The Hatching (2014)

Great Film overall

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Absolutely brilliant

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Returning back to his hometown, a young man who accidentally unleashed a vicious man-eating crocodile with his friends when he was a kid has started attacking and eating the villagers yet once they realize the crocodile isn't the only threat they head out to stop it.When this one works, it's due mainly to the fact that there's quite a lot to like here with the creature on the loose and stalking people. The opening sequence in the croc farm where it accidentally gets loose and turns on the kids in graphic fashion starts this off on a fine note, the creatures' rampage on the friends in the swamplands around town makes for a stellar series of chilling stalking scenes that delivers solidly and the group going out to first tackle the creature in the river gives this a solid outing that includes some fine action moments of them trying to use their plan to attack the creature which makes this one quite an enjoyable time. It also managed to have a great bit of fun afterward with the celebration at the town hall which keeps this one in a rather light and jovial setting, and once there keep on rolling through the second half where it gets the plot switchover into the cannibal slasher. This here picks up nicely in the final half due to the fine confrontations with the psychopathic duo in the swamplands where they all must break free to battle the new threat brought out at that time. Beyond the gore for the few kills, though, these here are all that work for this one since it does have some big problems. One of the main issues is the fact that there's just so little croc action throughout here that it really feels like a backseat character in its own film with the ease with which it's captured and then summarily dismissed for the cannibal duo. That storyline takes over the final half hour of the film without having the croc at all involved which does affect this one enough that it really lowers the film by really downplaying the central aspect it had spent so long establishing and throwing this side-plot that only had a few minor mentions beforehand into the main closing section of the film in its place. That limits the croc to even less screen time in an already cramped section here as this one hardly ever features the creature when it's the main point anyway as the slack pacing keeps it off- screen for long sections of time with only those few brief lively attacks to punctuate the time until that switchover which drops off even more, especially with the laughable duo brought to bear here which lowers that story even more. Lastly, the film's other problem is the special effects for the croc, which is so rubbery and lifeless that it really takes a lot of fear out of the creature with its fake creation quite prominent throughout here. These really hold this one back overall.Rated R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, Brief Nudity, violence against animals and graphic scenes of violence against children.

I've read some ridiculous critic reviews comparing this movie unfavourably with Shaun of the Dead, which cost at least five times as much to make and didn't include the added distraction of kids and animals in the cast, for that alone the director should be commended! This movie isn't intended as serious horror but as a Brit-style humour-fest of ridiculous characters in ridiculous circumstances, plus animals, animatronics and kids. Many seasoned directors wouldn't take on that task with a $1M budget let alone a director in his first feature. The humour will either work for you or not and the acting is certainly better than the first two Harry Potter movies!The cinematography by Gerry Vasbenter is sumptuous for a low budget movie, with moody shots of the Somerset Levels and some great river scenes. Sound is excellent and Jon Cameron's bouncy score sets expectations early on. Alistair Crocker's sound mix is remarkably good for a movie at this budget level. Michael Anderson's ambition is commendable but the cast is always going to be a compromise at this level.Highlight of the cast is the lovable Georgia Henshaw who moved effortlessly between fun party girl and truly horrified almost-victim and extremely good value for whatever they paid her for the part. The interplay between Jack McMullen as Russell and Danny Kirrane as Lardy was measured and well delivered by both. I hope we see more of them. Justin Lee Collins was essentially himself but didn't detract too much.All in all I enjoyed it for what it is - a simple piece of entertainment, not without flaws but remarkable technicals at this budget level.

The Hatching is a weird but watchable horror spoof, from the UK.This film is so indescribably odd, its actually quite hard to review. Imagine, for a moment, a film script about a rustic village, a spot of serial killing, with a crocodile or two, throw in, just for fun. That's what you get and its such an exotic and implausible mix, on a certain level, it actually works. The standard of acting is reasonable, if not exceptional. The characterizations are for the most part, on the money but that's not to say there are not some noticeable shortcomings. The story meanders, more than a little and the characters don't really feel "complete". There's also a real lack of meaningful dialogue and whilst some opportunities for rustic Brit humour are taken up, just as many are missed. In short, not a bad film. Its quite watchable but nothing special either. Its a shame too, because with wittier, more concise scripting, it could have been more. Six out of ten from me.

Crocodile movie with very little crocodile, screen deaths, but tried to copy Lake Placid as much as possible.In order to understand the copy cat reference you'll have to watch it, but that's a sin right there, as there is no reason to do so. Even tho it is a short one, it seems to last forever, and the ending just goes on and on. The acting is amateur, the camera is weak, almost no crocodile action, and some gore coming from different directions.It was a complete waste of time. I don't get the comedy part so much, I guess it just couldn't take itself serious. And the ending. That part was truly unbearable!Cheers!