For the horror movie novice, here's a handy tip. Films with one-word-animal titles tend not to be Oscar worthy. Not even Golden Globe. This is why horror flicks like "Cod", "Parrot" and "Poodle" were left on the back burner when pitched to studio execs, although I believe Lionsgate is considering a 3-D re-write of "Cod", featuring Charro. "Crocodile" is the quintessential example of this phenomena.The special effects just aren't so special in this movie, although the over-the-top acting does suffice to entertain now and then. Basically the plot is as follows: ill-clad teenagers get eaten by a giant crocodile, one-by-one. Ah, that's it.Director Tobe Hooper, when given a budget and a script, is a capable filmmaker, but this time out, he probably gave up before he even started, made sure the check was real, and then got it all over with before it became too painful.The giant croc is a throwback to vintage 50's drive-in horror films. You know, back in the day when silly special effects were the norm... after all, Ray Harryhausen couldn't do EVERY horror movie now, could he? Sometimes you just gotta make do with scary hand puppets when you've no other alternative. "Croc" is modern-era version of scary hand puppets that are water repellent. Alternately enormously flexible and hard-plastic immobile, our anti-hero is one angry reptilian. Basically she's just looking for her baby (shades of Godzilla here)and is awfully cranky at those who stole her eggs.Blood spurts from plastic ketchup bottles, there's some brief nudity - if you're lucky - and some crusty bayou-type characters who owe a lot to Lon Chaney Jr.'s iconic performance as Manon in "Alligator People", although the atmosphere and location shooting isn't nearly as ominous as in that camp classic.That's the real problem here. There's just no heart in it and a bad B-grade horror flick has to have that at least, if nothing else. Fans of these type films need to have something to cheer for and if there's nothing on the screen to rally around at least the subconscious notion that the filmmakers were trying despite all odds is enough to get them by. That's simply not here in Hooper's film.The no-name cast (except Kip Adotta in a tiny role) is uninspired and seem embarrassed to be in this flick. Hooper should have told 'em to "sell it" and if he did, they weren't getting the message. The best part is seeing Adotta again and comparing how horribly he's aged since his glory years as a stand up on "The Tonight Show". Adotta's always had a sense of humor about these kind of roles and he should be used a lot more in these type of films. He's a heck of a character actor and usually quite hilarious.We can't even muster up a few more stars for the "it's so bad it's good" factor. Ed Wood at least had heart... "Crocodile" simply doesn't, no matter how many teenagers the beast devours.

A 20 foot Crocodile and Tobe Hooper behind the direction; whats not to like about this film? The truth is everything. The sorry fact was that i never realised how much Tobe Hoppers directing career had gone done the pan.The setting of the film; a classic American Spring Break, with horny teenagers, booze and drugs. But what starts off as a break of a lifetime, ends in countless bloodshed. Whilst the story may appear to be appealing to some, the script, the acting and the direction are all questionable. Not to mention the fact that the main star of the show the 'Crocodile,'looks nothing like a normal Crocodilian would and ultimately the CGI is just ridiculous. No wonder this film side-passed the cinema and went straight to DVD.One of the most regrettable scenes in this film is that in the end there are actually three survivors. But one cant help but think this has been done before. Lets take a look back at Jurassic Park 3 in 2001. The Reptors leave the character's alone, once they regain possession of their offspring's egg. Sound familiar? The one thing that i cannot come to terms with, is the director responsible is Tobe Hooper. This kind of work is almost unrecognisable, if you take into consideration his success of the past. The most memorable being The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 1974. How can a director who provided so much vivid innovation in one decade, be involved with a film which has little narrative, motive and ultimately no point? That being said, i will still remain a fan of Hooper's and I only hope that this is a minor blip in his career, and perhaps sometime soon he will be able to re-gain his crown for King of Horror and Suspense.

Possible spoilers here! I'm giving this a five rating based mostly on the good faith of director Tobe Hooper. He's made some wonderful movies in the past and I know he still has a few good ones in there still. But this was rather disappointing. A bigger budget would have helped since most of the crocodile sequences are clearly a plastic-looking model being pulled through the water.The plot involves eight pinheads who go to get good and drunk on spring break. They stay on a houseboat in a lake where a large crocodile (supposedly over a hundred years old) lives. Mayhem ensues when the croc's eggs are destroyed by a couple of yahoos who have no other connection to the plot other than to destroy the eggs and become dinner for the croc.One of the movie's real faults is that some of the characters are just so damned obnoxious you just want them to be eaten and out of the film already. (Duncan especially!) Also the old guy who informs everyone about the crocodile and its habits who spits tobacco (at least I assume it's tobacco) after delivering every other line. This guy spits and spits and spits! Okay, we get it already. Thank you.On the plus side the women are all cute in their bikinis and it is refreshing to see that most of the crocodile effects are on-set physical effects rather than CGI (which is used minimally here). But still in some shots it's just painfully obvious a floating puppet is used for the crocodile.A subplot about one of the characters betraying one of the women actually gives this more depth than you'd expect from a low-budget creature movie.That said, it's actually still better than most drivel that airs on Sci-Fi Channel (where this turned up recently I noticed) and there are a few really good "jump" moments.Please try again, Mr. Hooper. I still think you're a good horror director.

Terrible dialogue, unreasonably attractive characters and semi-sane logic. All present and correct, but they appear alongside a healthy dose of fun and this makes up for a lot. Tobe Hooper's direction is fine, if a little familiar (the camera moves towards the teenagers through the reeds and water... just like a crocodile), and only adds to the playful familiarity of the film. We've seen this plot before in countless other movies, but we like it! Unlike in other films of the genre, there's nothing terribly gory or unpleasant in this film. Of course, there are deaths, but the over-acting and ludicrous circumstances render them almost jokey.This isn't a film for die-hard gore fans, but if you're looking for a gentle thrill or a funny couple of hours spent watching a friendly and rubbish, but enjoyable, great-big-animal film, this is as good a one as any.