Tags
1980's, Ann Turkel, Anthony Pena, Barbara Peeters, Doug McClure, Horror, Humanoids from the Deep, Science Fiction, Vic Morrow
Film Title
Humanoids from the Deep
Director
Barbara Peeters
Starring
- Doug McClure as Jim Hill
- Ann Turkel as Dr. Susan Drake
- Vic Morrow as Hank Slattery
- Anthony Pena as Johnny Eagle
A gloriously sleazy and shocking sci-fi/horror, Humanoids from the Deep is not what you’d call subtle or thought-provoking viewing. Yet that isn’t what it promises; it promises a nasty, low-budget ride of creatures, blood and boobs that it delivers a plenty. And you can really feel the stamp of executive producer Roger Corman on this flick.
In the fishing village of Noyo, strange events begin happening . Firstly, a boat carrying many fisherman explodes after capturing what appears to be a giant creature. Then all of the dogs in the town are found slain. It all appears to link to a local cannery company introducing a growth hormone to salmon that would help the produce. Jim Hill is a fisherman who occupies a middle ground in the town, as animosity has grown between two parties. On one side there is the Native American population, headed by the young Johnny Eagle, who are opposed to the cannery. On the other side, there is the horribly racist Hank Slattery, who blames the recent rash of horror on Johnny. Yet the creature from the beginning is far from the last and attacks become more prominent, though many don’t live to tell the tale. The assailants are large slimy creatures that emerge from the water.It transpires that the creatures are intent on mating with the women they come across, while eliminating men among the way. Jim decides to take on the threat that is posed to everyone, enlisting the help of the pretty Dr. Susan Drake, a visiting scientist and Johnny. Susan through research discovers that the experimental procedure that she headed is the direct influence on the horrific creatures. The genetically modified salmon escaped after the experiment and were eaten by a larger fish, mutation began which spawned them into the ravenous and depraved humanoids of the title. Yet with the town about to celebrate the opening of the company with a carnival, horror looms as the creature’s head straight towards them, looking for more women to mate with and more men to slaughter. Now it is up to Jim to save the day as the carnival is about to turn bloody.
What may surprise some is that this exploitative and graphic film is directed by a woman, Barbara Peeters. Bough despite this surprise, she delivers the exciting goods of the film with a crisp pace and plenty of good touches. In an interesting footnote it should be stated that Peeters disagreed with Corman about bringing in more nudity and blood than she had featured. This ended up in Corman hiring an uncredited director to feature more scenes of this nature. I have to say that both directing views are actually pretty good, with Peeters bringing the suspense to the picture and the graphic blood and bare breasts showcasing the sleazy B-movie style that the film was clearly going for. It all fulfills the promise of the outrageous title that becomes an eventful monster movie of low-grade but thrillingly exciting proportions. I think with a movie like Humanoids from the Deep, it depends on your tolerance and squirming threshold.
If you want an intelligent film, check those feelings at the door with this one as it is frequently brainless and never takes itself too seriously in the slightest. The creatures are strange to look, but like the rest of Humanoids from the Deep it has that underlying not at all serious quality that makes the, more goofy that outright frightening. An impressively orchestral score is provided by James Horner, that brings a level of class to a film that is the complete opposite.
The cast is competent in roles that don’t require much in the way of development, though they are still fun to watch. Doug McClure is assured as the Every man hero who decides to take action when everyone else is afraid to do so. He’s the one who keeps the thrills ticking along with his no-nonsense attitude. Ann Turkel is the slightly cold but intelligent scientist, who becomes worried about the repercussions of the creatures on a large-scale. Vic Morrow makes for a nasty bully in the film and plays the part to the hilt. I like Anthony Pena as Johnny as he was a dab hand with a shotgun which comes in extremely handy as the attacks become more frequent and his morals are very much intact.
An almost gleefully nasty yet entertaining creature feature, Humanoids from the Deep is for those who don’t mind scuzzy viewing and movies that don’t require the use of the mind.
vinnieh, I must say I missed this one when it crawled out from beneath the depths of the sea.. But, I did however watch and made it to the end of “Killer Tomatoes… Now, my dear friend have you seen that one, before? If, you have…Then I truly commend you… grinning … 🙂 Going to see if Netflix carries this one.. Take care and great blog as usual… Oh and I must catch up with your spooky posts for October.. be back soon…..
