James Wan directing remake of Creature From the Black Lagoon

Pass the popcorn!

07-23-24

This sounds like it might be... maybe not as bad as a lot of other remakes of classic Universal horror titles?

James Wan Takes on Iconic Horror with �Creature From the Black Lagoon� Remake

James Wan, a name synonymous with modern horror, is once again diving into the genre that made him a household name. After wrapping up his work on �Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,� Wan has wasted no time in lining up new projects. His next endeavor? A remake of the 1954 classic �Creature From the Black Lagoon� for Universal.

James Wan is no stranger to resurrecting classic horror with a fresh twist. His work on �Saw,� �Insidious,� and �The Conjuring� reshaped the genre for modern audiences. Partnering with screenwriter Will Beall, who previously collaborated with Wan on �Aquaman,� ensures that the new �Creature From the Black Lagoon� will be a thrilling ride. Beall's ability to weave compelling narratives is a perfect match for Wan's visionary direction.

KeyserCorleone

Registered User

07-23-24

OK, this is officially the best news you've delivered since your time here. I haven't even seen the original yet, but I always knew it deserved a remake. And JAMES WAN is a prime choice.

RichieRich

Registered User

07-29-24

A bit of a come down from James' previous endeavors as the original was as B as you can find.

skizzerflake

The Guy Who Sees Movies

07-29-24

B it was, but, as we all know, there are B's and there are B's. Gill Man was one of the "better" of those. I'm curious to see what Wan can do with it. It seems to me that you would not want to amp up the Gill Man too much, but on the other hand, what creature feature remake doesn't amp up the original?

I'll keep an open mind for now.

GulfportDoc

Registered User

07-30-24

I saw all 3 "Creature" movies in the theater as a kid, and loved them.

However modern horror films are not for me. I'll wait for the reviews and descriptions.

Hey, maybe Wan will make it into another bestiality movie like The Shape of Water...

KeyserCorleone

Registered User

07-30-24

Originally Posted by GulfportDoc

Hey, maybe Wan will make it into another bestiality movie like The Shape of Water...

That's Del Toro's second best, bro.

GulfportDoc

Registered User

07-31-24

Originally Posted by KeyserCorleone

That's Del Toro's second best, bro.

Here's some commentary from 5 years ago:

The Shape of Water(2017)

The film could best be described as an R-rated adult fairy tale. It has evidently garnered Hollywood's imprimatur as one of this year's "it" films, which will likely be reflected on Oscar night.

The acting and technical craft work were first rate, creating technicolor characters and spooky moods. There are Sally Hawkins as the lonely mute girl; Richard Jenkins as the girl's neighbor and confidant; Michael Shannon as the evil Colonel; Octavia Spencer as the girl's co-worker; and Michael Stuhlbarg as the soviet spy with a heart.

But the sole popularity of the film will depend upon it's emotional appeal to those captured by the poignant story of a poor mute girl who finds love and fulfillment with a humanoid amphibian; the Cinderella meets The Creature from the Black Lagoon aspect. For those focusing on the story line, it might seem more nearly like a cliche-ridden farce-- a DC Comics treatment of a fairy tale.

Being so similar to the melodrama of silent films, "Water" could have almost been shot without dialogue. We have the pitiful damsel, Elisa, wonderfully played by Sally Hawkins. Next is the Simon Legree character, Col. Strickland, who is overwritten to the extreme that anyone capable of that degree of sadistic viciousness could only be locked in an institution for the criminally insane. Michael Shannon outdoes himself in this role that is perfectly in his wheel house. Richard Jenkins as Giles, the other noteworthy fine portrayal behind Hawkins', provides another downtrodden character to befriend Elisa, and who we don't realize is the obligatory gay until another man recoils from his tender touch (the Neanderthal homophobe!).

Moving ahead to the talkie era, as the co-worker we have a Hattie McDaniel character ("You know ain't none of them men any good, honey!") played by Octavia Spencer. Rounding out the top five, Michael Stuhlbarg plays the mad scientist, Dr. Hoffstetler, who also doubles as a --what else-- evil Russian spy. If Hitchcock's belief is true that the better the villain the better the movie, then in a movie with a villain for the ages (and other nasties thrown in to boot) will be a shoo-in for greatness.

There will likely be two general reactions to this film. The first, like my wife's, representing the instinctual female point of view, will be an identification with the Elisa character, and an empathetic arousal over Elisa's finding tenderness and love from a beast who carries her away to happiness in the world's waterways. The second , like mine, might be a recognition that the fairy tale of a beast in shining armor has its tender side, but that the other facets of the story are ridiculous to the point of silliness. After all, if one is willing to take the love story aspect seriously then it's a likely that one could also take in stride the similar preposterous other portions. But if the entire premise seems ridiculous then none of it would be particularly digestible.

And finally, Hollywood has in recent years reached nearly to the rock bottom of sexual deviance and aberration themes. The only things left were bestiality and necrophilia. Evidently they've decided to normalize the former, and leave the latter for a future trump card. At least in Beauty and the Beast, the beast returns to human form, whereas in The Shape of Water we have full-on bestiality. We're left with the proposition that lonely introverted people can find emotional and sexual fulfillment with animals. And that its pursuit is acceptable and touching.

Hide your pets, folks!

Doc's rating: 7/10 for acting/crafts/technical; 3/10 for story; average 5/10

KeyserCorleone