Humanoids from the Deep (1980) Review
Humanoids from the Deep (1980) Review
Noyo’s a sleepy little place, where nothing much happens. So why are people being attacked and killed by THINGS that come out of the water? The answer involves pollution and mutated sea life that’s developed a taste for death. As the ‘orrible humanoids lay siege to Noyo, it’s up to the great Doug McClure (The Land That Time Forgot; Warlords of Atlantis), to put a stop to their murderous rampages.
Directed by Barbara Peeters and an uncredited Jimmy T. Murakami HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP, released as MONSTER in Europe and Japan, and starring Doug McClure, is a mix of JAWS and ALIEN with uncredited executive producer Roger Corman’s B-movie values.
Originally offered to director Joe Dante, who turned it down, Corman felt that the version of the film that he was originally presented with needed more to appease the audience base it was intended for. Whilst he felt that Peeters had done a terrific job with death scenes he wanted to change the rape scenes from being offscreen or suggested, so second unit director James Sbardellati (who went on to direct DEATHSTALKER) was called upon to provide more explicit rape scenes.
The changes were not communicated to others involved in the film’s production and many of them were shocked by the finished film’s now very exploitative nature. Peeters was one of those that then asked to be disassociated with the film but their request was refused.
I can understand why as, aside from the needless and tasteless inclusion of rape scenes, this is an otherwise fun watch. There’s absolutely nothing new here bit what there is, on the whole, makes for a decent slice of monster-based hokum. And aside from the rape scenes and what sounds like Laurie Strode’s heartiest scream from Carpenter’s original HALLOWEEN on a loop at the film’s climax, there’s much to enjoy here. And in case you’re interested, the film was remade in 1996.
Currently available on Arrow Player
