Who doesn't love genetically engineered animal hybrids? I love them, clearly the SyFy network does, and Roger Corman as well. B-movie genius Corman does take a production credit on the epic SyFy presentation "Dinocroc vs Supergator" and even contributes an inspired audio commentary for the DVD and Blu-Ray release. Unless you lack creative reasoning, I probably don't have to tell you what this movie is promoting. But the visual realization of these nightmarish entities is only a small selling point of this effective bit of bad movie mayhem. For my money, to make a classic bad movie legend--you need several important components: First, a wacky killing machine or two. Second, a maniacally deranged, but logically challenged, plot. And third, a cast giving you overwrought dialogue as if the fate of the world depended on it. Thus, using my completely arbitrary personal criteria, "Dinocroc vs Supergator" is a solid entry into the bad movie lexicon that misses being a highpoint in the genre.
Make no mistake, this is a horrendously bad movie--oh, but so delightfully awful. Strangely, while this ticks many of the boxes that would make it a ridiculous camp classic, the weakest element is the creatures and their less-than-epic showdown. My delight stems more from the human co-stars and the mind-boggling screenplay. Not just bad, epic bad. A few of my favorite moments:
1) An enigmatic hunter who cuts his arm in one scene to have it magically healed for the rest of the movie.
2) When creatures break out of a holding facility, the entire staff runs outside where the creatures are and run amok screaming hysterically.
3) A pool desk employee (so wooden) who single-handedly seems to be running a resort.
4) A subplot involving a Hollywood actor that gets lots of set-up for zero pay off.
5) A bloody mess is found by a waterfall, but the sheriff can't be bothered to go up there until "tomorrow." Meanwhile, two tourists get there right away!
6) The sheriff who doesn't investigate human carnage does answer a call about cattle. Wacky alien talk ensues.
7) A movie bus tour of Kauai? Really? People paid money to see a dilapidated hotel some stars may have stayed at?
8) Giant mushrooms.
But in the grand showdown, our heroes find the Dinocroc at an abandoned sugar factory where they plan to lure the Supergator. Why? There's only one way in and out, so they'll have to fight. The factory is in the middle of flat lands and open fields! One way in and one way out? Huh? The final act is not very impressive, but our human cast remains incredibly spry if not particularly believable. On the bad movie scale, this ranks about 3 1/2 stars due to my lack of enthusiasm for the creatures and the finale--but I'll round up for the nuttiest screenplay I've encountered in a while. KGHarris, 6/11.
