saw it too...Man I love these cheesy films from my youth. I just wish someone would put out a decent transfer of "Grizzly"................................Larry

shift

09-01-2005, 02:23 PM

I have the RHINO release that is up for sale. Like new.

$9.00 shipped USPS. Let me know if anyone is interested?

X-human

09-01-2005, 09:22 PM

I'm glad this thread got drug up, I think I bought it the first time around it was posted and now after the bump I went to go watch it. :D

I was rather surprised by how good it was. The pair of hicks typical in every movie like this are actually rather ammusing. Which is saying a lot from me because normally I hate those guys. The stop motion was very good considering the budget, they even had a front matte which is no easy feet. The puppetry's pretty much as bad as it gets though, which is too bad.

Was this mastering missing a couple of day for night filters? There were quite a few scenes where they indicate it's night and it's quite clearly day out. Like when the couple are on the boot at high noon and talk about the moonlight and all the stars...

Erick H.

09-02-2005, 05:45 AM

Hellbilly

09-13-2006, 05:20 PM

Finally gave this a spin and enjoyed it quite a bit. Lots of funny cheese and one hell of a sad ending :(

satans-sadists

09-13-2006, 06:02 PM

Definitely another monster movie to add to my must see list!

wago70

09-13-2006, 06:22 PM

Oh, it's a great film! Very entertaining. I thought it would be one of those oddities that don't deliver...well, there's plenty of monster action in this one. I find it: underrated.
I'd also love to see LOCH NESS HORROR.

Myron Breck

09-13-2006, 07:18 PM

Gotta put that puppy in my Netflix Q!!! Sounds great!

wago70

09-13-2006, 08:35 PM

I love how everyone puts themselves right in harms way. Perhaps it was the budget?

X-human

05-21-2011, 07:32 PM

Crater Lake Monster coming 5/25
http://www.rifftrax.com/vod/crater-lake-monster

http://www.rifftrax.com/files/iriffs-posters/craterlakemonsterweb.jpg

SaviniFan

05-22-2011, 02:49 AM

I love my Mystery Science Theater, but these guys have been more miss than hit with Rifftrax in my opinion. I find I enjoy Cinematic Titanic a lot more although their output isn't as much.

Suicide

05-22-2011, 03:11 AM

The problem I have with Rifftrax is they mostly do current blockbuster type movies. I'm not really interested in Harry Potter or Star Wars, then they go and do a Rifftrax for each of the movies in the series. I think them doing something like Crater Lake Monster or The Devil's Hand will probably be a lot funnier.

That's one thing Cinematic Titanic is doing right, they're doing low-rent crap exclusively. I wish they'd do less live shows and put out more DVDs though.