Review of Humanoids from the Deep (1980) by Jason U — 21 Apr 2013

In a way, Jaws created a genre. It established a kind of visual and structural template. And this movie, to an extent, follows it.

On the other hand, Roger Corman was shooting monsters coming out of the water when Stevie Spielberg was a wee lad geeking out at the cinema.

These Humanoids... They'll come after you, whether you're near the water or not. They'll choke you. Bludgeon you. Bite you. Rape you. But, worst of all, they will get in your trash.

Fortunately, the way to stop them is no great mystery. You just shoot them a lot.

Of note: The party in the film's small town made me feel more sorry for the citizens than the monster attacks did. This despite a neck-break performance by the elderly outfit known as the Whitewater Boys.

Also of note: There's a toddler in a few scenes that is always legitimately upset, and may have been scarred for life.

Favorite scene? At the big Salmon Festival, a local radio deejay, Mad Man Mike Michaels is broadcasting live and interviewing "Miss Salmon." (You read that right.) His lines include:

"Come on out, folks. We're wavin' at people. We're doin' a whole lotta things." I refuse to believe this was scripted material.

This flick is fun! Some nice payoff's when shit gets real in the third act.

And, man, you gotta love that ending.