Laura 🙂
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Killer Tomatoes? What an unusual title Laura. Thanks for your comment, always appreciated here.
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Have you seen Killer Tomatoes?
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No I haven’t yet. Never heard of it until you mentioned it.
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Well if you want to laugh and can make it to the end ,,, let me hear what you think of it… lol
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I’ll see what I can do for you Laura.
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I’m sorry to say that my Canadian Netflix does not carry Humanoids from the deep.. But, you did a wonderful post on this flick so I’ll have to settle for that ..
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I hate it when Netflix doesn’t have a film you are looking for. I’m sure in time it will be on there though.
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The Canadian version of Netflix has much less than the American version I’m told.. So, yes perhaps later they will add more content..
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Well I’ve got the English one and recently it has actually been pretty good on movies.
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“Return of the Killer Tomatoes” is one of George Clooney’s finest hours!
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George Clooney was in a movie called that? Wow, how times have changed.
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Okay. I was cracking up just reading the title ad your “blood and boobs” is priceless! I do love alliteration. This definitely sounds like it belongs with the aforementioned Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and its sequel, as well as Killer Clowns From Outer Space.😊
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I thought that line summed up the film pretty well. There was a lot of blood and a lot of boobs. Glad I made you laugh.
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Killer clowns was good back then.Killer tomatoes was good and funny. Gohlies..Remember those movies?
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I’ll have to acquaint myself with those movies.
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I love horror movies especially the older ones.Slithis,invasion of the body snatchers,it’s alive,the first 3 friday 13th movies.the landaleers i think the name is spelled like that or langaleers.
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I think everyone loves a bit of horror now and then.
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Yea i can do comedy.But horror keeps you on the edge of your seat.Especially if its a good one.
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Effective horror rocks. My favourite genre, though I will watch anything if it has a good story.
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Heck yea. Me too Great horrors and other movies need to have a good story or plot..If a movie seems to boring.I just put something else in.that dont work its xbox time.Lol
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A movie has to grab me or else I’ll become bored.
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What do you think of blair witch.paranorma activity.?
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I think they are very effectively directed, though I’m not often one for the found footage genre.
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Yea they intrest me.so no to cloverfield.
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If you check my review index, there are some good movies in there.
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Ill check them out thanks
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Thank you.
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Creepshow 1&2 lol
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I’ll need to watch those again as it has been ages since I last watched it.
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Yea classic stephen king movies definetly watch 1 and 2 creepshow.
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I do love a bit of Stephen King.
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The abys was good the first 2 aliens, i can go on and on.lol
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Alien and Aliens are exceptional movies. Ripley is one of the best characters to come out of cinema.
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Yea those were great imagine watching them in 3d.Scary……! Lol the 3rd aliens was ok she became a gun activaste and did not want to use guns in 3.
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I’d love to watch them in 3D.
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George cloony was young in that movie actually he was also in a sitcom.
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Everyone has to start somewhere.
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Right now im known as kevin hart around here.So i have a little movie star statis.lol.Everywere i go people want pics or think im him.im 5 ‘5 i think he is 5’ tall.So this is were my start is i guess.lol
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Good place to start.
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Yea i get free stuff sometimes.dunking donuts ill get free ice coffee.lol
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Lucky you.
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Sometimes its a hassel.because i have a nice shirt tie on Nice hat they think im him.
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With a tagline like that, how could it not be a winner? Haha nice one, Vinnie!
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It is a pretty outrageous tag line that makes you sit up and take notice.
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Awesome review, dude. Humonoids doesn’t get enough love.
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Thanks for bringing the film to my attention. IT was an experience to say the least.
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Looks like a B-Movie monster classic here, V. Hope it pops up on TV one day.
Cheers, Pete.
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A creature feature of high reaching sleazy proportions Pete. Blood and boobs galore.
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Sleaze, boobs…Sounding better already!
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Oh Pete you naughty devil, you.
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Not seen this movie. Could be a watch for a rainy Monday evening..
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Just as long as you can handle sleazy content and gruesomeness, you’ll be fine.
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Hey, I was just watching a Roger Corman doc this morning and it had a clip of this on it. I had never heard of it before… and now this! I think this movie is calling out to me…
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What an interesting coincidence. This movie is just the ticket if you like blood and boobs.
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Sounds perfect haha!
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If you see it, enjoy.
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