On DVD

Lake Placid

Reviewed by Christopher Null on Jul 14 1999
DVD Release Date: January 11, 2000
Lake Placid

Rated by critic:

Rated by users:

Rated by you:

Photo Gallery


Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Christopher Null founded Filmcritic.com in 1995.
full bio of Christopher Null
It's crocodile season, opening the hunting period on an animal that has been woefully underused in the horror movie litany to date. But unlike most horror/thriller pics, this one features a script by David E. Kelley, best known as the creator of TV's Ally McBeal.

So there's some promise here. But does this monster movie rise above recent crap like Anaconda or Jaws 3-D? A little. It's better than Anaconda, anyway.

High concept plot: Giantest crocodile on earth stalks Black Lake (not Lake Placid) in Maine. When a guy gets eaten, local fish and game warden (Pullman) and New York paleontologist (Fonda) come to investigate. Croc chase ensues, with help from 'eccentric millionaire mythology professor' Platt and local yokel sheriff Gleeson.

About the only thing that rescues Lake Placid from drecksville is Kelley's flair for sarcastic dialogue, which punctuates just about every line from the mouth of every character - and is most notably funny coming from Betty White (local eccentric lake dweller). But witty repartee a five-star movie does not make.

Coming in at about 80 minutes running time, witty repartee does make for a passable way to spend an hour. Too bad they couldn't have just worked this plot into an episode of Ally McBeal.

Platt hears DUH DUH... DUH DUH...

Newest Oldest Most Replies Most Liked

About This Film from the AMC Movie Guide

Buy the DVD

Don't Miss

More from AMC Sites