Underrated ‘90s Horror Gem: Lake Placid Now Streaming on Shudder

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One of the underrated horror films from the 20th century, “Lake Placid” (1999), which received mixed reviews back then, is now streaming on the popular horror platform Shudder. This platform is known for its love among horror enthusiasts and is also adding other titles such as “Orca”, “Cujo”, “The Ruins”, and “Swallow”. It might be worth revisiting this film to appreciate it more today.

This movie features Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, Betty White, Oliver Platt, Brendan Gleeson, Adam Arkin, and Meredith Salenger in its cast. Steve Miner, known for “Friday the 13th Part 2,” directed it, while David E. Kelley, a TV legend behind shows like “Big Little Lies” and “Chicago Hope,” penned the script. The story revolves around a town besieged by a colossal prehistoric crocodile, with a mixed team banding together to quell this menacing creature, as per Rotten Tomatoes’ summary of the film.

When an enigmatic beast brutally slays a man in a lake within Maine, Jack Wells (Pullman), the local wildlife officer, investigates this peculiar incident alongside Sheriff Hank Keough (Gleeson) and visiting archaeologist Kelly Scott (Fonda). Pursuing leads from a tooth left behind by the beast, they eventually track down the monster, a colossal and ferocious reptile with an insatiable appetite for destruction. Can these characters manage to stop this crocodile-like creature?

Despite enjoying a moderate box office debut, the film Lake Placid was not well-received by critics. Roger Ebert even included it in his list of the year’s worst movies. Currently, it holds a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes among critics, while its audience score is an even lower 37%. However, one might question whether these scores accurately reflect the film’s merit.

Reflecting back, the film isn’t terribly poor in quality and manages to deliver as a campy B-movie blend of horror and comedy. The plotline involving an old lady feeding crocodiles is downright laughable. Yet, what truly shines are the exceptional special effects, a testament to the masterful skills of producer Stan Winston, who oversaw the creature effects. Although some dialogue and characters may not resonate as strongly today, they do little to detract from the enjoyment of a movie that embraces the “so bad it’s good” archetypes wholeheartedly.

‘Lake Placid’ Strangely Began a Horror Franchise

Surprisingly, the allure of Lake Placid was strong enough to prompt the studio to create a sequel. Lake Placid 2 initially aired on the Sci-Fi Channel (now known as Syfy), and shortly after, it became available for home viewing. The release pattern for Lake Placid 3 was similar, airing on Syfy before being released on DVD. Lake Placid: The Final Chapter, a nod to part 4 of the Friday the 13th series (also known as The Final Chapter), followed the same path, debuting on Syfy before landing on DVD.

The films Lake Placid and Anaconda crossed paths in a movie, blending elements from crocodile-themed movies and the Anaconda series. Robert Englund, known for his character in part 3, starred in this fusion film. The last installment was Lake Placid: Legacy in 2018. Despite its low-budget status, the franchise is still recognized for its comedy-horror style, and notorious for its less-than-stellar special effects – except for the original movie, of course.

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2025-07-06 02:35