Frogs

Even though I watched Shark Night on Tuesday, it is Creature-Feature Friday. So, why not Frogs?

Thinking of frogs doesn't really evoke fear, in my opinion. Humans have a fear of the unknown and of dangerous things. If it wasn't for Jaws and mass media reporting the small amount of fatal shark attacks every year, we probably wouldn't be as afraid of them. But no one has a fear of frogs. At least not in the same sense. (I'm afraid of the damage introduced frog species have on native populations of other species.) They are not big scary predators like sharks, at most you may die from eating or touching one that has poisonous skin. So what is so scary about this movie? Nothing really, but it isn't just the frogs on this island in Florida that go on a killing spree. There are snakes, lizards, spiders, an appearance by an alligator and even the birds get in on the action. Oh, but the best is the snapping turtle. Not totally out of left field, but did not see that one coming. However, I mostly wanted to watch this movie for Ray Milland and Sam Elliott. Mr. Milland had been in some great movies, Dial M for Murder to name one, and Sam Elliott is sort of an iconic Western actor, that I would not imagine seeing in a horror movie, especially one about frogs.

I admit, I think he's a hunk here

Almost unrecognizable without his mustachioed face, Sam Elliott is sort of the hero. The film opens with him (Pickett Smith is the character) paddling in his canoe taking pictures of animals. When he takes a picture of a frog the title of the movie is displayed and the horrible, creepy music starts.

Commence the horrendous music!

I almost stopped watching it just because of the music in the beginning. It was like listening to strong gale winds beating barren tree branches against a rickety shack with aluminum siding. It was unpleasant. Luckily all of the music in the film is not as jarring. Pickett also documents some nasty looking pollution in the swamp. Later he joins some rich folk on their private island and is introduced to Grandpa (Jason) Crockett (Milland). A crotchety old man in a wheelchair, he explains that there appear to be more frogs on the island than usual and we find out the family is gathered there for the fourth of July holiday, which is also Grandpa's birthday.

Ray Milland

Well, family members are picked off, one by one as the animals retaliate against the humans for killing them and destroying their environment. This is where I began to delve into comparing the frogs and other creatures to American Revolutionaries, as they are fighting against the oppressive humans on Independence Day. Right?! Anyway, the frogs appear to be the catalyst and the generals of the attacks; throughout the film they are watching and commanding the other animals. At least, I like to think they are since there were so many shots of frogs and no frog related carnage till the end. The animals are smart too because they don't just flat out "attack." At one point some monitor lizards and geckos kill a guy in a greenhouse by knocking over bottles of poison, and trapping him inside. All real animals were used and aside from the fake blood here and there (and some rubber snakes, etc), there weren't too many special effects. Which was good, otherwise it may have been too cheesy.  

There were many shots of the frogs, like this one, throughout

All in all, I liked the film. But it was more just alright than good, so I give it 2.5-skulls.

The cartoon frog at the end

There's the Sam Elliott face we all know and love!

My rating: