Director: Barbara Peters (uncredited Jimmy T. Murakami)
Year: 1980
Country: USA
Alternate Titles: Monster; Beneath the Darkness
Genre: Creature Feature
Plot:
In the small town of Noyo, a series of strange events to the fish off the coast leads to the town calling in a scientist who finds that the attacks are the mutated offspring of failed genetic tests and teams up with a local fisherman to stop the creatures from mating with human women.
Review:
This is certainly one of the better creature features in Corman's collection. One of the film's better qualities is that the stellar pacing here results in plenty of action so you're never bored with this film. This starts out strong and doesn't let up with something happening almost every five minutes or less so this is a very action-packed film, whether it's an attack like the opening in the boat where the creature strikes and kills everyone on board through various means, the ambush in the cove or the later attack where they chase the nude woman along the beach all provide this with some solid action of some kind in the film.
Other scenes like the cannery attack, the creatures' attacking the townspeople as the discovery of the bodies slowly bring the full circle of what's going on or the group appearing at the creatures' hideout all manage to have great use here with a lot of action as well, with the highlight of the film undoubtedly being the ending attack on the carnival. The creatures appear en masse, over-powering the running humans and dragging them down to rape them while the creatures are being gunned down all over the facility gives this plenty to like while in conjunction with the simultaneous attacks being conducted as well as the final method of dealing with the creatures which are exceptionally fun.
There is also tons of gore thrown in for good measure, from having their throats ripped out, a person's back is ripped open, another has a leg amputated, another is gutted and the long claws are also seen ripping through flesh and bone, we get abundant gore throughout this one. The nudity is also abundant as well, featuring enough naked bodies to give any red-blooded male a dream woman for a while. It adds nicely to the exploitation-tinged storyline present here which is really appreciated for the most part. The last plus here is the fact that the Humanoids are very creepy and look like suitably evil creatures with the long, gangly arms, the large claws, the moss growing off their back and shoulders, and the face that looks suitably grotesque all providing plenty to like about this one.
There is only one complaint about the film. What ends up holding it down is that the cry that the creatures give is utterly annoying. Instead of making them seem scary, it got on my nerves, and that isn't something that a film should do. If they change the creatures' cry from what sounds like a scared mouse, this film would be a little better. Of course, some will find fault with the subject matter which is sometimes hard to get through due to the controversial nature of what's going on here, and with the cheesy low-budget nature popping up as another obstacle to get through it's got a few minor drawbacks but not enough to hold it down.
Overview: ****.5/5
One of the better Corman movies around, this one has quite a lot going for it as you're never bored with the film as it's very entertaining and only with a few minor flaws present. Definitely check this out if you love creature films, 80's horror flicks, and Corman fans will also want to see one of his better films while those turned off by the flaws present should heed caution here.
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