Creature features have been a mainstay of B-films for decades, as we’re constantly fascinated by the question of what happens when mankind is no longer master of the Earth. First-time director, but longtime FX guru, Michael Lantieri (Jurassic Park) and screenwriter Hans Bauer (Anaconda) both know the nature-run-amok formula well, but extend Komodo (1999, 90 minutes) to a superior level of smaller-budget filmmaking.
There’s a lonely island off the coast of North Carolina, and on this island, a hippy tosses some stinky Komodo Dragon eggs along the roadside. About 20 years later, a family of three plan to spend their summer there, but only young Patrick (Kevin Zegers) lives through the first night. What he witnesses is SO frightening, his memory of it is blocked, and a well-meaning shrink (Jill Hennessy) decides the best thing to do is to take him BACK to the scene of the tragedy — not knowing the island is infested with hungry, 15-foot Komodos. An oil company called Pontiff is largely responsible, as they so polluted the environment, that all the dragons’ natural food sources died, leaving people as lizard chow du jour.
Notables: No breasts. Five dead bodies. Six dead beasts. Sign stealing. Station wagon munching. One doggie snack. Car crash with rollover. Deadly drool.
Quotables: Patrick isn’t hopeful about the creatures’ intentions, "I think they’re contesting our place on the food chain." Denby explains what Komodos DON’T chew on, "Anything faster than they are I guess. And, uh, raisins. They don’t eat raisins." Victoria utters those classic and often fatal words, "Should we split up?"
Time codes: We’re shown EXACTLY where this movie is headed (13:05). The first clear look at a great big Komodo (38:30). Oates emotes (1:01:00). The thrilling flare-gun finale (1:20:26).
Final thought: A welcome surprise! Outstanding, skillfully-paced creature feature with honest shocks and vicious baddies. Rivals similar genre entries with MUCH larger budgets.