Jack Arnold
1954
Not since Frankenstein has a Universal monster been so misunderstood. The excellent "big bang" sequence that opens the picture explains it all before the story even gets rolling: we're dealing with a creature unknown to man. Unlike the Frankenstein monster however, this beast came from nature, undetected in its Black Lagoon since the birth of man.
In the spirit of discovery a team of ichthyologists plans to investigate the remains of a bizarro humanoid fossil found in the inhospitable jungles of South America. Their desire to advance science and strike it rich with a new discovery leads them straight into the stinking guts of the Amazon. Inevitably the impetuous, pipe-smoking interlopers get more than they bargain when they disrupt the ancient fishman's tropical idyll.
Purely based on its underwater photography this film is worth its weight in gold. The dopey line delivery and hackneyed themes are silenced below the surface, leaving only graceful motion, beautiful environments, elevated drama, and woman/fishman romance. The sharky blonde businessman's utter greed makes him a great asshole in contrast to the noble scientists. This speargun-toting trainwreck is so devoid of common sense and humanity that he makes the creature look like a prince. As for the creature, like Derek Zoolander he's only got "one look," but seeing as how he can get pig-stuck with several spears and still raise hell his inexpressiveness is forgiven.
By this point the gothic horror cycle had ended and science fiction was all the rage. Universal made good with this classic by taking its tried and true monster ethic and applying it to the genre zeitgeist. The result is a film that feels like a Universal horror film but with a vibrant, intriguing monster that runs circles around a musty, castle-bound Dracula.
Review by Brett A. Scieszka
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