Director Stuart Gordon is best known for the RE-ANIMATOR, a zombie like flick that played for laughs as much as for scares. This film, which is based on two H.P. Lovecraft short stories, follows Paul (Ezra Godden, TV’s BAND OF BROTHERS), his girlfriend Barbara (Raquel Meroño, THE MARK) and friends Vicki (Birgit Bofarull, SECOND NAME) and Howard (Brendan Price, THE NAMELESS) as they sail off the coast of Spain.
A violent storm quickly kicks up and their boat crashes against the rocks. Vicki is injured and Paul and Barbara head into shore to get help. They quickly discover that the town in inhabited by fish-like mutants. In Paul’s attempts to escape, he meets Ezequiel (Francisco Rabal, SORCERER), the town drunk and only surviving human, and Uxía (Macarena Gómez, PLATILLOS VOLANTES), a young woman who Paul dreamt about as a mermaid.
The film works because it sets up some truly tense and frightening moments. The creepy feel of the location and the villains is perfect. The film also works as a test for a horror fan’s film knowledge. The film references tons of classic horror films from FREAKS to the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE to NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. As well people familiar with Stephen King will see similarities to his work. (This may be due to the fact that King was influenced by Lovecraft.) It also has classic monster movie elements as well as an all out gore scene and EVIL DEAD moment.
It’s a haunting and intriguing tale that really should be checked out by all fans of horror or anyone who wants a solid creep filled night.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
