The Crater Lake Monster
The Crater Lake Monster

Movie spotlight

The Crater Lake Monster

1977
Movie
85 min
English

The heat of a meteor crashing into the lake incubates a prehistoric egg, which grows into a plesiosaur-like monster that terrifies the community.

Insights

IMDb4.4/10
Director: William RotslerGenres: Horror, Sci-Fi, Monster

Plot Summary

A plesiosaur, long dormant in Crater Lake, is awakened by seismic activity and begins a reign of terror. Local authorities, including a skeptical scientist and a determined deputy, race against time to stop the creature before it can claim more victims. The film culminates in a dramatic confrontation with the prehistoric beast.

Critical Reception

The Crater Lake Monster is widely regarded as a low-budget, B-movie creature feature that garnered minimal critical attention upon its release. It is often cited for its campy charm and earnest, albeit flawed, execution of a classic monster movie premise. Audience reception tends to be mixed, with fans of the genre appreciating its earnestness, while others find its special effects and pacing to be dated.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its nostalgic B-movie appeal and classic monster trope.

  • Criticized for its dated special effects and slow pacing.

  • Enjoyed by fans of creature features for its earnest, if unsophisticated, attempt at the genre.

Google audience: Google users appear to have limited reviews for this film, but those available often point to its status as a cult classic within the monster movie genre, appreciated for its camp value and historical context rather than cinematic quality.

Fun Fact

The film's relatively limited budget led to the use of stop-motion animation and puppetry for the monster, which, while ambitious for its time and budget, is often highlighted for its distinct, somewhat primitive look.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Now then - where to start. It would be easy to just rip it to shreds. It's rubbish - on just about every level. For reasons that are not immediately clear, it was digitally remastered (if, indeed, it was ever "mastered" in the first place) ...

Wuchak

Wuchak

RELEASED IN 1977 and written & directed by William R. Stromberg, “The Crater Lake Monster” details events in the high country of central California after a meteor strikes the eponymous (fictitious) lake and incubates a prehistoric egg, whic...