Superhero Film Week: Swamp Thing

Welcome back boys and girls to another helping of Superhero Film Week.  I thought I would point out the differences to the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) ratings from the early 80’s to current.  The Christian Morality campaign was in high swing and felt films needed to be rated by the government to cut down on violence and nudity since Hollywood wasn’t doing their jobs according to these yahoos.   With stricter clauses inserted the ratings for the next film I am reviewing would be rated R rather than the PG rating it was given in the day.  Why would that be on a comic book film you ask?  Well DC Comics had more mature collections as well including this very character I am going to babble on and on about.   So grab those hip waders, watch for alligators and do not bring your evil here.   This is Swamp Thing.

No hitchhikers!!!

Dr. Anton Arcane: A man who loves gives hostages to spoiler.

Based on the DC Comics horror series, House of Secrets; a tragic tale of a scientist striving only to better the world and humanity was met with a near fatal end.  A new metamorphosis on life if you will and this translated to a later series known as Swamp Thing.  Director Wes Craven (The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Night Visions and Scream) embraced the terror and conflict side of this comic book and brought it to life.

Must not stare at cleavage...maybe a glance.

Government agent Alice Cable (Adrienne Barbeau of Escape from New York, The Fog, Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death, Batman the Animated Series, The Drew Carey Show and God of War III) has been assigned to protect a pair of scientists Dr Alec Holland (Ray Wise of Robocop, Knots Landing, Twin Peaks, The Chase, Ressurection Blvd., and Reaper) and Linda Holland (Nannette Brown of Swamp Thing and My Boyfriend’s Back) because of the practicalities and applications of Holland’s formula.  A formula that allows both plant and animal to survive and adapt even thrive in the harshest of conditions.  

Scalp massage?

Of course with every good intention something wicked lurks behind it as a rival scientist Anton Arcane (Louis Jordan of Letter from an Unknown Woman, Gigi, Made in Paris, To Commit a Murder and Year of the Comet) and his army of mercenaries, shoot just about everyone involved, torch the place like a Vietnamese village and make off with Holland’s notebooks.  Alec falls into the swamps coated in his formula and on fire.  

Cable escapes and invades the mercs while trying to call for help and she sees a 6 foot 5 plant creature emerge from the swamps and swat Arcane’s bully boys around like they were house flies.  As she heads for cover the creature acknowledges her name and makes known that he is Holland. This now towering plant humanoid seeks revenge on Arcane.

Now I have just a few comments about the movie.  It does have the 1950’s atomic mutation feel of a monster film yes but the source material gave that option.  The classic struggle of good vs. evil and for all its flaws Louis Jordan was an exquisite villain and his right hand man Ferret (David Hess of The Last House on the Left, Hitch Hike, House on the Edge of the Park, Nutcracker, Zombie Nation and Cabin Fever) is the personification of scumbag.  He just comes off as this leering rapist/murderer that probably savaged many a village during that lovely war. 

Made ya a convertible there, chief!

Poor Swamp Thing (Dick Durock of Coast to Coast, Braker, Silverado and Swamp Thing the TV Series) had to be melting in his mostly thick rubber suit trudging through the swamps and not falling on his face was a real compliment to his balance.  And no we shant speak of the unfortunate sequel by Jim Wynorski.  One last tidbit is Friday the 13th famed composer Harry Manfredini did the composure for this film as he was a regular working with Wes Craven projects.