Humanoids from the Deep (1996)

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

~Spoiler~ Humanoids From the Deep is a remake of a film from 1980 that I haven't seen (yet). I can only imagine that it's better than this version. Here's the lowdown: The government (who else) has created fish men that escape and are able to survive in the ocean because of chemical dumping. Naturally, like fish men do, they like to eat people and mate with women. The only thing separating this from a Sci-fi Channel Original is the gore effects. They are nicely done and the only real stand-out of the picture. I want to say the acting caliber is better, but Robert Carradine was just in one of their crappy Sabretooth movies. Don't get me wrong, I like Robert Carradine, he's just been in some stinkers. Also showing up and slumming it are Mark Rolston (the guy was in Aliens for crying out loud) and Clint Howard (and to say this guy is slumming it should tell you something). Basically the government comes in and makes the situation worse so our band of heroes has to stop the fish men themselves. You've seen it before.

I recently watched this film, with only a vague memory of the original. I remember the original being very distasteful. However, this remake seemed far more professional in terms of its actors and the actual production. The opening scene reminded me of "Jurassic Park." Without giving anything away, creatures that are half fish and half man are loose in the waters of this small fishing town. Emma Samms plays the scientist who is there to stop the apparent killings. What ensues is a wonderful quest, where Robert Carradine, a father whose daughter goes missing, must work with the daughter's boyfriend, played by Justin Walker from "Clueless," to defeat the creatures and uncover the mystery as to why the creatures are taking all the women. Clint Howard plays a good police interrogator, and the best bad guy ever, Mark Ralston, who once raped Tim Robbins in "Shawshank Redemption," plays a great villain here, who by the end, you actually like and feel sorry for. I just saw Mark Ralston on CBS' "Hunter" movie, where he was also quite good. The direction of the actors in this "Humanoids" remake stands out too. Mainly, in terms of the quality acting and the big film feel, which on a Roger Corman picture I would think would be nearly impossible. In short, the better acting, cinematography, plot, and humor elevates this film above the first one. I recommend that those who like a good horror film check this one out.

After watching the 1980 schlock version, this picture looks like a masterpiece. The updated version has a terrific sense of humor about itself. The filmmaker gets the fact that man mating with fish is inherently silly and, while delivering some genuine scares, never forgets this. "Mimic" could have learned from this picture that humor in these horror flicks is essential. This film recently aired on the CBS late movie, which is how I saw it. I'm glad I did.

In the mid 90's producer Roger Corman did a series of re-makes of his previous movies for the Showtime cable network. Corman is a great low budget producer, but it does not really show here. They have cut back on all of the extreme gore and sex that made the first one a drive-in classic. All in all, worth a watch for only a true horror, or Roger Corman, fan.