Three Torches (Out of Five)
I’ll be frank: any movie with a title like Dinocroc Vs. Supergator starts off with at least two torches on our five-torch rating scale.
I think SyFy knows that most genre fans think like this, which is why their SyFy Original Movie series keeps featuring movies with increasingly campy concepts and ideas.
Nutshell: how does this movie hold up against other recent SyFy movies? It’s much better that Mega Pirahna (which I found so terrible as to be unwatchable), but it’s not as good as Mothman. Storywise, it’s about as good as Megashark Vs. Giant Octopus (although, alas, the graphics aren’t quite as fun).
The movie is produced by famed movie exploitation pioneer Roger Corman (who also produced 2004’s Dinocroc and 2007’s Supergator, although I’m frankly not sure either have much to do with this movie).
On a remote tropical island, geneticists are experimenting with creating oversized vegetables when they’re forced by an evil industrialist to turn their attention to mixing the DNA of alligators, crocodiles, and dinosaurs. Soon the creatures get loose and –
Oh, hell, you really want me to recount the “plot”? Let’s just say that these creatures get loose and start killing people.
What’s interesting about this movie?
- It has some nice humor, with a lot of intentional jokes (women auditioning their screaming for a role in an upcoming horror movie, only to encounter dinocroc and begin screaming for real), and also a fair number of unintentional jokes (mostly the cheesy, video game-level CGI).
- It has the late David Carradine, in what must surely be one of his last roles. The leads are also appealing, especially Amy Rasimas and Corey Landis.
- It has lots of women running around in bikinis (but very few men, which doesn’t seem fair, but is pretty typical).
- It has some nicely explicit, but totally fake-looking gore as people get eaten aplenty.
It’s all very stupid and ridiculous, but because the movie knows it’s stupid and ridiculous, it’s mostly watchable.
But if SyFy wants my unsolicited advice regarding their whole series of “original” movies, it’s this: it’s time to shake things up. How many times now have we seen the genetic-experiment-gone-awry? How many times have we seen the arrogant industrialist dismiss the concerns of the earnest “hero” scientist? The long shadow of Jaws and its ilk is still falling over monster movies all these decades later.
I understand that when you’re working on an ultra-low budget, it’s easier to be in on the joke: then when people accuse your CGI of looking cheesy, you can say, “Yes! We meant it to be that way! Isn’t it hilarious?”
And it’s fine to lampoon or mock monster movie cliches, but at some point, the irony wears thin. Not only have we seen all the cliches a zillion times, we’ve now also seen all the satires and homages a zillion times.
Here’s what I think SyFy should do: forget the old, tired Roger Cormans of the world. Instead, go online and start looking for fresh new talent. Take pitches, with the explicit instructions that you want something new and different. Tell them: Go beyond the exploitation and satire. Show us what’s next in the monster movie genre.
Then pick the best pitches, give them a modest budget, and prepare to be dazzled.
Yes, I know SyFy recently announced a program where viewers will “collaborate” on an upcoming SyFy Original movie, voting online on various concepts and plot-lines, but this is just a cheap promotional gimmick. It’s not what I’m talking about at all.
If SyFy takes my advice, I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised. Better still, we viewers will be too.
Dinocroc Vs. Supergator airs Saturday, June 26, at 9 PM on SyFy.
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I’m also a Corman alumn. You are correct that his motives are cost related. But his decisions for hiring directors (and others) is talent based. Roger does not hire someone only because they work cheap. He has a talent for recognizing talent. (And yes, then he does exploit them :) ) And the reason the horror genre is tapped out is because the Majors and now doing what used to be considered Roger Corman “type” pictures on a big budget. So who is copying who?
For decades Roger Corman has provided a training ground for young filmmakers. The list of Corman alumnus is well known and legendary. It is true that Roger gives young filmmakers a break partly due to their willingness to work for very little money - but if that were such an egregious formula, as you implied, name me one other producer who has done the same, for as long as Corman, and turned out so many fine filmmakers, and was successful. Roger earned a special Oscar this year for his contribution to the industry. It was well deserved.
Finely, I would challenge you to seek out Corman graduates and ask their feelings about their time with Roger. For many of us, it was the most fun we ever had in the business.
Tony Randel
While I do appreciate the review(thank you), I felt compelled to write in to respond to your line “forget the old, tired Roger Cormans of the world.”
If not for people like Corman, the entire B-film Sci Fi explosion wouldn’t be happening today. This guy started it all more than fifty years ago, and he’s still going strong today.
Yeah, you’re absolutely right in saying that new people should be given a chance. Corman’s been doing that successfully for the majority of his career - bringing talented people up thru the ranks when no one else would give them a chance.
I’ve been around for awhile myself and heard a lot of novice pitches. Most of them are chock full of the same cliches you so don’t want to see anymore.
It’s tough to turn out anything on a low budget anymore, let alone something watch-worthy.
Best Regards,
Jim Wynorski
Writer/Director, DINOCROC VS. SUPERGATOR
PS: This film was indeed David Carradine’s last motion picture appearance. He died three weeks later before starting the picture in Thailand. He was a great guy and I don’t believe he took his own life.
Thanks for chiming in. As I said, there was much about your film that I enjoyed. And I agree with you about Roger Corman (and about his supporting younger filmmakers, although mostly out of cost-issues, not principle). But I also believe that the exploitation/horror homage genre is pretty much tapped out, and I don’t think he’s the one to lead us into a new “promised” land.
And I’m also aware that, yes, true originality is very, very rare. But I think SyFy has a real opportunity here with all the movies they’re greenlighting. But so far, I’m not seeing much risk-taking.
Keep us informed of future projects, and good luck!
thetorchonline@gmail.com
Bravo! I agree. Yes. Let the freshness begin. I got so tired of the zillion-times-over re-hashes, I can’t even try to watch this. Sounds… kinda… fun… if I’ve got the flu and can’t move off the couch, and am in a NyQuill haze. Sure. Maybe the NyQuillian hallucinations will improve the experience.
But… if the kid on YouTube who made the 3-minute PANIC ATTACK can get a deal with Sony… goodness me, there’s gotta be a few more out there. Please! I want some good, fun or– gasp!– even engaging and slightly thought-provoking stuff to watch!
I dig cheese, but when it’s ALL cheese, and regurgiated cheese. Yuck.
It’s time to start a petition.
Oh, man, I’m sooooo in.