Greetings, and welcome back to October Horror Fest! Before we begin, take a look at that date. YES, my friends, we are officially halfway through. This is SO insane to me I honestly can’t wrap my head around it. It really makes the Final Chapter of Horror Fest seem WAYYY closer than I want it to be, doesn’t it? Seriously though, thank you, dear readers, for sticking with me all this day. 16 DAYS REMAIN, and I will try my hardest to make them the spookies, most exhilarating, and best quality articles I can produce. For now, with all the sentimental talk aside, let’s dive into one of the FIRST sci-fi horror films ever created, and one of the LAST Universal Monster films. It’s been a LONG time since I’ve really dived deep into classic horror. In fact, the last time I delved deep into the world of classic horror was WAYYYY back in Horror Fest 2023! Hold onto your hats, dear readers, as we venture back in. Without further ado, sit back, relax, turn off the lights, grab some Candy and Popcorn, and let’s review…
Creature from the Black Lagoon
Our film begins with a VERY 1950s presentation about the beginning of the universe and of Earth, and something called the “Black Lagoon”. Our adventure REALLY begins with a research team in the Amazon Rainforest discovering the fossil of some creature with a skeletal being WITH webbed fingers. The finding seems to date back to the Devonian period (don’t worry I have no clue what the Devonian period is either), and may provide a link between the evolution of land and sea animals. (By the way, I LOVE how 50s movies dialogue works. Like, there is so much exposition in every line it’s so funny). We are introduced to our boy Dr. Carl Maia, the leader of the expedition. He goes to the nearby Marine Biology institute in Brazil to obtain the help of a colleague, while he entrusts protection over the camp to his assistants, Luis and Tomas.
Carl eventually makes his way to the institute, and meets up with his friend (and former student apparently), Dr. David Reed. David practices in the study of aquatic life and fish, so he’s a perfect addition to Carl’s team. Alongside David is his girlfriend and fellow scientist Kay Lawerence. Our trio now set out (BY BOAT BTW) to David’s boss, Dr. Mark Williams. He’s a bit of a Scrooge Mcduck, so he doesn’t want to fund an expedition to the Amazon. However, after convincing that the research is in the betterment of science, he caves, and tells the research team to find the remainder of the fossilized skeleton. However, while Carl was out shmoozing for friends and money, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON appeared. He is known as Gill-Man, so that’s what we’re gonna call him. He seems to be from the same species as the fossil, and shows up at the camp. He (obviously) scares Carl’s assistants, so Gill-Man takes it upon himself to KILL THEM. !?!?!?!
Back in the Amazon, our group climbs aboard and sets sail on the Rita, a small boat that they operate themselves. It’s captained by a man named Lucas. Here, while I’m already listing off names, let’s get everyone down, shall we? David, Carl, Mark, Kay, and Edwin Thompson (another scientist, and yes I really really want to make Edwin and David jokes here). The second our group arrives back at Carl’s camp, we see the devastation that happened. Everyone is shocked, and Lucas tries to explain the situation by saying a Jaguar killed the two men. However, not everyone buys that (for good reason). EIGHT DAYS LATER (yeah apparently the research team has been out in the forest for eight days and they don’t really explain it), all of their excavation into the surrounding terrain has found no more pieces of the original fossil. Beaten and tired, our boy Mark is on the edge of abandoning the search. However, David steps back in, giving probably the most insane excuse for bad luck I’ve ever seen. David says that thousands of years ago, a part of the embankment of the river where the hand was found earlier washed downstream due to erosion and natural factors like such. He NOW believes that the river empties into a Lagoon (hmmmm), and that they can find the rest of the skeleton there. Lucas, a local, knows the area well. He refers to the Lagoon as the “Black Lagoon” (NAME DROP), and that if explorers ever find their way there, they never return. With no other option, our group sets sail for the Black Lagoon, as we find out that Gill-Man has been watching them this whole time…
Now, we get into our MAIN plot point of the film. Gill-Man (besides being a homicidal monster) is OBSESSED with Kay. In fact, he’s so obsessed with the sight of her that he follows the boat all the way downstream to the Black Lagoon. Once our group finally makes it to their destination, David and Mark go undersea diving to look for rock samples (this looks absolutely amazing btw and it really shocks me that this film was made in 1954, the suit on Gill-Man looks AMAZING as well). Kay then decides to venture down into the depths (probably not the best idea but whatever), as she is pursued by Gill-Man as she swims (the cinematography is AMAZING). She doesn’t notice our boy the creature (of course), but it certainly notices the ship, as it briefly gets caught in the net. However, it uses its claws to break out, revealing itself in a VERY obvious manner. As the day goes on, however, the encounters with Gill-Man get worse and worse and WORSE, WITH A FEW CREW MEMBERS MEETING THEIR DOOMS. NOT GOOD! During the night, it even attacks our girl Kay, only to be stopped by the crew and locked in a cage on the boat. However, later in the night, it breaks out of its cage, and gets into a BRAWL with Edwin. It wounds our boy Ediwn, but he hits it right back with a lantern. Although Edwin is very hurt, the creature has been driven back. After everyone wakes up, David (very smartly) says that the expedition must be given up, and they have to sail back to society. However, Mark, who is the LAST person we would expect, is now obsessed with taking down Gill-Man, and forces the crew to stay.
Even through Mark’s objections, most of the crew are able to get the ship running and heading towards the exit to the Lagoon, only to realize Gill-Man has trapped them with fallen logs. Everyone gets out and tries to remove the logs, as we get a HORRIFIC scene, even for 1950s standards. Mark heads down into the depths ALONE to capture Gill-Man, and gets absolutely MAULED, resulting in his death. Everyone is SHOCKED and appalled, and the creature takes this opportunity to get on board, jump Kay, and bring her underwater with him. The creature heads down into the depths, where a cavern awaits (probably its lair, and HOLY it looks good for 1954). Our boys (David, Lucas, Carl) are hot on its tail as they all descend the Black Lagoon’s waters. Eventually, David makes it down first, and fights the monster HEAD ON. However, he doesn’t need to panic, as Lucas and Carl arrive with their guns, and shoot the monster SEVERAL times. It begins to run and walk around seemingly dazed, until it makes its way out of the caves. Our group watches as it heads into the water, and perishes from its injuries. We get one final shot of David and Kay, holding each other, as we transition to black…
THERE WE HAVE IT! Guys, I know this one was a little short, and I apologize for that! I honestly just thought it would be really cool to venture back into the world of classic films, and after how long the articles have been, it provides us BOTH with a little breather. However, I have some GOOD ones lined up for the second half of Horror Fest, and believe me dear readers, I promise I won’t disappoint. Have a good night my friends, and I hope you enjoyed it! And remember, as always, fear the waters…